How can you make something better than the 50 State Quarter Program? Here's how !!

There were many reasons for the success of the State Quarter program in 1999. The top two - the design ( each state had their own theme ), and the limited production - only being made for less than 11 weeks.

Starting in 2010, it just got better. Taking a page from the success referenced above, the US Mint will be issuing a New Series .. "The America the Beautiful Quarters™." But this one will have a twist. There will be one quarter per state, just like the 50 State Program, but the design will be based on one of the National Parks located in each state. The order will be based on when they were introduced as a National Treasure.

But the kicker is distribution. Unlike the 50 State Quarter program where Congress forced the Mint to distribute the quarters to the local markets ( and even then many of us didn't see but a few of the releases ) this new program does NOT have to be released into the same flow of commerce. What does that mean? Well in 2009 the Mint released 6 special quarters for the six US Protectorate Territories .. adding them to the 50 State Quarter Program. Have any of you seen them in circulation? And if so, more than a couple? That's the "New" distribution system.

The Yosemite Quarter is the THIRD in the new America The Beautiful Quarter Series (TM). The reverse of the Yosemite National Park Quarter depicts the sheer rock face of El Capitan, which rises more than 3,000 feet above the valley floor. It is the largest granite monolith in the world. The California State Quarter, issued in 2005, also showed a scene from Yosemite National Park. It features Half Dome, along with John Muir.

This proof coin was struck at the San Francisco Mint. The term "Proof" refers to a method of manufacture and NOT the condition of a coin. Proof coins can usually be distinguished by their sharpness of detail, high wire edge, and extremely brilliant - mirror like surface.

Proof coins are made from highly polished dies. The coinage blanks are also polished and cleaned. They are hand fed into a coinage press one at a time, with each blank receiving 2 or more strikes from the dies to bring up sharp - high relief details. It is done at slow speeds with extra pressure.

This Proof San Francisco Mint Yosemite State Quarter is independently certified by ANACS, (American Numismatic Association Certification Service) as a Perfect 70...the highest quality known to exist!