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 issued a New Series .. called "The America the Beautiful Quarters". The designs 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.
This Special Edition 2011 "Quarters-Only" Proof set is a 5 piece representation of the National Parks Quarter Program. This set includes only the following 5 coins: - Gettysburg National Military Park - Pennyslvania
- Glacier National Park - Montana
- Olympic National Park - Washington
- Vicksburg National Park - Mississippi
- Chickasaw National Recreation Area - Oklahoma
The proof coins in this set were 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. Finished Proofs are individually inspected and handled by gloves or tongs prior to being placed in sonically sealed plastic cases. Each comes in original US mint government packaging.
2011 America the Beautiful Quarters Proof Set - Original Government Packaging
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