Fort McHenry National Park Quarter
19th in the America the Beautiful Quarters Program
The 2013 Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine Quarter shows fireworks exploding over Fort McHenry, together with the giant 15-star flag that motivated Key to write "The Star-Spangled Banner." Each year, Fort McHenry hosts the Defenders Day celebration that includes a fireworks display. As a result, the fireworks and flag on the coin represent the fort's present and past, and they also illustrate famous lines from the national anthem: "And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air, gave proof through the night that our flag was still there."
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, they were each only being struck for less than 11 weeks. In 2010, it got better. Taking a page from the success referenced above, the US Mint will be issuing a New Series: "The America the Beautiful Quarters(tm)." 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 you seen them in circulation? And if so, more than a couple? That is the new distribution system.
This is the Philadelphia Minted, uncirculated quarter. It will be encapsulated to protect its condition.
2013 Maryland Fort McHenry Quarter - Philadelphia Mint - Uncirculated in Capsule
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