In 2010, the U.S. Mint began producing quarters with images of America’s national treasures, including NPS parks. The program was named “America the Beautiful Quarters.” This followed on the heels of the U.S. States Quarter Program. Each of the 50 states, and five territories (Guam, Washington, D.C., Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Marianas), were represented. Some images from our National Parks made their way onto the state quarters (look at Utah’s 25-cent piece, and the two trains facing each other at Golden Spike NHS). Demand for this U.S. Mint product kept increasing, the Treasury having seen nothing like it in their past.
The U.S. Mint held a ceremony March-2016 on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial to officially release six new coins commemorating the 100th anniversary of the NPS. The America the Beautiful Quarters program continued through the year 2021, with a final tally of 56 unique coins. Every National Park enthusiast should try to collect these soon to be artifacts (at least they will be in a couple hundred years).
