Hawaii America the Beautiful Quarter

The Hawaii America the Beautiful Quarter is scheduled to be released in 2012. In the prior State Quarter series, Hawaii had been featured last. The state’s coin will come earlier in the new series since the order is based on the order the National Park or Site presented came under federal protection.

The Hawaii Quarter will depict Volcanoes National Park. The site selection was announced in late 2009 before the series began. The park will be depicted on the reverse design of the quarter with a portrait of George Washington presented on the obverse.

The United States Mint is expected to produce the coins for circulation at the Philadelphia and Denver Mints. A special proof version will also be produced for collectors at the San Francisco Mint. Finally, an oversized five ounce silver bullion coin bearing the design will also be available.

About Volcanoes National Park

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park was established in August of 1916, and it is the home of some of the most unique opportunities for exploration and learning available. Hawaii is a land steeped in rich and mystical cultural beliefs, including the belief that the fiery craters that we now call volcanoes were the home of the goddess Pele. For many years, native men, women and children would journey high up on to the craters of Kilauea to offer sacrifices and gifts to appease the goddess. This was very dangerous, and as you might imagine, many lost their lives when the volcano would violently erupt.

Today we know that they formation of the Hawaiian islands is a direct result of many thousands of years of volcanic eruption, plate migration, and land evolution, which caused hardened lava and land masses to rise up out of the sea. Hawaii is one of the most beautiful, lush, and diverse habitats in the entire world and its history is deeply intertwined with the violent volcanoes that gave birth to it.

Many of the first western visitors to Hawaii were missionaries who came to spread the theology of Christianity to the native inhabitants. American missionary Asa Thurston was one of the first non-native humans to see a volcano erupt, and the experience affected his whole outlook on the power of nature. Thurston’s grandson would eventually be one of the strongest advocates of turning the area around Hilo into a National Park, and as a result, part of the park features a huge lava tube that is now named after his family.