2016-D United States 25-Cent National Parks: Shawnee National Forest Brilliant Uncirculated Coin

2016-D United States 25-Cent National Parks: Shawnee National Forest Brilliant Uncirculated Coin

Face Value: 25 cents
Mintage: N/A
Composition: 91.67% Copper, 8.33% Nickel
Weight (g): 5.67
Diameter (mm): 24.26
Finish: BU

In 2010, the United States Mint began issuing 56 quarter-dollar coins featuring designs depicting national parks and other national sites as part of the United States Mint America the Beautiful Quarters Program.

The Shawnee National Forest hosts the most acreage of any natural area in the state of Illinois. Its large, public open spaces offer many recreation opportunities including big-game hunting, long-distance pedestrian and equestrian trails, orienteering, bird watching, rock-climbing, beach recreation, and two National Scenic Byways: the Ohio River and the Great River Road. The forest also has some of the largest and most diverse blocks of mature hardwoods and forest interior habitats of national forests. An abundance of wetlands, floodplains and riparian areas enhances water quality and provides important wetland habitats for migrating waterfowl in the Mississippi flyway. It was established as a national site in 1939.

Obverse design:
John Flanagan's portrait of George Washington (modified by William Cousins) is featured on the obverse. Also seen are the inscriptions "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA," "QUARTER DOLLAR," "LIBERTY", "IN GOD WE TRUST" and the mintmark.

Reverse design:
The design depicts a close view of Camel Rock with natural vegetation in the foreground and a red-tailed hawk soaring in the sky overhead. Inscriptions are "SHAWNEE," "ILLINOIS," "2016," and "E PLURIBUS UNUM." This reverse was designed by United States Mint Artistic Infusion Program (AIP) artist Justin Kunz and will be engraved by United States Mint Sculptor-Engraver Jim Licaretz.