2010-S Arizona Grand Canyon National Park Quarter GEM PROOF America the Beautiful

Grand Canyon National Park was first afforded Federal protection on February 20, 1893 as a Forest Reserve.  It then became a National Monument and then achieved National Park status in 1999, three years after the creation of the National Park Service.  Grand Canyon National Park is located in northwest Arizona and contains the great chasm the Grand Canyon which was cut by the Colorado River and is considered to be one of the natural wonders of the world.  The park covers 1,217,403 acres or 1,902 square miles in Coconino and Mohave counties.  

Grand Canyon National Park is famous for its powerful and inspiring landscape, the Grand Canyon overwhelms your senses through its immense size; 277 river miles long, up to 18 miles wide, and a mile deep.  The Grand Canyon is one of the most studied geologic landscapes in the world.   It offers an excellent record of three of the four eras of geological time, a rich and diverse fossil record, a vast array of geologic features and rock types, and numerous caves containing extensive and significant geological, paleontological, archeological and biological resources.  Grand Canyon National Park is also home to over 1,500 plant, 355 bird, 89 mammalian, 47 reptile, 9 amphibian, and 17 fish species.

Nearly five million people visit the Grand Canyon National Park every year. Most of them see it from their car at overlooks along the South Rim (this includes Grand Canyon Village, Hermits Rest, and Desert View). The South Rim is the most accessible part of the park and is open all year.  A much smaller number of people see the Grand Canyon from the North Rim, which lies just 10 miles (as the condor flies) directly across the Grand Canyon from the South Rim. The North Rim rises a thousand feet higher than the South Rim, and is much less accessible. Heavy snows close the road to the North Rim from late October to mid May of each year. Even in good weather it's harder to get to. It is 220 miles by car from the South Rim, or 21 miles by foot across the Grand Canyon by way of the North and South Kaibab Trails.  The recently finished and very popular Skywalk is actually outside the Grand Canyon National Park on the western end of the Grand Canyon.  It is about a five hour drive from the South Rim of the Grand Canyon National Park.

From 2010 through 2021 the US Mint is issuing commemorative quarters with special reverse designs celebrating National Parks and other National Sites. A park or site is being honored in each of the 50 States, the District of Columbia, and the five US Territories: Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, US Virgin Islands, and Northern Mariana Islands. Each National Park or National Site was selected for its natural or historical significance. The National Park Quarters are being minted and issued at the rate of 5 designs a year, in approximately ten week intervals. The National Park Quarters are being released in the order that the locations were first designated as National Sites. The Obverse side of the coins feature a smaller restoration of the original Washington Quarter portrait, modeled from designer John Flanagan's 1932 plaster. The Reverse of each coin will feature a representation of the unique character and environment of each State, District, or Territory's National Park or Historic Site.

Circulation strikes will be made at the Philadelphia (P) and Denver (D) mints. The San Francisco (S) mint will strike the proofs in clad composition and silver. Clad composition strikes contain an outer layer of 75% copper and 25% nickel bonded to an inner core of pure copper with a 24.33 mm diameter, 5.67 grams weight, and a reeded edge. The silver strikes will contain 90% silver and 10% copper with a 24.33 mm diameter, 6.25 grams weight, and a reeded edge.