2012-S Maine Acadia National Park Quarter GEM SILVER PROOF America the Beautiful

Acadia National Park is located in eastern Maine along the Atlantic coast.  Acadia National Park was explored by Samuel D Champlain in 1604 during his east coast exploration.  He initially named the site "L'Isle des Monts Deserts" meaning "the island of barren mountains" because from his ship he could not see the forests on the mountain slopes.  The park features granite cliffs side by side with sand cobblestone beaches and glacier carved mountains rising from the sea.  The park is also know for its deep glacier dug lakes.  Favorite areas include the Anemone Caves and the Sieur de Monts Springs.  Acadia National Park has an area of 47,390 acres and is visited by over 2.5 million people a year.

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.