We are pleased to offer for sale this 2016-S Illinois Shawnee National Forest National Park Quarter in GEM Proof condition from the US Mint's America the Beautiful Quarters Program. This Shawnee National Forest Quarter comes from the San Francisco (S) Mint. This Illinois National Park Quarter is the thirty first release in the America the Beautiful Quarters Series. Shawnee National Forest is featured thirty first because it was established as a National Park on September 6, 1939 by the NPS (National Park Service), the thirty first national reservation in United States history.
Information on Shawnee National Forest :
This 280,000 acre forest is located in the Ozark and Shawnee Hills of Southern Illinois. The area was declared a National Forest by President Franklin Roosevelt in 1939. The forest lies between the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers and contains rolling hills, forests, open lands, lakes, creeks and rugged bluffs. The weather in the area is mild the whole year, making it a popular all season tourist destination.
Information on the United States Mint America the Beautiful Quarters Program:
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 (starting in 2012 circulation strikes were also minted at the San Francisco (S) Mint). 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.