2018-P Michigan Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore Quarter GEM BU America the Beautiful

Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is on the upper peninsula of Michigan. It is 42 miles long and covers about 114 square miles. It features picturesque views of the shoreline between Munising, Michigan and Grand Marais, Michigan. There are many beautiful rock formations, including natural archways, waterfalls and sand dunes. The name is derived from the 15 miles of sandstone cliffs northeast of Munising. Some of the cliffs are 200 feet tall. They have been sculpted into a number of formations that are magnificent. One particular point of interest is Chapel Rock. The formation was created some 3800 years ago and was an archway. The archway collapsed in the 1940s. A pillar remains and there is a large white pine tree growing atop of it. This rock and tree are depicted on the reverse of the 2018 Michigan Quarter.

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 BUs 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.