On Thursday, June 25, 2015, officials from the United States Mint and National Park Service introduced the new Blue Ridge Parkway quarter-dollar to the public.
Blue Ridge Parkway Quarter Ceremony Photos
The ceremony was held at Pack Square Park in Asheville, North Carolina, which is near the scenic national parkway that is commemorated on the new coin.
"This new quarter stands now as a tribute to this national scenic byway — a cross section of Appalachian mountain history essential to the story of our nation, tying together diverse landscapes and rich history," said David Croft, Associate Director of Manufacturing at the United States Mint.
Special guests included North Carolina Lt. Gov. Dan Forest and Blue Ridge Parkway Superintendent Mark Woods.
United States Mint Associate Director of Manufacturing David Croft presents Blue Ridge Parkway quarters struck on the first day of production to Lt Governor Dan Forest during the launch ceremony in Asheville NC on June 25 2015 The coin is the 28th release in the United States Mint America the Beautiful Quarters® Program US Mint photo by Sharon McPike Croft presents Blue Ridge Parkway quarters struck on the first day of production to Blue Ridge Parkway Superintendent Mark Woods US Mint photo by Sharon McPike
Grammy award-winning musician and TV host David Holt served as master of ceremonies.
Master of Ceremonies David Holt greets the hundreds of people gathered to launch the quarter US Mint photo by Sharon McPike David Holt and the Lightning Bolts entertain the crowd before the quarter US Mint photo by Sharon McPike Blue Ridge Parkway quarters fill an antique surveyors box at the ceremonial launch of the coin US Mint photo by Sharon McPike
Around 750 people attended the ceremony, including some 150 school-aged children who received one of new Blue Ridge Parkway quarters for free.
People gathered in Pack Square Park for the ceremonial US Mint photo by Sharon McPike Children hold their new Blue Ridge Parkway quarters US Mint photo by Sharon McPike
Others swapped cash for $10 rolls of the new coin immediately after the speeches. Asheville Savings Bank exchanged $24,000 in quarters after the event.
Attendees of the quarter ceremony line up to exchange their paper currency for rolls of new quarters US Mint photo by Sharon McPike
Attendees of the quarter ceremonial launch exchanged their money for rolls of new quarters US Mint photo by Sharon McPike
A box of Blue Ridge Parkway quarters at the coin exchange US Mint photo by Sharon McPike
The United States Mint hosted a free coin forum on the evening prior to the ceremony. Coin forums offer a venue to express views and ask questions about existing, new and upcoming U.S. Mint products.
A crowd of local residents and coin enthusiasts came out to a Blue Ridge Parkway visitor center to learn about US Mint programs from Associate Director of Manufacturing David Croft US Mint photo by Sharon McPike
On Monday, June 29, the United States Mint (www.usmint.gov) will start selling Blue Ridge Parkway quarters in single rolls, two-roll sets, three-roll sets and 100-coin bags at prices ranging from $18.95 to $34.95.
The Tanbark Ridge Tunnel along the Blue Ridge Parkway US Mint photo by Sharon McPike
Rays of sunlight stream over the Blue Ridge Mountains Photo by Sharon McPike
A view from the Blue Ridge Parkway US Mint photo by Sharon McPike
The Blue Ridge Parkway is the third of five quarters for 2015 and the 28th overall in the series of America the Beautiful Quarters.
Designed by Frank Morris and sculpted by Joseph Menna the quarter depicts a winding road that hugs the side of a mountain as it leads up to a tunnel The North Carolina state flower is shown in the foreground
The Mint’s America the Beautiful Quarters® Program kicked off in 2010, and it will honor 56 national parks and other national sites in the U.S. and its territories through 2021.
