2017 America the Beautiful Quarter and Coin Designs Selected

Today, Sept. 1, the United States Mint unveiled the final designs for their 2017-dated America the Beautiful Quarters® and companion America the Beautiful Five Ounce Silver Uncirculated Coins™.

2017 marks the eighth year of unique coin designs that honor national parks and other national sites in the U.S. and its territories. Issued at a rate of five per year, these latest designs are the 36th through 40th of 56 scheduled. They commemorate:

• Effigy Mounds National Monument in Iowa,
• Frederick Douglass National Historic Site in Washington, D.C.,
• Ozark National Scenic Riverways in Missouri,
• Ellis Island (Statue of Liberty National Monument) in New Jersey, and
• George Rogers Clark National Historical Park in Indiana.

Design Images of the Reverses

U.S. Mint-provided line art images and brief descriptions of the five designs that will appear on the reverse or tails side of the quarters and silver coins are shown below. They were selected from over four dozen candidate designs.

Effigy Mounds National Monument (Iowa)

The design depicts an aerial view of mounds in the Marching Bear Group. Inscriptions are "EFFIGY MOUNDS," "IOWA," "2017," and "E PLURIBUS UNUM."

This reverse was designed by United States Mint Artistic Infusion Program (AIP) Designer Richard Masters and sculpted by United States Mint Sculptor-Engraver Renata Gordon.

Frederick Douglass National Historic Site (DC)

The design depicts Frederick Douglass seated at a writing desk with his home in Washington, D.C., in the background. Inscriptions are "FREDERICK DOUGLASS," "DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA," "2017" and "E PLURIBUS UNUM."

This reverse was designed by AIP Designer Thomas Hipschen and sculpted by Mint Sculptor-Engraver Phebe Hemphill.

Ozark National Scenic Riverways (MO)

The design depicts Alley Mill, a steel roller mill built in 1894. This merchant mill was used to convert wheat into flour. Much of the original milling equipment is still in place, and visitors to the park can tour the mill. Inscriptions are "OZARK RIVERWAYS," "MISSOURI," "2017" and "E PLURIBUS UNUM."

This reverse was designed by AIP Designer Ronald D. Sanders and sculpted by Mint Sculptor-Engraver Gordon.

Ellis Island (Statue of Liberty National Monument) (NJ)

The design depicts an immigrant family approaching Ellis Island with a mixture of hope and uncertainty. The hospital building can be seen in the background. Inscriptions are "ELLIS ISLAND," "NEW JERSEY," "2017," and "E PLURIBUS UNUM."

This reverse was designed by AIP Designer Barbara Fox and sculpted by Mint Sculptor-Engraver Hemphill.

George Rogers Clark National Historical Park (IN)

The design features George Rogers Clark leading his men through the flooded plains approaching Fort Sackville. Inscriptions are "GEORGE ROGERS CLARK," "INDIANA," "2017" and "E PLURIBUS UNUM."

This reverse was designed by AIP Designer Frank Morris and sculpted by Mint Sculptor-Engraver Michael Gaudioso.

Obverse Design

America the Beautiful coinage share the same obverse design, a portrait of George Washington by John Flanagan. This image has been on quarter-dollars since 1932. The portrait underwent digital enhancements in 2010 to bring out more of the beauty of the original model.