The United States Mint announced the sites to be honored as part of Delaware Congressman Mike Castle's America the Beautiful Quarters Program on Sept. 9. Delaware's quarter will feature Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge, southeast of Smyrna and north of Leipsic. Coin collectors will have to wait until 2015, though, for the Delaware quarter to be released.
This series was proposed by Rep. Castle as a follow-up to his widely successful 50 State Quarters Program. The coins will highlight 56 national treasures, including national parks, forests and wildlife refuges; one for each state and territory in the United States.
"The 50 State Quarters Program has been extremely valuable for coin enthusiasts, students and teachers, while making money. It surprises many to learn that the 50 State Quarters Program will net over $2.7 billion in federal revenues," said Rep. Castle. "I am hopeful that the America the Beautiful series will spur similar interest, and generate tourism for many of our country's most treasured sites. Bombay Hook serves the great purpose of protecting our wildlife and natural habitat, and is a worthy representation for Delaware's quarter."
The U.S. Mint and Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner, in consultation with Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Interior Secretary Ken Salazaar, selected Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge to be Delaware's quarter, which will be released in 2015.
The America's Beautiful National Parks Quarter Dollar Coin Act of 2008 was introduced by Rep. Mike Castle, passed by Congress and signed into law in 2008. The Mint will begin striking these coins in 2010, releasing five a year, until all have been released in 2021.
These coins will be released into general circulation, and also available to order, for collecting purposes, directly from the U.S. Mint. For a complete listing of sites to be honored, as well as ordering information, please visit the U.S. Mint's website at: http://www.usmint.gov/mint_programs/NSQuartersProgram/index.cfm.
