About 1,200 people attended a ceremony in Yosemite Valley today to launch the new Yosemite Quarter. United States Mint Director Edmund Moy, Yosemite National Park Superintendent Don Neubacher, other elected officials and guests spoke at the event.
The ceremony culminated with Moy and Neubacher placing the ceremonial quarter on the coin display, marking the official start of circulation for the quarter. After the ceremony, quarters were given to children by Neubacher and Moy. There was a commemorative cake, baked at the Ahwahnee Hotel featuring Yosemite Quarter design in chocolate. The Yosemite Ranger Mounted Patrol and local musician and historian Tom Bopp also participated in the ceremony.
A quarter exchange was held in which attendees at the event could obtain first day issue rolls of the Yosemite Quarter. This was sponsored by the Yosemite Credit Union, a Division of Valley First Credit Union.
The Yosemite Quarter was the third coin released as part of the America the Beautiful Quarters Program. This is the first year of the United States Mint’s new 12-year initiative to honor 56 national parks and other national sites across the country. The Yosemite Quarter design features El Capitan and the Merced River.
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service
