US Mint’s America the Beautiful Quarter Program

           The official release of the new Hawaii Volcanoes National Park quarter was on August 29, 2012 near Kilauea, the Big Island Volcano depicted on the coin. This year, the World Heritage Program, which is operated by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and  Cultural Organization (UNESCO), is marking its 40th anniversary. It designated Volcanoes National Park as a World Heritage site in 1987 for its “superlative attributes of universal value important to the common heritage of humanity- in particular, the parks biological, cultural and geologic resources”. The quarter features an engraved image of the eruption on Kilauea’s East Rift Zone. It is designed and sculpted by United States Mint Sculptor-Engraver Charles L. Vickers. Puu Oo, a cinder cone on Kilauea Volcano’s eastern flanks began erupting in January 1983. The on-going 29. year Puu O’o eruption, is among the longest lasting Hawaiian eruption in recorded history.  For more information about Hawaii Volcanoes National Park go to their website www.nps.gov/havo/index.htm  These collector quarters can be obtained from  www.govmint.com/