2017 America the Beautiful Program Design Candidates

The Citizen’s Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC) is meeting this week in Washington, D.C. to discuss designs for upcoming U.S. coins and medals. Tomorrow, October 8, the committee will consider designs for the 2017 America the Beautiful quarter program; in preparation, the CCAC and the U.S. Mint have released images of designs to be considered for each of the five 2017 sites. The following descriptions were provided in a press release.

effigy 1

Effigy Mounds National Monument – Iowa

IA-01 depicts an aerial view of an effigy mound in the shape of a bird. This particular mound is part of the Marching Bear Group, a collection of mounds located in the South Unit of the monument; IA-02 and IA-03 depict aerial views of Great Bear Mound, the monument’s largest mound; IA-04, IA-04A, and IA-04B depict variations on an aerial view of three effigy mounds that are part of the 15 mounds that comprise the Marching Bear Group; IA-06 features a bird effigy and a bear effigy against a depiction of the Mississippi River as seen from Fire Point Outlook. The inscriptions read “Air, Water, Earth, and People.”

effigy

IA-07 and IA-08 depict hands holding earth with a bird effigy above. Design IA-08 also features the Mississippi River in the background and mounds from the Marching Bear Group; IA-08A, IA-08B, and IA-08C depict the Mississippi River in the background and a bird effigy at the top of the design.  The lower halves of the designs feature variations of the bear effigies. Design IA-08-A also features the inscription “Air, Water, Land’; IA-10 depicts a bird effigy with a lush forest in the background.

frederick

Frederick Douglass National Historical Site – District of Columbia

DC-01 features Frederick Douglass giving a speech from a podium; DC-02 depicts Frederick Douglass meeting with Abraham Lincoln. As one of the foremost abolitionists, Mr. Douglass met President Lincoln on three occasions in planning the role of African American men, both free and slaves, in the prosecution of the war. Douglas recruited African American men for several regiments, including the celebrated Massachusetts 54th. The President publicly acknowledged “Fred” as his friend on the occasion of his second inauguration celebration; DC-03 depicts Frederick Douglass seated in front of his home in Washington, D.C. with the North Star shining above. It was the North Star that Douglass hoped would guide him to the free states of the North on his first attempt to escape from slavery, and North Star was later the name of his anti-slavery newspaper; DC-04 depicts Frederick Douglass seated at a writing desk with his home in Washington, D.C. in the background; DC-05 and DC-06 feature two views of Cedar Hill, Frederick Douglass’s home in Washington, D.C.

ozark

Ozark National Scenic Riverways – Missouri

MO-01 depicts a canoeist paddling down a river, with cliffs towering above the water on one side. The park attracts visitors with its variety of recreational opportunities, including canoeing, swimming, and fishing; MO-02 features a Spiny Softshell turtle peering above the water, looking at a kayaker passing by; MO-03 depicts the overflow falls of Alley Spring near the Alley Mill. This spring is located at the foot of a picturesque limestone bluff; MO-04 and MO-05 depict 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; MO-06 depicts a man canoeing down a river and coming upon a group of wild horses drinking by the river’s edge; MO-07 features a white-tailed deer and fawn near the river’s edge, with Alley Mill in the background; MO-08 and MO-08A depict Alley Mill.

ellis

Ellis Island (Statue of Liberty National Monument) – New Jersey

NJ-01 shows an immigrant family approaching Ellis Island with the Hospital Building in the background. The man looks forward with determination, a representation of Ellis Island as the “Island of Hope.” The woman looks back, concerned that Ellis Island is also the “Island of Tears,” where families were separated and individuals were denied entry into the country. The child represents the future growth and prosperity of the United States due to immigration; NJ-02 depicts an immigrant woman approaching Ellis Island with the Hospital Building in the background; NJ-03 features an immigrant family waiting on Ellis Island, hoping to be granted entry into the United States; NJ-04, NJ-05, and NJ-06 feature views of the Ellis Island Ferry Building and its Art Deco spire. The ferry terminal has been referred to as “the happiest place on the island” because those who made it this far had successfully passed legal and health inspections and would now be permitted to start their new life in the United States; NJ-07 and NJ-08 depict the Ellis Island Immigrant Hospital. The hospital was the first – and one of the largest – public health hospitals in the United States. Immigrants who did not pass the health inspection on arrival to Ellis Island were sent to the hospital and detained until they recovered or were deemed too sick to enter the United States and sent back to their home countries. Nine out of ten patients were cured and allowed to enter the United States.

rogers1

George Rogers Clark National Historical Park – Indiana

IN-01, IN-02, IN-03, and IN-04 feature the George Rogers Clark statue with the Memorial in the background.  Design IN-01 also includes a depiction of the Northwest Territory Clark was credited with winning during the American Revolution. Additional inscriptions include “Resolute and Bold” and “Daring and Bold”; IN-05 depicts American Colonel George Rogers Clark standing outside the surrendered Fort Sackville where an American flag flies above. It includes the inscription “Daring and Bold.” The surrender of Fort Sackville, which Clark secured in February 1779 after his army marched through freezing flood waters, assured United States claims to the frontier, an area nearly as large as the original 13 states; IN-06 and IN-07 depict George Rogers Clark staring up at the flag outside the surrendered Fort Sackville.  In design IN-06, the additional inscription reads “A Few Men Well Conducted,” a phrase taken from Clark’s letter to Virginia Governor Patrick Henry.

rogers2

IN-08 depicts George Rogers Clark standing in front of Fort Sackville; IN-09 depicts George Rogers Clark with the interior of Fort Sackville in the background; IN-10 features George Rogers Clark leading his men through the flooded plains approaching Fort Sackville; IN-11 depicts George Rogers Clark on the march to Fort Sackville as he gestures to his men to follow; IN-12 and IN-13 feature the George Rogers Clark Memorial. Above the 16 Doric columns reads the inscription “The Conquest of the West – George Rogers Clark and the Frontiersmen of the American Revolution.” Inside the rotunda are seven murals and a bronze statue of Clark.

Future updates on the results of this week’s CCAC meetings will appear as they become available. For more information on the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee, please visit their Web Site.

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Comments

  1. Zaz says

    Already? Sheesh. I like
    Iowa 07 or 08. The aerial designs don’t do it justice, but hands holding earth yeah!!

    DC02 really appeals to me. I think he did meet with Lincoln over the Emancipation Proclamation.

    MO04 or 07
    NJ designs are ok, why do none of them feature (at least in part) the statue?
    IN10. The others are ruined by superfluous text, IMO.

  2. Sith says

    A few of these are nice, Ellis Island, and Ozark particularly have a few intriguing designs. I’m just afraid that the level of detail on the ones I like will be lost on anything but the 5oz coins, and based on past selections the odds of them getting chosen in slim Unfortunately IMHO the downward design spiral continues, but saying that I hated Volcanoes (Hawaii) , but loved it once I got it in hand so maybe these designs will surprise me.

  3. Eddie says

    And we are suppose to buy these???
    I think this is the worse batch of AtB’s the mint is even thinking about offer us to buy.

  4. Jeff says

    Agree Eddie , but I don’t buy these. There’s no appreciable upside. I don’t buy because I like .

  5. Eddie says

    I will be getting these because I am collecting the series but I just don’t care for these designs they could be a lot better.

  6. gary says

    The 2015 Blue Ridge Parkway “P” Mint silver 5 oz. now shows just 17 coins left Soon to go to Unavailable status.
    (Yesterday there were 80+ or so.)
    Anyone who wants one may be disappointed if they were planning to order one with tomorrow’s release of the Bombay Hook “P” mint 5 oz.

  7. says

    After the humdrum designs of 2015, this is quite a refresher. Some of these look good, especially Indiana and Ellis Island. Nearly all of the groupings have at least a couple good designs.

  8. JagFan says

    Blue Ridge 5 oz is no longer available… Now over the next few weeks it will go back and forth until all of the returns get flushed out..

  9. Rob says

    I am glad I got my Blue Ridge Parkway before it sold out. I waited way too long on Everglades and missed out on that one. I like the lower mintage on this one.

  10. Pool Shark says

    Why are they putting PEOPLE all over these new designs???!!!

    It’s supposed to be about the National PARKS, not the people.

    If the park is a person’s home or monument, then show the home or monument NOT THE PERSON.

    I’ve never been to any of the these 5 parks, but the only designs that seem to fit the ‘spirit’ of the series (other than the Effigy Mounds Designs) are:
    DC-05 & -06
    MO-03 (without the text)
    NJ-07 & -08
    IN-12 & -13

    Am I the only one who feels the mint designers have given up even trying anymore?

  11. fmtransmitter says

    @TWO CENTS: KISS MY A$$…I am not hear to make friends but I have…Good luck to you and everyone deserves their own opinion! Just like an A$$, everyone has one and you expressed yours quite well…I am repulsed too, at what was sent to me for my hard earned money.

  12. fmtransmitter says

    OT: I am suprised at the many people and monuments on these. I agree, where are the NP coming in to play?

    BTW @ TWO CENTS: I was obviously sending a message by doing that. Get it? Maybe not…

  13. fmtransmitter says

    @TwoCents: Wanna attack someones ethics, talk to the blogger who has a missing gold coin from the shipping dept….

  14. Old Big Bird says

    Reference Eddie

    I use to live in NJ and Ellis Island is in New Jersey. Go to Google and pull up a map and you will see the state lines.

    Also there is a bridge coming in from the NJ shoreline.

    I do not see why a person who’s name the park is named after has there picture on the ATB quarter. So you would just want fort?

  15. says

    Old Big Bird said:
    I use to live in NJ and Ellis Island is in New Jersey. Go to Google and pull up a map and you will see the state lines.

    If you look closely at Google’s map of Ellis Island you’ll discover that three of its (original) acres are sovereign territory of New York. I believe the Main Building, which includes the Museum and Great Hall, sits on New York land. It appears the proposed designs have carefully avoided the display of “New York” scenes.

  16. says

    Pool Shark,
    Generally, I’m not a big proponent of having people on the ATB quarters–but there are exceptions where it is actually appropriate to have a person(s) depicted. For example, how can anyone object to Teddy Roosevelt depicted on a horse for the 2016 Theodore Roosevelt National Park ATB? And for the just released 2017 ATB designs, I believe the Ellis Island ATB should have newly arrived immigrants depicted. After all, this is what Ellis Island was all about.

  17. MLA says

    The Mint has ruined the S bag and roll program on the AtB.
    The nationally popular AtB’s have mostly been issue, some of local interest are left………
    Good luck to the mint on the MINTED to over demand ” S” AtB.
    Why collect a never ending item, until mercifully killed off as some of the old FS were.

  18. says

    DR,
    Yes, you are right. A chunk of Ellis Island is part of New York State. Of course the history of this island includes expansion through added landfill.

  19. jeff says

    FM That’s called deflection . “to turn aside abruptly in movement or direction; deviate suddenly from the straight or direct course.”

  20. Sith says

    @Pool Shark – old discussion…before it was all animals (but at least you could see them in the actual park) but now its people and events.

  21. The Real "Cool" Brad says

    I think I agree with Two Cents on this. Shows a surprising lack of morals. And then joking about someone else getting it was pretty absurd. Shows a lack of empathy, if it was a new collector that didn’t know the difference only to find out a few years from now that their special coin is not so special.

    It really is just theft, regardless of how bad the product was that was theft.

  22. So Krates says

    @ Old Big Bird/D Rittenhous/Hawkster- Yes, New York has sovereignty over the 3 original Ellis Island acres (less than 10%), but the main building DR mentions actually straddles the border.

    “While the museum part of the main immigration building is on the original three acres and is thus in New York, the building’s kitchen and laundry are in the New Jersey portion. The boathouse and a structure known as the baggage and dormitory building will also be split between the two states.” NY Times ’98

    NJ owns over 90% and it is much closer geographically to that state but “this (split) proved impractical to administer and New Jersey and New York subsequently agreed to share jurisdiction of the entire island.”

    @ Old Big Bird – @ Eddie originally referred to the Statue of Liberty not being in NJ which is of course on Liberty Island not Ellis. However the same jurisdictional fights have occurred over the years with this dot of land with similar results…although it is closer to NJ, and on the NJ side of the border, NY controls the original acreage of Liberty Island (including the Statue) with NJ getting all the riparian rights and reclaimed portions and all water rights surrounding the island.

  23. KEITHSTER says

    Well if we are to have a VOTE make mine as first then second choice IA-01 IA -O8a MO-02 MO-07 NJ-O3 NJ-02 IN-10 IN-09 DC-01 DC-06. May the CCACers be with us!!!!! Just a shout out of thanks be to Zaz on the heads up on the big ATB’s. Also picked up 5 more rolls of the Hooks yesterday and got by the limit count by way of the drive-thru as they seem to have a limit of 10 rolls as of late? Not that I’ll want 5 more but because I can !! Well Good Luck To Us All:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>

  24. says

    Yes, that 1886 gift from France, the Statue of Liberty, is prominently displayed over an outline of New York State on the New York quarter.

  25. says

    Seeing the pensive expressions on the family of immigrants standing in front of an Ellis Island building makes NJ-01 my favorite ATB design of all the 2017 entries. The artist nailed it.

  26. gary says

    There certainly are some great designs here for 2017. As you pointed out Sith, details will be minimized or entirely lost on the standard quarter size but in the 5 oz. silver the richness of details will be there as with nearly all of the ATB 5 oz. silver.

  27. So Krates says

    Yes, the talented Daniel Carr of Moonlight Mint designed that quarter. They own a Grabener press formerly operated at the Denver Mint.

    New Yawk always tries to co-opt everything good about Jersey. Both the NY Giants and NY Jets both share the same home field in NJ. A couple of years ago the media kept referring to the super bowl location as New York even though it was 100% in NJ.

  28. Zaz says

    Aww shucks, KEITHSTER, you’re welcome. Although in all fairness, I’ve gotten a fair number of good tips/heads up from the fine people on this board. Just a humble way to give back and do my part. Have been visiting here daily since the run up to the A25 fiasco, over four years! So if there’s anything I can do for my “peeps” in the way of an sellout alert or cheap deals on bullion ATB, I’m all over it. 🙂

  29. says

    Yes, when theTV networks broadcast Jets and Giants football games from the Meadowlands (NJ), you can probably guess the aerial views they provide: New York’s Manhattan Island.

  30. So Krates says

    I like the three Ozarks MO-01, MO-02, and MO-03. The detailed Douglas is DC-01 striking as well.

    The Effigy Mounds look like animal crackers

    IMO NONE of the Ellis Island designs is as good as the 1986 half dollar.

  31. OJB says

    I agree 100% with Two Cents on the matter of cheating the Mint and possibly another collector. How can anybody brag about such actions or find humor in them?

  32. Rick says

    Personally I cannot draw a circle so I wont criticize , but if I had to chose it would be NJ- 03 . Being from Jersey and all.

  33. Big Mikey says

    It ise ok to replace an old $1 coin for the new one and an old wrinkled bill for a new one in the set and send it back. The equal face values make it an even swap.

  34. Jeff says

    Big Mickey really a special EU 50k coin and special 50k FRN are the same as a P & D circulated coin that was produced in the 10’s of millions are the same are you a ROOKIE to coin collecting sure sounds like it. It’s not the same it’s totally wrong and the person knows it FM, then tries deflection to make his point of stealing from the U.S.Mint fraudster is what he is plain and simple.

  35. oldfolkie says

    I have no problem with people on the ATBs if they are well done and signify the historic or intrinsic value of the place. With these historic sites I’d much rather see “history” than what it looks like now. I’ll always think they blew a great chance to do something special with Gettysburg. That said I like IA 07 or 08, DC 02 or 03, MO 02 or 01, NJ 01 or 03, and IN 10 or 09. My favorite is the turtle, I love the perspective.

  36. johnaz says

    They will not waste the money,I lost a shipment about two year ago,for 1500.00 They did not do anything to the crook,but paid my claim.

  37. Jerry Diekmann says

    There are some nice designs here, and the best part is that I learned something about all five sites and their history that I didn’t know before. But why isn’t the Statue of Liberty , or at least part of it, not shyown on any of the coins? Is it because the Mint is trying to portray Ellis Island as it was before 1886, when the Statue of Liberty was finished and dedicated?

  38. So Krates says

    @ Jerry Diekmann – The Statue of Liberty is located on Liberty Island which is just a bit south of Ellis Island. The statue is on the New York part of the island and is also on the New York state quarter’s reverse. This ATB features a national park from New Jersey.

    Please see the previous posts above for more detail about borders and jurisdiction of these two separate islands.

  39. CaliSkier says

    I concur with previous statements regarding actions of fmtransmitter! Seriously, WTF…..I realize you feel slighted or screwed, but do the right thing….. Just because the mint apparently can’t, doesn’t mean you need to stoop to their level of mediocrity! Sorry, but I wanted to pipe in, however refrained…… No I don’t profess to be free from sin or bad judgment and I am not judging….just seems like a crappy way to prove a point since this could end up in the hands of another collector…. Theft? Technically, yes….two wrongs make it right, no! C’mon…really?

  40. CaliSkier says

    Not super excited about these 2017 designs and curious about whether or not these states had other parks which may have been more in line w/previous choices and themes vs seemingly a complete change of topic/theme/design midway through the series???

  41. stephen m says

    Good for FMXMITTER, If he can live with his deed I can too. If he goes to jail, he can go without me. You know, I doubt if anyone at the mint even noticed the return.

  42. Dave SW FL says

    I doubt anyone at the MINT ever sees the returns. Aren’t they handled by the PFSchleb fulfillment center? Doubt they even look at them other than a rudimentary glance to assure product packaging match.

  43. Dave SW FL says

    I have the opposite of FM’s problem. They shipped an extra product to me which I did not order. I would send it back, but after the report of a stolen return, I will not be a co-conspirator to the thievery. I have decided to sell the product on the bay and send a check for the net proceeds to Treasury with a note of explanation attached. It will include a reference to the theft of returns by the fulfillment center as my reason for mistrust. The Mint Director will receive a copy of the correspondence.

  44. Jayarejr says

    I live in New Jersey and Ellis Island has nothing to do with us; you think Ellis Island and you think NYC. The design is terrible and off-base.

  45. Dick Soule says

    To those who have commented on people in ATB designs–what are the parks if not places PEOPLE can recreate and relax enjoying the beauty and/or historical significance of a site.

    As far as the designs are concerned, I like

    IA-08 (but none of them are very good)
    DC-03 (but lose the star)
    MO-03
    NJ-01
    IN-09

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