Gettysburg quarter to be launched January 25, 2011

On January 25, 2011 at 11:00 a.m., the general public is invited to attend a special ceremony to celebrate the launch of the new Gettysburg Quarter. This historic special event will take place in the Gettysburg National Military Park Museum and Visitor Center.

There will be live music, special guest speakers, and children under the age of 18 at the event will receive a free Gettysburg Quarter to commemorate this special day.  A specially designed cake, featuring the Gettysburg Quarter, will be served.

The Gettysburg Foundation is co-hosting the ceremony, which will include Gettysburg NMP Superintendent Bob Kirby, Gettysburg Foundation Vice Chair Barbara Finfrock, Acting Director of the United States Mint Andrew Brunhart, the United States Mint mascot Peter the Mint Eagle, students from Lincoln Elementary School in Gettysburg, Girl Scouts, a Civil War honor guard and other special guests.

“We are very happy to be honored with this beautiful new quarter,” said Kirby. “The coin can be a daily reminder of the sacrifices made at Gettysburg and a great way to start a conversation about national parks, national heritage, and the 150th anniversary of the American Civil War.”

Finfrock stated, “We strongly encourage people to come to the visitor center and museum to participate in the festivities. It is such a deep honor to have this coin represent the Gettysburg battlefield and we hope everyone will share this opportunity of a lifetime with us.”

At the conclusion of the event, there will be a coin exchange in which visitors can purchase rolls of newly minted Gettysburg Quarters bearing the design that honors the park. The quarters will be exchanged at face value, with a one roll minimum, for $10, and ten roll maximum worth $100. The exchange is cash only. This is the first opportunity for members of the public to obtain this historic, collectable quarter.

The reverse (tails side) of the Gettysburg Quarter features the 72nd Pennsylvania Infantry Monument, which is located on the battle line of the Union Army at Cemetery Ridge on the Gettysburg battlefield.

The Gettysburg quarter is the sixth in a series minted under the America the Beautiful Quarter Program to pay homage to the nation's national parks. The series, which launched in 2010, has already honored Hot Springs National Park, Yellowstone National Park, Canyon National Park and Mount Hood National Forest.   The program will feature 56 parks and natural areas in all.  For more information go to: http://www.americathebeautifulquarters.gov/coins/2011/gettysburg/