After four original design proposals for the 2013 Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine quarter were rejected by the Commission of Fine Arts (CFA) as well as the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC), a second round consisting of 11 proposals (shown here) was presented by the U.S. Mint design staff.
Candidate designs for Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine quarter
While the first round of designs featured Fort McHenry soldiers from the War of 1812, the second series of designs focused on the fort itself as requested by the CFA after the first presentation. Seven of these proposals display aerial views of the star-shaped structure, while three highlight in turn a cannon and the inner courtyard, the prominent arched entrance, and the fortified outer wall. One design illustrates a prominent line from The Star Spangled Banner – written by Francis Scott Key in view of Fort McHenry in 1814 – “…and the rockets red glare, the bombs bursting in air…”
Famous as the “birthplace of our national anthem”, Fort McHenry is visited by thousands of people each year, and was a popular featured site for the Maryland issue of the National Park Quarter Series.
