The Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness quarter, the 50th issue of the National Park quarter series, is now in circulation. The official launch ceremony for this 5th and final 2019 issue took place on November 6, 2019 at Salmon Junior/Senior High School in Salmon, Idaho. Following the ceremony, a coin exchange was held and children received complimentary new quarters.
Salmon, Idaho is adjacent to the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness featured on the new coin. It’s the largest contiguous wilderness area in the lower 48 states and its name has two roots. The late Idaho senator Frank Church is credited with preserving this and many other wilderness areas throughout the country. And the Salmon River which runs through the wilderness became known as the “River of No Return” because its swift currents could be navigated downstream by non-motorized boats but not upstream. The reverse of the new quarter depicts a piloted drift boat in river rapids surrounded by conifer trees, rock formations and steep canyon slopes.
This latest National Park quarter joins four previous 2019 designs featuring Lowell National Historical Park in Massachusetts, War in the Pacific National Historical Park in Guam, American Memorial Park in the Northern Marianas Islands and San Antonio Missions National Historical Park in Texas.
