U.S. Mint art for the top contenders for the Chickasaw National Recreation Area quarter design.
The U.S. Mint presented three finalist designs for the 2011 Chickasaw National Recreation Area quarter to citizen committees and government officials for their consideration. The Chickasaw quarter design will be the tenth coin in the America’s National Parks Quarter Series, and the last of five 2011 issues.
The Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC) favored design #1 featuring Buffalo Springs amid its stone spillway. The official CCAC review stated that the members “appreciated the perspective and composition of this design, particularly the foreground foliage.” The Commission of Fine Arts recommended a simplified adaptation of design #2, which depicts the limestone Lincoln Bridge – the first constructed improvement to the recreation area, dedicated in 1909 to honor the centennial of Abraham Lincoln’s birth. Design #3 depicts one of Chickasaw’s numerous cascading creeks lined with trees and foliage.
After receiving and evaluating recommendations from all required sources, the Director of the U.S. Mint will make final recommendations to the Secretary of the Treasury – who will make the final decision.
