Candidate designs for the 2018 Block Island National Wildlife Refuge Quarter
During June of 2017, the Commission of Fine Arts (CFA) and the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC) reviewed 12 design proposals for the reverse of the new 2018 Block Island National Wildlife Refuge quarter. This coin will be the 45th issue of the 2010-2021 National Park Quarter Series, and the design will commemorate a critical migratory bird stopover located 12 miles off the southern coast of Rhode Island which is visited each year by over 70 different species of migratory birds.
The CFA recommended design #2 depicting a black-crowned night-heron flying over the beach at Cow Cove with a view towards Sandy Point and the North Light lighthouse. This design was also preferred by officials of the Block Island National Wildlife Refuge. The CCAC recommended design #10 depicting a piping plover on the rocky beach in front of the North Light lighthouse (the third-choice design of refuge officials). Other design proposals featured such migratory bird species as American oystercatchers and common yellowthroat warblers.
After consideration of all recommendations by the CFA, CCAC and refuge officials, the U.S. Mint submitted a selection of favored designs to the Secretary of the Treasury – who will choose the final design for the 2018 Block Island quarter design.
Just about 12 miles off the coast of Rhode Island lies the most important migratory bird habitat on the East coast – the Block Island National Wildlife Refuge. Over 70 different types of migratory songbirds visit the island each fall. Plus, the endangered sand-colored Piping Plover makes its home there.
In 1614, Dutch explorer Adrian Block sailed to the island, giving it his name. But its original inhabitants were the Narragansett Indians. By the 1970s, citizens had become worried about development on the island. When the Coast Guard transferred 28 acres in 1973, Block Island National Wildlife Refuge was born. The same year, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service acquired North Light and the land surrounding it, which added to the refuge’s size. The historic lighthouse will be shown on the 2018 Block Island quarter. Block Island has 17 miles of public beaches, sparkling waters, and spectacular bluffs – making it a popular destination. More information on the Island can be found at BlockIslandInfo.com.
On August 1, 2017, the U.S. Mint announced the final design for the Cumberland Island National Seashore quarters. The reverse shows a snowy egret with its wings spread, perched on a branch before a marsh. The inscriptions on the coin’s reverse include the name and location of the site: cumberland island, georgia, the year of issue: 2018, and the motto: e pluribus unum.
This handsome quarter is a perfect match for the 1999 Statehood quarter, which also featured Georgia, the park’s home state. As the 44th in the series overall, the Cumberland Island quarter will be followed by a design honoring Rhode Island’s Block Island National Wildlife Refuge.
Candidate designs for new 2018 Cumberland Island National Seashore Quarter
In July of 2016, both the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC) and the Commission of Fine Arts (CFA) made recommendations after reviewing several candidate designs for the reverse of the 2018 Cumberland Island National Seashore quarter.
The CCAC recommended a design showing a loggerhead sea turtle in the water, swimming. The CFA opted for a design showing a snowy egret with wings spread, perched on a branch before a marsh.
Located on the southern end of Georgia’s coastline, Cumberland Island is one of the state’s biggest barrier islands. It’s home to untouched forests and beaches, as well as freshwater lakes and saltwater marshes.
Located on the southern end of Georgia’s coastline, Cumberland Island is one of the state’s biggest barrier islands. It boasts untouched forests and beaches, as well as freshwater lakes and saltwater marshes.
The island is also host to a variety of wildlife. Feral horses, wild hogs and armadillos all run free. And endangered loggerhead sea turtles come ashore to lay their eggs – an average of 25-30% of the state’s sea turtle nests are laid on Cumberland Island each year!
Learn more about Cumberland Island National Seashore.
