Located about 10 miles from Dover, Delaware, the Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge provides critical habitat for birds migrating between the Gulf of Mexico and Canada. Bombay Hook covers 16,000 acres and was established in 1937. Thanks to monies received from the Federal Duck Stamp program, which sells stamps to hunters, stamp collectors and conservationists, the park has been able to add more land to the park over the years. This important area is one of the largest unaltered tidal saltwater marshes in the mid-Atlantic area.
Now the 29th coin in the National Park quarter series, and the 4th issue of 2015, will honor this tidal, saltwater marsh. The park offers 12 miles of roads to tour the park, as well as hiking trails, allowing visitors access to the nearly 200 different bird species that pass through annually, as well as deer, fox, hermit crabs and more.
The new Kisatchie National Forest quarter, 27th issue of the series and the second design for 2015, is now in circulation. On April 22, 2015, the official launch ceremony for the new Kisatchie quarter took place at the Alexandria Riverfront Center in Alexandria, LA.
After the ceremony, a coin exchange was held where attendees were able to get $10 rolls of the new quarters at face value. This issue features a wild turkey flying above bluestem grass. Longleaf pine trees adorn the background. Add the new Kisatchie quarters to your collection now.
Blue Ridge Parkway Quarter design
On July 29, 2014, the U.S. Mint announced the final design for the Blue Ridge Parkway quarters. The reverse shows the graceful curvature of the roadway as it hugs the mountainside. A cluster of American dogwood (North Carolina’s state flower) adorns the foreground.
The inscriptions on the coin’s reverse include the name of the site: blue ridge parkway, north carolina, the year of issue: 2015, and the motto: e pluribus unum.
The handsome Blue Ridge Parkway quarter is a perfect match for the 2001 Statehood quarter, which also featured North Carolina, the park’s home state. As the 28th in the series overall, the Homestead quarter will be followed by designs honoring Bombay Hook and Saratoga parks.
Candidate designs for the Blue Ridge Parkway quarter
Early in 2014, both the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee and the Commission of Fine Arts reviewed several candidate designs for the reverse of the 2015 Blue Ridge Parkway quarter.
The CCAC gave their support to a design depicting the section of road located at the Linn Cove Viaduct. The last section of the parkway to be completed, it’s a marvel of engineering that was designed to hug Grandfather Mountain, rather than risk damaging the beloved landmark.
Conversely, the CFA did not recommend any of the design options. In fact, they had concerns over the number of designs that depicted the Linn Cove Viaduct, stating that it is not one of the parkway’s typical features. They also stated that the addition of an automobile on the road would help any of the designs by showing the roadway in use.
Located mostly in North Carolina and extending into Virginia, Blue Ridge Parkway is the longest stretch of road in the United States to be planned as a single unit. The parkway offers sweeping panoramic views and scenic overlooks to those who travel its 469-mile expanse.
March 17, 2015 – 11:08 am
Blue Ridge Parkway, North Carolina
Winding its way through the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina and into Virginia, the Blue Ridge Parkway holds beautiful scenic overlooks and sweeping panoramic views. The parkway is named for the bluish haze that surrounds the mountains, which is a result of hydrocarbons given off by trees in the region.
The region is ecologically diverse – it’s home to 74 different mammal species, as well as a wide variety of reptiles and birds. In fact, more than 50 species of salamanders alone have been identified within the parkway! From hiking and horseback riding to enjoying nature and more, Blue Ridge offers visitors a wide array of outdoor activities.
In all, 26 tunnels dot the Blue Ridge Parkway. Almost all are located in North Carolina – Virginia’s section of the roadway holds just one tunnel – mainly because it was harder to plot around North Carolina’s mountains.
Learn more about Blue Ridge Parkway.
