The United States Mint (Mint) joined the National Park Service (NPS) today to celebrate the release of the America the Beautiful Quarters® Program coin honoring Pictured Rocks National Lakeshorein Michigan. The coin is the first of five America the Beautiful Quarters to be issued in 2018, and the 41st release in the series.

The reverse (tails) of the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore quarter depicts Chapel Rock and the white pine tree that grows atop it. Inscriptions are "PICTURED ROCKS," "MICHIGAN," "2018," and "EPLURIBUS UNUM."

"This new coin not only reflects one of the many unique features of the longest freshwater coastline in the United States, but also the breathtaking natural beauty of the state," said Marc Landry,a Michigan native and Acting Associate Director of the Mint's Numismatic and Bullion Directorate.

More than 450 schoolchildren, along with local residents, gathered in the Mather Elementary School auditorium for the ceremony, led by Katherine Reynolds, Executive Director of the GreaterMunising Bay Partnership for Commerce Development, the Alger County Chamber of Commerce and the Munising Downtown Development Authority. Additional ceremony participants included Timothy Williams,Deputy Director of External Affairs at the Department of the Interior, on behalf of Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke; Jay Gage, Upper Peninsula Regional Manager, on behalf of Senator Debbie Stabenow;Katelyn Rader, Upper Peninsula Regional Coordinator, for Senator Gary Peters; David Horne, Superintendent of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore; and the Munising High School Concert Choir, whichprovided pre- and post-event music. Paul Balan, Mint Artistic Infusion Program designer of the quarter, received special recognition during the ceremony which culminated in an exchange of $10 rollsof newly minted quarters.

Marc Landry, Acting Associate Director of the Numismatic & Bullion Directorate, United States Mint, presents Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore quarters struck on the first day of production toPictured Rocks National Lakeshore Superintendent David Horne

"America's public lands are full of postcard worthy places, like one of Michigan's best kept secrets, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore," said U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke."With its awe-inspiring scenery and amazing year-round recreational opportunities, it is a testament that not all of our great public lands are located out West. Whether you want to hunt and fish orbike and kayak, its sandstone cliffs, towering waterfalls, hardwood forest, and miles of beaches offer something for all visitors."

Authorized by Public Law 110-456 and launched in 2009, the America the Beautiful Quarters Program is a 12-year program that honors 56 national parks and other national sites. Each year until 2020,the public will see five new national sites depicted on the reverses of the America the Beautiful Quarters coins. A final coin will be released in 2021.

The Mint is issuing these quarters in the order in which each honored location was first established as a national site.

To read the complete press release, see:
United States Mint Launches 41st America the Beautiful Quarters® Program Coin(http://www.prweb.com/releases/2018/02/prweb15181989.htm)

Sculptor-Engraver Michael Gaudioso discusses his work on the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore coin, the first in the 2018 America the Beautiful Quarters collection.

To watch the complete videos, see:
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore (2018)(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mlL7xqf8pfc&list=PLoycqRjxZI6Y5A9igJnCtTuDMZhVoyM_9)
Pictured Rocks AtB B-Roll(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmG7xmYQuKw&index=2&list=PLoycqRjxZI6Y5A9igJnCtTuDMZhVoyM_9)