Pay attention to the quarters in your pocket. You may find a new one that is a tribute to the Kisatche National Forest.
The U.S. Mint officially releases its next quarter April 22 in Alexandria as part of its America the Beautiful Quarters Program. It’s the 27th coin to be released as part of this program that began in 2010 honoring national sites in all 50 states.
Kisatchie National Forest public affairs officer Jim Caldwell says the tail’s side design features a wild turkey in flight over blue stem grass with long leaf pine in the backdrop.
“People will be getting them from the bank. They’ll be getting them in change, and they’ll have them in their pockets. Turkey season just started. My new motto is: A turkey in every pot, a quarter in every pocket. What could be better than that?” Caldwell said.
At the ceremony’s coin exchange, Red River Bank will exchange $50,000 of uncirculated quarter rolls, according to Caldwell.
The U.S. Mint’s B.B. Craig says about 394 million Kisatchie coins will be produced. The Kisatchie quarter hits home for Craig, who is an associate director for health, safety and environment at the Mint. While serving in the U.S. Army, the Shreveport native was stationed at Fort Polk and saw wild turkeys up close.
“To see it to come to life on a coin, I think that’s phenomenal. This is for perpetuity. People who collect coins have coins that are hundreds of years old,” Craig said, from his Washington, D.C. office.
A new quarter design takes years to get to your pocket. The treasury secretary signs off on a design. Craig says former Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner approved the Kisatchie quarter.
The quarter launch and coin exchange event begins at 10 a.m., Wednesday, April 22, at the Alexandria Riverfront Center. Attendees 18 and younger receive a Kisatchie quarter in a commemorative case.
Craig will host a coin Q-and-A forum Tuesday, April 21, from 6 – 7 p.m. at the Kent Plantation House in Alexandria.
Follow the event on Twitter #KisatchieQTR.
