Michigan’s Scenic U.P. to be featured on U.S quarter
Starting next week, an area considered one of the most treasured landmarks of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula won’t have the chance to be hidden anymore.
The United States Mint is launching a quarter to honor the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.
Pictured Rocks Coin Dies, courtesy of usmint.gov
It’s a beautiful rendition of the stunning red rock with a white pine tree on top it – a famous spot called Chapel Rock.
The Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is nestled along Lake Superior for 42 miles from Munising to Grand Marais in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. It’s lined with rock formations that are stained in several tones of reddish colors, natural archways, waterfalls, caves and sand dunes. Some of the rock arches look like castles and human profiles.
Sharon Hollingshead at People’s State Bank of Munising, which is sponsoring a quarter launch and coin exchange to celebrate the newly minted coin, tells Great Lakes Now, “We’re very excited to have our own backyard featured on the quarter. This is something that’s only a few miles away that we can see and enjoy any time. But now, everyone’s going to know about it – and hopefully come visit and enjoy it too!”
The People’s Bank is holding an open house on February 7th to celebrate.
The U.S. Mint is conducting a ceremony, too, held at 10 a.m. on the same day at Mather’s Elementary Auditorium in Munising, for the “America the Beautiful” Quarters Program.
It’s the 41st release in the series, a 12-year program that honors all 56 National Parks as well as other National sites.
The Mint is issuing these quarters in the order in which the national sites were officially established.
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore quarter engraver Michael Gaudioso says as he worked on the project, he was “amazed at how incredible nature can be, and create an image all on its own.”
Gaudioso says the quarter series featuring National Parks “opens our eyes up to the things we haven’t seen in this country.”
The Michigan quarter featuring the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, which will begin
appearing across the country next week, will be inscribed with the words “Great Lakes State”.
