2016-S ATB Quarter Cumberland Gap Nat. Hist. Park Gem Proof

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The 2016-S America the Beautiful quarter honors the Cumberland Gap National Historical Park, located in Kentucky. This specific coin features a Gem Proof finish, struck at the San Francisco Mint. The Cumberland Gap served as a crucial natural break in the Appalachian Mountains, utilized first by Native Americans and later by early pioneers pushing toward the western frontier. Its strategic value was also recognized during the American Civil War, and the area was officially designated as a National Historical Park in 1940. On the reverse side, the design depicts an early frontiersman looking out across the gap toward the western horizon. The inscriptions on this side include "CUMBERLAND GAP", "KENTUCKY", "E PLURIBUS UNUM", and the year "2016", alongside the evocative phrase "FIRST DOORWAY TO THE WEST". The obverse features the classic portrait of George Washington. Surrounding the president's likeness are the traditional inscriptions "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA", "LIBERTY", "IN GOD WE TRUST", and the denomination "QUARTER DOLLAR". The "S" mint mark is also visible, denoting its origin from the San Francisco minting facility.