Numismatic

2018-S ATB Quarter Cumberland Island National Seashore BU

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The 2018 San Francisco minted quarter shines a spotlight on the natural wonders of Cumberland Island National Seashore. Standing as the forty-fourth release in the fifty-six part America the Beautiful series, this coin honors a pristine coastal sanctuary. Originally proposed for protection in 1972, the area officially became part of the National Park System in 1982. As the largest of Georgia's Golden Isles, Cumberland Island remains an isolated paradise accessible solely by boat, where daily visitor numbers are capped at 300 to preserve its fragile environment. This barrier island represents Georgia's most biodiverse coastal ecosystem, boasting twenty-three distinct ecological communities that range from freshwater lakes and marshes to windswept dunes and sandy beaches. The reverse of the coin captures the serene essence of this protected landscape. Inscriptions on this side include the location name "CUMBERLAND ISLAND", the state "GEORGIA", the year "2018", and the traditional motto "E PLURIBUS UNUM". The obverse displays the classic portrait of George Washington. Surrounding the presidential profile are the familiar inscriptions "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA", "LIBERTY", "IN GOD WE TRUST", and the denomination "QUARTER DOLLAR". Struck in brilliant uncirculated condition, this copper-nickel clad coin carries the "S" mint mark, denoting its origin from the San Francisco Mint.