Release: MONDAY October 14, 2019
I, along with countless others who bother to glance at their pocket change, am an ardent fan of the new “America The Beautiful” quarter series now being distributed. These feature interesting destinations in the United States. Some are National Parks or historic sites. Others are designated areas of particular beauty or importance.
The new coins follow on the heels of the wildly popular “50 State Quarters” series. Those featured things of intrigue about each of the states and territories. Committees in each state submitted ideas for what designs should be on the coin. The US Mint either accepted or modified the proposals. Then, artists at the Mint were tasked with creating images for the coin to reflect the ideas....
Most committees were happy with the outcome. A few others, not so much. It all came down to who thought what was important and how it was portrayed. It harkens back to the classic quote by ad exec David Ogilvy, “Search all the parks in all your cities, you’ll find no statues for committees.”
It’s hard to say what the reaction will be to the newest America The Beautiful quarter showcasing the “River of No Return Wilderness” area in Idaho. Actually, it’s much more than just an “area.” At over 2.3 million acres, it’s the largest federally managed wildlife area in the US outside of Alaska. It takes up a massive chunk of central Idaho. For perspective, it’s almost twice the size of Delaware and three times the size of Rhode Island.
It’s called the River of No Return because of the extensive white water rapids on the Salmon River. The current is so swift it makes any hope of traveling back upstream and returning virtually impossible. The territory continues through mountain ranges, canyons, forests and open ranges.
This newest coin in the quarter series features an image of an individual in a rowboat as he/she navigates the rushing whitewater rapids of the river. In the background are canyon walls and towering conifer trees on mountain slopes in front of an extra-spacious sky. Around the image is the inscription, “River Of No Return Wilderness Idaho 2019 E Pluribus Unum.”
The depiction is compelling and a nice slice of the massive region. The only thing missing is any vestige of the incredible wildlife to which the land plays host. It is the most critical habitat for wolverines in the lower 48 states. Add to that a healthy population of black bears and mountain lions, gray wolves, lynx, coyote, red fox and bighorn sheep, mountain goats, elk, moose, white tail deer and beaver.
I saved beavers for last. Not because they’re unimportant but because they almost didn’t make the list. At one point, all beavers had been overhunted to the point of extinction.
Some landowners may disagree but beavers are an important element in water and land conservation. By the 1940s it was evident their absence could create a problem for the River Of No Return territory. But, how to reintroduce them into isolated wilderness area inaccessible by conventional vehicles?
The solution was inventive and, I swear, I’m not making this up. After widespread success by troops in Europe during World War II parachutes seemed reasonable. To effectuate it, in 1948, beavers were trapped elsewhere and placed into boxes held together by the tension of straps attached to small parachutes. In those, countless of the buck-toothed mammals were dropped by plane into the River Of No Return landscape. The boxes opened (we hope) and out they scampered.
I’m not one for idle conjecture but I know in whatever way beavers communicate, the experiential tales they were able to pass down to subsequent beaver generations were nothing short of epic.
Given the spectacular nature of the beaver airdrop I can’t help but wonder why – in the large expanse of sky included on the coin – one or two parachuting beavers couldn’t have been added. Nothing cartoony. Just a descending beaver or two. I mean, seriously…think about it. If you want to enthrall the public, get them talking, teach some history and entice kids to collect US coins what better way to do it than skydiving beavers? Where have you gone Marlin Perkins?
Either way, the new quarters will soon be appearing in pocket change and cash registers. Those seeking uncirculated or proof versions can order them in rolls or bags directly from the Mint by logging onto www.USMint.gov.