2020 Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve Quarter P Mint

2020 America the Beautiful Quarters® Program –Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve Rolls and Bags sold from the United States mint

The Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve quarter is the fifth in 2020 and 55th overall in the America the Beautiful Quarters Program.

The preserve located in Kansas is the only site within the National Park Service dedicated to the rich natural history of the tallgrass prairie. It encompasses almost 11,000 acres and is located in the heart of the Flint Hills—the largest expanse of tallgrass prairie left in North America. Established in 1996, part of its mission is to interpret the region’s ranching legacy; a portion of the preserve is still grazed by cattle.

Tallgrass prairie is an incredibly diverse ecosystem. The preserve is home to more than 500 plant species. Prominent grasses such as big bluestem, Indian, switch, and little bluestem appear to dominate the plant community, but they are far outnumbered by the diversity of herbaceous plants (wildflowers). Fauna ranges from large grazing animals like deer, bison, and cattle to a multitude of insects, amphibians, reptiles, and other animal life. Grasslands birds, like greater prairie-chicken (a type of grouse), which have lost much of their native habitat, are of particular interest.

The reverse (tails) design features a skyward view of a Regal Fritillary butterfly against a backdrop of big bluestem and Indian grasses, iconic to Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve. Inscriptions are “TALLGRASS PRAIRIE,” “KANSAS,” “2020,” and “E PLURIBUS UNUM.”