Commems Collection Modern: 2005 California Statehood Quarter - Yosemite Set

Back in 2013, after the US Mint's Statehood Quarters Program had been completed for a few years, I posted about a special package for the California Quarter - sponsored by Wells Fargo - that was truly a step above what I had seen for other coins of the program.

You can check it out here:

- 2005 California Statehood Quarter

Within that post I stated:



I recently came across another "official" package for the California Quarter and I thought I would share it here (even though it's not for a different Statehood Quarter it's still a nice, non-commercial, philanthropic product that I can support). The Set proudly proclaims that the California Quarters it contains are "A Celebration of California's Landscape, Wildlife, and Commitment to Preservation." IMO, based on the coin's design elements, the claim is justified.

The package was sponsored by the Yosemite Association and includes a pair of Uncirculated California Quarters - one struck in Philadelphia and one in Denver. (Though a Proof version of the California Quarter was struck in San Francisco, California, the package features only "imported" coins () from Pennsylvania and Colorado.) The two quarters are encased in a small sleeve that is inserted into cutouts on the Set's interior flap. (The coin sleeve is easily removed, which is necessary to examine the other side of the two quarters.)

Note: The Yosemite Association was a non-profit group that was organized in 1923 to support Yosemite National Park - financially and through volunteer assistance programs. The organization merged with the similarly-focused fundraising group - the Yosemite Foundation in December 2009. The merged organization currently operates as The Yosemite Conservancy.

The Yosemite Set folder, developed by MPI Coin of Grafton, Wisconsin. MPI Coin was a marketing company that offered design, production and distribution services for collectible coin products. Parent company, MPI - Making A Positive Impact, is still in business - as an "outsourced sales partner" - with MPI Coin becoming Coins of America. (COA). COA markets a variety of coin products, including similar coin folders for all of the Statehood Quarters, the America the Beautiful Quarters, Presidential dollar Coins and others. COA's private-label California Quarter folder is available for purchase directly from COA for $12.95. (Note: The COA folder is not the same as the Yosemite Park Folder presented here.)

The six-panel coin folder was sold by the Yosemite Association for $5.95, with net proceeds supporting its various Yosemite National Park programs.

The Front Cover of the package presents an impressive view of Yosemite Valley within the National Park. The original painting was the work of Chris Jorgensen. It also has a cut-out to afford a view of the two California Statehood Quarters included in the Set.

Yosemite Association California Quarter Set - Front Cover


The Inside Front Cover presents the same Yosemite Valley view as the Front Cover; the relative position of the cut-out affords a different perspective on the Valley's features.

Yosemite Association California Quarter Set - Inside Front Cover


The Folder's Interior Flap / Front focuses on naturalist/conservationist John Muir and the efforts that earned him the title "Greatest Californian."

Yosemite Association California Quarter Set - Interior Flap / Front


The Folder's Interior Flap / Back presents another view of Yosemite National Park by Chris Jorgensen. Jorgensen (b. 1860, d. 1935) was born in Norway. He moved with his mother and siblings to San Francisco, California in 1870. A noted painter of landscapes, Jorgensen is best-remembered for his paintings of Yosemite (~200) and California's 21 Franciscan missions (>55).

Yosemite Association California Quarter Set - Interior Flap / Back


The Inside Back Cover panel of the Folder provides a very brief introduction to California's Statehood roots, the work of John Muir, Yosemite National Park, the Sierra Club and the California Condor.

Yosemite Association California Quarter Set - Inside Back Cover


The Back Cover of the Folder focuses on the California Statehood Quarter and its design.

Yosemite Association California Quarter Set - Back Cover



For more of my topics on commemorative coins and medals, including other modern US commemorative coin stories, see: Commems Collection.