By Brandon Champion of [email protected] - April 19, 2018

RED CLIFF, WI - Michigan's Pictured Rocks isn't the only national lakeshore that will be honored on a quarter in 2018.

Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, a group of 21 islands and shoreline located on the northern tip of Wisconsin in Lake Superior, is the latest release in the United States Mint's America the Beautiful Series honoring national parks and other national sites.

The coin is the second of five to be issued in 2018, and the 42nd release in the series overall. A quarter depicting Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore in Munising was released in February.

The Apostle Islands National Lakeshore quarter design depicts the sea caves at Devils Island with the lighthouse in the background and a kayaker paddling in the foreground. Inscriptions on the reverse are "APOSTLE ISLANDS," "WISCONSIN," "2018," and "E PLURIBUS UNUM."

The heads design depicts the 1932 restored portrait of George Washington by John Flanagan. Inscriptions are "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA," "LIBERTY," "IN GOD WE TRUST," and "QUARTER DOLLAR."

"Just as the guiding light beacons from the Devils Island lighthouse--as it has done for decades--the Apostle Islands Quarter will serve as a shining example of the inherent value of Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, and the people who protect it and frequent it...shedding light on its splendor, beauty and purpose, for future generations to follow," said Marc Landry, Acting Associate Director of the Mint's Numismatic and Bullion Directorate.

Launched in 2009, the America the Beautiful Quarters Program is a 12-year initiative that honors 56 national parks and other national sites.

Each year until 2020, the public will see five new national sites depicted on the reverses of the America the Beautiful Quarters coins, with a final coin scheduled for release in 2021.

The Mint is issuing these quarters according to the date each location was designated a national site.