So I was just reading about the designs of the final 6 ATB quarters for 2020/21. There will of course be the requisite five in 2020 (VI, KS, VT, CT, and AS) with Alabama being the last one in 2021. I haven't seen any discussions of the actual plans for the final year but was wondering if the AL ATB quarter will be the ONLY quarter in 2021 (which would absolutely skew the mintage ratios in relation to the rest of the ATB quarters) or will the mint return to a generic Washington quarter for the final 4/5ths of the year, or will they continue on with a new program starting in March/April? I would prefer option #2.
What happens next is in current law. A second round of ATB is authorized but has to be selected by Mnuchin very soon. Failing that, or new legislation, the new standard quarter design becomes the old Washington portrait on the obverse, and a representation of Washington Crossing the Delaware on the reverse.
So in scenario #1, we'd have the Alabama from ATB series 1, and then 4 new quarters starting over with Arkansas (wasn't that the first one?) in ATB series 2? In scenario #2, we'd have Alabama and then, starting in approximately March/April, the old Washington portrait moving forward?
If we get a second round of ATB, the order would be determined by an as yet undetermined rule. This law is easily researchable on the U.S. Mint's website, you know.
I would prefer the single design but of course I think a second round is 99% likely to happen. They will forever milk these types of things.
