America The Beautiful
The America the Beautiful 5 oz Coin Series is a collection of large silver bullion coins issued by the United States Mint. The series was introduced in 2010 and continued until 2021, commemorating national parks, historic sites, and natural landmarks from each U.S. state, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories. These coins are part of the America the Beautiful Quarters Program, but they are significantly larger and made of silver, making them attractive to both investors and collectors.
Key Features of the America the Beautiful 5 oz Coin Series:
1. Design:
- Obverse (Front):
- The obverse design of each coin features a portrait of George Washington, based on the familiar design used on the Washington quarter. The design is slightly modified for the larger 5 oz coin format to fit the increased size.
- The obverse also includes the inscriptions “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA”, “LIBERTY”, “IN GOD WE TRUST”, and the coin's face value of “QUARTER DOLLAR”.
- Reverse (Back):
- The reverse of each coin highlights a significant national park or historic site from one of the U.S. states, the District of Columbia, or U.S. territories. The designs change with each coin to showcase a different location, focusing on the natural beauty and cultural heritage of the United States.
- Each reverse design includes the name of the site, the state or territory, and the year of issue.
2. Size and Composition:
- Weight: Each coin weighs 5 troy ounces (155.5 grams) of silver.
- Purity: The coins are made of .999 fine silver (99.9% purity), making them attractive to silver investors.
- Diameter: 76.2 mm (3 inches), which is much larger than a standard quarter, giving these coins a substantial presence.
- Thickness: 4.064 mm.
- Face Value: Each coin has a nominal face value of 25 cents (quarter dollar), though its actual value is based on its silver content and collector interest.
3. Types of Coins:
- Bullion Version: The bullion version is intended primarily for investors. It has a matte finish and lacks a mintmark. These coins are distributed through authorized dealers and are typically sold at prices tied to the market price of silver.
- Uncirculated (Collector) Version: The uncirculated version is aimed at collectors and has a special satin finish with a “P” mintmark (for the Philadelphia Mint). These coins are sold directly by the U.S. Mint in special packaging and generally carry a higher premium than the bullion versions.
4. Program Overview:
- Duration: The America the Beautiful 5 oz Coin Series ran from 2010 to 2021.
- Total Coins: The series includes a total of 56 different designs, one for each U.S. state, the District of Columbia, and five U.S. territories (Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Northern Mariana Islands).
- Release Schedule: Each year, five different coins were issued, each featuring a different national park or historic site.
5. Notable Designs:
Some of the most popular and notable designs in the series include: - Grand Canyon National Park (Arizona) - Yosemite National Park (California) - Mount Rushmore National Memorial (South Dakota) - Yellowstone National Park (Wyoming) - Great Smoky Mountains National Park (Tennessee) - Everglades National Park (Florida)
Each design captures the essence of America's natural beauty, historic landmarks, or cultural heritage, making this series a celebration of the nation's diversity and landscape.
6. Investment and Collectibility:
- Bullion Appeal: With 5 troy ounces of .999 fine silver, these coins offer a substantial amount of silver in a single piece, making them appealing to investors who want to add large quantities of silver to their portfolios. Their silver content makes them an attractive choice for those seeking exposure to physical silver.
- Collector Appeal: The large size of the coin allows for more detailed and intricate designs compared to standard quarters, making them appealing to numismatists and collectors. The uncirculated version, with its special satin finish and limited mintage, is especially popular with collectors.
7. Packaging:
- Bullion Version: Sold through authorized dealers, often without special packaging.
- Uncirculated Version: Sold by the U.S. Mint with special packaging, including a presentation box and certificate of authenticity.
Summary of Key Features:
Characteristic | Details |
————————– | —————————————————————- |
Introduced | 2010 |
Concluded | 2021 |
Total Coins | 56 (One for each state, D.C., and U.S. territories) |
Metal Composition | .999 fine silver (99.9% purity) |
Weight | 5 troy ounces (155.5 grams) |
Diameter | 76.2 mm (3 inches) |
Face Value | 25 cents (Quarter Dollar) |
Finishes | Bullion and Uncirculated (Collector's version with “P” mintmark) |
Notable Designs | Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Mount Rushmore, Yosemite, Everglades |
Conclusion:
The America the Beautiful 5 oz Coin Series is a unique collection of large, 5 oz silver coins celebrating the natural beauty and historical significance of the United States. With 56 different designs showcasing national parks and historic sites, the series offers both investment value in the form of 5 ounces of pure silver and collector appeal with intricate designs and limited mintage versions. Whether you're an investor looking for silver bullion or a collector interested in American history and culture, the America the Beautiful 5 oz series provides a beautiful and substantial addition to any collection or investment portfolio.
The America the Beautiful 5 oz Silver Coin Series ran from 2010 to 2021, with a total of 56 coins issued, each representing a national park or historic site from a U.S. state, territory, or the District of Columbia. The coins were produced in both bullion and collector (uncirculated) versions, with varying mintages each year.
Mintage Amounts (Bullion Version) by Year and Design:
- 2010 (First Year): All five coins had a mintage of 33,000 each. This includes:
- Hot Springs National Park (Arkansas)
- Yellowstone National Park (Wyoming)
- Yosemite National Park (California)
- Grand Canyon National Park (Arizona)
- Mount Hood National Forest (Oregon)
- 2011: Mintages increased to meet demand, with most designs ranging from 48,700 to 126,700. Notable mintages include:
- Gettysburg National Military Park: 126,700
- Olympic National Park: 104,900
- Vicksburg National Military Park: 58,100
- 2012: Mintages were generally lower, averaging around 20,000 to 25,400 for most designs:
- Hawaii Volcanoes National Park: 20,000
- El Yunque National Forest: 24,000
- 2013-2014: Mintages began to stabilize between 22,000 and 34,000 for many of the designs, including:
- Great Sand Dunes National Park (2014): 22,000
- Everglades National Park (2014): 34,000
- 2015-2020: In the later years, the mintages ranged widely, with some designs reaching up to 80,000 (e.g., Block Island National Wildlife Refuge, 2018). Mintages during this period fluctuated between 20,000 and 80,000, depending on demand.
- 2021 (Final Year): The final design, Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site, had a mintage of 20,000.
The collector (uncirculated) versions typically had lower mintages than their bullion counterparts, with most ranging between 14,000 and 27,000.
For more detailed breakdowns of specific mintage amounts for each coin, you can explore resources such as the U.S. Mint and numismatic databases【98†source】【100†source】【99†source】.
The America the Beautiful 5 oz Silver Coin Series is a large bullion coin program issued by the United States Mint. Launched in 2010 and running until 2021, this series features designs based on the America the Beautiful Quarters Program, which celebrates U.S. national parks, historic sites, and natural landmarks. Each coin contains 5 troy ounces of .999 fine silver and measures 76.2 mm (3 inches) in diameter, making it one of the largest bullion coins produced by the U.S. Mint.
Key Features of the America the Beautiful 5 oz Coin Series:
1. Design:
- Obverse: Each coin's obverse features the familiar portrait of George Washington, modeled after the design used on the Washington quarter.
- Reverse: The reverse side showcases a unique design representing a significant national park or historic site from each U.S. state, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories. Each year, five different designs were released.
2. Silver Content and Specifications:
- Weight: 5 troy ounces (155.5 grams).
- Purity: 99.9% fine silver.
- Diameter: 76.2 mm (3 inches).
- Face Value: 25 cents (Quarter Dollar), though its actual value is based on silver content.
- Edge: The coins feature edge inscriptions with the weight and purity (.999 FINE SILVER 5.0 OUNCE).
3. Bullion and Collector Versions:
- Bullion Version: Intended for investment purposes, the bullion coins are sold through authorized dealers and have a matte finish with no mintmark.
- Uncirculated (Collector's) Version: Sold directly by the U.S. Mint to collectors, these coins feature a satin finish and a P mintmark (for the Philadelphia Mint). They come with special packaging and a certificate of authenticity.
4. Total Coins and Release Schedule:
- 56 Coins Total: The series includes 56 designs in total, covering all 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, and five U.S. territories (Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, U.S. Virgin Islands, Northern Mariana Islands).
- Release Schedule: Five coins were released each year, from 2010 to 2021.
5. Notable Coins:
Some of the most popular and notable designs in the series include: - Yellowstone National Park (Wyoming) – 2010 - Yosemite National Park (California) – 2010 - Mount Rushmore National Memorial (South Dakota) – 2013 - Everglades National Park (Florida) – 2014 - Grand Canyon National Park (Arizona) – 2010
6. Mintage and Collectibility:
- Bullion Mintage: The mintage numbers for bullion versions varied, with early years (2010) having lower mintages (around 33,000), and later years seeing higher production based on demand. Bullion versions typically have higher mintages than collector's versions.
- Collector's Mintage: Uncirculated versions generally have smaller mintages, often between 14,000 and 27,000 per coin, making them more collectible.
Investment and Collectibility:
- Investment Appeal: The 5 oz coins are valued for their silver content, making them a popular investment choice for those seeking exposure to physical silver. Their large size and high silver purity provide substantial value. - Collector Appeal: The unique designs, large size, and limited mintage of uncirculated versions make them appealing to numismatists and collectors. Special releases and proof versions also attract premium pricing.
Conclusion:
The America the Beautiful 5 oz Silver Coin Series is both an investment vehicle and a collector's item, celebrating the natural beauty and history of the United States. With its large size, high silver content, and detailed designs, this series is one of the most notable modern bullion coin programs from the U.S. Mint.
For detailed mintage numbers and more specifics on each year's designs, you can visit trusted numismatic sites or the U.S. Mint's official page.