Struck as the collector-grade versions of the US Mint’s 2012 5-ounce America the Beautiful Silver Bullion Coins® are the 2012 America the Beautiful Silver Uncirculated Coins. Both series feature similar specifications but are struck to a different quality and are intended for different buyers.
2012 America the Beautiful Silver Coins
As the names of the strikes indicate, the bullion coins feature a bullion finish whereas the uncirculated coins feature an uncirculated finish. The latter of which typically results in more detail as the uncirculated coins are struck with more pressure when first produced by the US Mint.
Also, the bullion strikes are intended for investors and are sold through the Mint’s network of authorized purchasers for as close to the current spot price as possible of the five ounces of silver contained within them. Conversely, the America the Beautiful Silver Uncirculated Coins are created for collectors and are sold directly to the public by the US Mint for a significant premium above the melt value of the silver within them.
Both series of silver coins are based on the circulating America the Beautiful Quarters® Program, also from the US Mint. The strikes all contain the same basic obverse and reverse designs with the significant differences coming in the size of the silver coins in comparison to the quarter. Also, the five ounce coins have an edge inscription indicating their weight and fineness whereas the quarters have a reeded edge.
Congress authorized the quarters as well as the bullion coins with the passage of Public Law 110-456, Title II known as the "America’s Beautiful National Parks Quarter Dollar Coin Act of 2008." These related five ounce uncirculated coins are produced under the authority granted the Treasury Secretary in 31 U.S.C. §5111(a) (3) allowing them the discretion to produce and sell numismatic products. All three series will feature five year-dated strikes produced by the Mint beginning in 2010 and ending with a single strike in 2021 (unless the Secretary of the Treasury opts to continue the series and informs Congress of such in the time allotted).
Each of these large silver coins features a diameter of three inches as originally required by law for the bullion strikes, although the US Mint does now have the discretion to adjust that diameter anywhere between 2.5 and 3.0 inches. They each contain five ounces of .999 fine silver making them the largest precious metal coins produced by the US Mint.
Brief information for each of five 2012 America the Beautiful Five Ounce Uncirculated Silver Coins follows. Additional details for each may be found by following the provided links.
2012 El Yunque 5 Ounce Silver Uncirculated Coins
2012 El Yunque Silver Coin
The El Yunque Silver Uncirculated Coins showcases a reverse design emblematic of El Yunque National Forest found in the United States territory of Puerto Rico. The coin was the first to appear in the series in 2012 and also marked the eleventh for the program overall.
El Yunque National Forest has the distinction of being the only tropical rain forest in the National Forest System. It was created officially by the United States in 1903, but its protection dates back to 1876 when the King of Spain decreed the land a reserve area.
2012 Chaco Culture 5 Ounce Silver Uncirculated Coins
2012 Chaco Culture Silver Coin
Honoring Chaco Culture National Historical Park of New Mexico is the Chaco Culture Silver Uncirculated Coins produced from five ounces of silver by the United States Mint. These coins mark the twelfth for the series which debuted with 2010-dated strikes and the second for the program to be issued in 2012.
Chaco Culture National Historical Park was initially established as a national monument on March 11, 1907 by President Theodore Roosevelt. Its designation changed to that of a national historical park in 1980 and today encompasses approximately 34,000 set aside to preserve one of the most exceptional concentrations of Native American pueblos in the United States.
2012 Acadia 5 Ounce Silver Uncirculated Coins
2012 Acadia Silver Coin
The Acadia Silver Uncirculated Coins are the third release in 2012 of the uncirculated five ounce series from the US Mint and honors Acadia National Park of Maine. The coins also mark the thirteenth coin for the program which dates back to 2010 and sees five year-dated coins produced by the US Mint annually as part of it.
Acadia National Park protects several small islands of the Atlantic Coast of Maine including Mount Desert Island. The park was originally established in 1916, but was not known as Acadia until it was renamed in 1929.
2012 Hawaii Volcanoes 5 Ounce Silver Uncirculated Coins
2012 Hawaii Volcanoes Silver Coin
The Hawaii Volcanoes Silver Uncirculated Coins were struck to honor Hawaii Volcanoes National Park found on the big island in the state of Hawaii. The fourth strike in the series to appear in 2012, these coins feature a reverse design emblematic of the park.
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park was originally created on August 1, 1916 marking the eleventh national park created by the United States. It preserves and protects the area around two of the world’s most active volcanoes, Kīlauea and Mauna Loa.
2012 Denali 5 Ounce Silver Uncirculated Coins
2012 Denali Silver Coin
Honoring Denali National Park of Alaska with a reverse design emblematic of the location are the five ounce Denali Silver Uncirculated Coins. These coins mark the last of the 2012-dated coins in the series which dates back to 2010 and will see five year-dated coins issued annually as part of it until the original program is completed in 2021.
The park was originally created as Mount McKinley National Park on February 26, 1917. It was named after Mount McKinley which is now found within its borders, however, locals have always called the mountain Denali. Accordingly, the park was renamed in 1980.
A site dedicated to the series can be found by clicking 5 oz silver coins.
