The 2013 America the Beautiful Silver Uncirculated Coins are the collector-grade versions of the US Mint’s America the Beautiful Silver Bullion Coin® Program. As such, these silver uncirculated coins are struck from five ounces of .999 fine silver just like the bullion coins, but are intended for collectors whereas the bullion coins are intended for investors.
2013 America the Beautiful Silver Coins
The intended market for both programs determined their slightly varying finishes, the main discernable difference between the strikes. The bullion coins are struck for investors and feature a bullion finish. In contrast, the uncirculated coins are made for collectors and feature an uncirculated finish which is typically better in detail than the bullion strikes.
Another difference between the two series is the inclusion of a mintmark on the America the Beautiful Uncirculated Coins. These strikes contain a ‘P’ mintmark indicating they were struck at the US Mint’s facility in Philadelphia. The bullion coins are also struck in Philadelphia but contain no mintmark.
Finally, the US Mint produces the two series in much different mintages. Many more of the bullion coins are produced than the uncirculated variety.
Those differences aside, the two series will be extremely similar as both are struck with the same designs taken from the US Mint’s America the Beautiful Quarters® Program. These similarities are not by accident as Congress authorized both the quarters and the bullion coins with the same piece of legislation, Public Law 110-456 (America’s Beautiful National Parks Quarter Dollar Coin Act of 2008). The America the Beautiful Silver Uncirculated Coins are being produced under the authority granted the Treasury Secretary in 31 U.S.C. §5111(a) (3).
Brief information for each of five 2013 America the Beautiful Five Ounce Uncirculated Silver Coins follows. Additional details for each may be found by following the provided links.
2013 White Mountain 5 Ounce Silver Uncirculated Coins
2013 White Mountain Silver Coin
The White Mountain Silver Uncirculated Coins contain a reverse design emblematic of White Mountain National Forest found in the state of New Hampshire. They mark the sixteenth in the series which debuted with five 2010 year-dated strikes.
White Mountain National Forest consists of 784,505 acres and was originally established in 1918 following several years of federal land acquisition to create the forest. While a majority of the forest is located in New Hampshire and represents that state for the sake of this coin, a small portion of the forest is actually located in the neighboring state of Maine as well.
2013 Perry’s Victory 5 Ounce Silver Uncirculated Coins
2013 Perry’s Victory Silver Coin
The Perry’s Victory Silver Uncirculated Coins are struck from five ounces of .999 fine silver just like the other coins in the series. However, the reverse of this strike contains a design showcasing a portion of Perry’s Victory and International Peace Memorial found in the state of Ohio.
This memorial was originally established in 1912 by a multi-state commission. However, following several years of funding shortages, the federal government assumed control in 1919 with a formal dedication in 1931. The site commemorates the victory by Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry over British Naval forces during the War of 1812 and also acknowledges the lasting peace that has occurred between Great Britain, Canada and the United States ever since.
2013 Great Basin 5 Ounce Silver Uncirculated Coins
2013 Great Basin Silver Coin
Honoring Great Basin National Park of Nevada with a reverse design emblematic of the location is the Great Basin Silver Uncirculated Coins. The obverse contains a portrait of George Washington – the same portrait of the first President of the United States found on all of the obverses of each America the Beautiful related coin.
Great Basin National Park is located several hours north of Las Vegas. The park is relatively new and was only officially established on October 27, 1986 but a portion of the park known as Lehman Caves was created as a national monument back in 1922.
2013 Fort McHenry 5 Ounce Silver Uncirculated Coins
2013 Fort McHenry Silver Coin
The Fort McHenry Silver Uncirculated Coins were issued by the United States Mint to honor Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine found in the state of Delaware. As such, the reverse of the coins contain an image emblematic of the monument.
Fort McHenry can be traced back to post American Revolutionary War times when it was built to protect Baltimore Harbor. It did exactly that during the War of 1812 against British Naval forces and even inspired Francis Scott Key to write "The Star-Spangled Banner" poem which would eventually become the national anthem of the United States.
2013 Mount Rushmore 5 Ounce Silver Uncirculated Coins
2013 Mount Rushmore Silver Coin
Also struck from five ounces of .999 fine silver by the United States Mint are the Mount Rushmore Silver Uncirculated Coins honoring Mount Rushmore National Memorial of South Dakota. These strikes represent the last of five 2013-dated strikes in the series and also mark the twentieth in the series as a whole which dates back to five 2010-dated coins.
Construction on Mount Rushmore National Memorial began in 1927 and was completed in 1941 to its current appearance. Found on the mountain are the likenesses of four former Presidents of the United States – George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt.
A site dedicated to the series can be found by clicking 5 oz silver coins.
