The 2016 America the Beautiful Silver Uncirculated Coins will be released by the US Mint as the collector versions of its 2016 America the Beautiful Silver Bullion Coins™. Both series are struck from five ounces of .999 fine silver with the bullion coins intended for investors and these America the Beautiful Five Ounce Silver Uncirculated Coins struck for collectors.
There will be several differences between the bullion and the uncirculated strikes aside from their intended markets. First, and probably most noticeable, the collector grade coins will feature an uncirculated finish. This finish is typically much more detailed than the bullion strike found on the investor-grade coins as the Mint uses additional pressure when striking each of the uncirculated issues.
Second, a ‘P’ mintmark will be found on each of the 2016 silver uncirculated issues indicating it was produced at the US Mint’s facility in Philadelphia. The associated bullion strikes are also produced in Philadelphia but will contain no mintmark as is common practice for bullion products released by the US Mint.
Finally, the method of distribution for the two series will be quite different. These collector grade coins will be sold directly to the public by the US Mint whereas the bullion strikes will be sold through the Mint’s network of authorized purchasers which obtains the coins in bulk, then resells them to local coin and precious metal dealers for a small premium above the current spot price of the silver they contain. These local dealers then offer the bullion to the public as a means of adding small amounts of precious metals to their portfolios.
Brief information for each of five 2016 America the Beautiful Five Ounce Uncirculated Silver Coins follows. Additional details for each may be found by following the provided links.
2016 Shawnee 5 Ounce Silver Uncirculated Coins
The Shawnee Silver Uncirculated Coins will mark the first 2016-dated release of the America the Beautiful Five Ounce Uncirculated Silver Coins Program. Shown on the reverse of these coins will be a design emblematic of Shawnee National Forest found in the state of Illinois.
Shawnee National Forest was officially declared in September of 1939 following several years of land acquisition by the federal government. During those years, approximately 265,616 acres were purchased which was mostly exhausted farmland and replanted with trees to create the forest.
2016 Cumberland Gap 5 Ounce Silver Uncirculated Coins
Honoring Cumberland Gap National Historical Park of Kentucky will be the 2016 Cumberland Gap Uncirculated Coins. These strikes will mark the thirty-second in the series which will include a total of fifty-six when completed in 2021.
Cumberland Gap National Historical Park was established on June 11, 1940 and is located on the border between Kentucky, Tennessee and Virginia. It preserves an area that has been used by man and animal for centuries as it is a sizable natural break in the otherwise difficult to traverse Appalachian mountain range.
2016 Harpers Ferry 5 Ounce Silver Uncirculated Coins
The third of five strikes to be issued in 2016 as part of the US Mint’s Five Ounce Uncirculated Coin program will be the Harpers Ferry Silver Uncirculated Coins. These strikes will contain a reverse design showcasing a portion of Harpers Ferry National Historical Park located in the state of West Virginia.
Harpers Ferry National Historical Park preserves and commemorates the area which has served as an important part of American history for centuries. It was used by many as an area to cross near the confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers and even played an important and strategic role during the American Civil War.
2016 Theodore Roosevelt 5 Ounce Silver Uncirculated Coins
The Theodore Roosevelt Silver Uncirculated Coins will be released by the US Mint in 2016 as the thirty-fourth issue of its five ounce uncirculated coin program. Strikes in this series are each composed of five ounces of .999 fine silver and feature a diameter of three inches.
These specific coins will honor Theodore Roosevelt National Park of North Dakota with a design located on their reverse. This national park is named after the 26th President of the United States Theodore Roosevelt who operated a ranch at the location in the 1880’s.
2016 Fort Moultrie 5 Ounce Silver Uncirculated Coins
Struck as the last 2016-dated release in the series will be the Fort Moultrie Silver Uncirculated Coins. These specific strikes will honor Fort Moultrie (part of Fort Sumter National Monument of South Carolina) with a reverse design emblematic of the location.
Fort Moultrie was originally built to help protect the harbor of Charleston, South Carolina during the American Revolutionary War. It did just that in 1776 when it defended Charleston during an attack by British war ships. It also played an important role during the American Civil War
A site dedicated to the series can be found by clicking 5 oz silver coins.
