Frank Church River of No Return Silver Bullion Coins

Appearing as the final 2019 strike of the US Mint’s America the Beautiful Silver Bullion Coins™ Program will be the 2019 Frank Church River of No Return Silver Bullion Coins. These will each be struck from five ounces of .999 fine silver and feature a diameter of three inches with a reverse design honoring a portion of the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness of Idaho.

Being struck from so much silver gives this series of bullion coins the distinction of being the largest bullion products produced by the US Mint. For reference, the Silver American Eagles only contain one ounce of the precious metal and have a diameter of 1.598 inches.

Congress created these strikes as part of Public Law 110-456 which was named the America’s Beautiful National Parks Quarter Dollar Coin Act of 2008. The fact that the name of the act contains quarters is not by accident as the circulating America the Beautiful Quarters® Program was the main purpose of the legislation. These bullion coins were created as large investment grade replicas of those quarter dollars.

Despite their intent for investors, many collectors will likely also be interested in adding these bullion coins to their collection. Accordingly, the US Mint will also strike a numismatic version known as the Frank Church River of No Return Silver Uncirculated Coin.

2019 Frank Church River of No Return Silver Coin Values

Struck to resemble the associated America the Beautiful Quarter, these 2019 Frank Church River of No Return Silver Bullion Coins will only have a face value of twenty-five cents like those quarter dollars. That face value, however, does not truly represent the real value of the strikes.

The real value can be found in either the strikes melt or numismatic value. Since each is struck from five ounces of silver, they will have a melt value approximately equal to what five ounces of the precious metal is currently trading for. Thus, if it is trading for $25 an ounce, these coins would have a melt value of about $125 – five ounces times $25 an ounce equals $125.

Finally, if collectors are interested in obtaining the strike, it will also have a numismatic value. This value typically carries a premium above the melt value which improves greatly based on the coins perceived rarity and condition.

The Coin Values Page will offer recent sales and melt value information once the coins have been issued by the US Mint.

Frank Church River of No Return Silver Bullion Coin Information

Each 2019 Frank Church River of No Return Silver Bullion Coin will feature a portrait of George Washington on their obverse like the associated quarter dollars do. John Flanagan created the original portrait for the 1932 circulating quarter dollar and it has appeared on the quarters in one form or another over since.

The reverse will be emblematic of the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness found in Idaho. A final design for the strike should be unveiled by the US Mint late in 2018 after it has been chosen by the Secretary of the Treasury.

Frank Church River of No Return Silver Coin Specifications