2012-P Chaco Culture 5 Ounce Silver Uncirculated Coin Released

The United States Mint placed the 2012-P Chaco Culture National Historical Park 5 Ounce Silver Uncirculated Coin on sale today, July 9, 2012.

Pricing for the uncirculated coin, which contains a reverse design emblematic of the national historical park found in New Mexico, is listed at $204.95.

This Chaco Culture Silver Coin marks the second of the America the Beautiful coins launched in 2012 and the twelfth overall from the program. The series debuted with five 2010-dated strikes and features five new issues annually.

Each new release honors a different site of national interest from around the United States and its territories with a design located on the reverse. These reverse designs were originally created for an associated series of circulating coins known as the America the Beautiful Quarters®. The obverse of each America the Beautiful coin is also taken from the quarters and showcases the same basic portrait of George Washington that has been seen on circulating quarter dollars since 1932.

Chaco Culture Coin Designs and Specifications

Strikes of the America the Beautiful Five Ounce Uncirculated Coin™ series are each composed of five ounces of .999 fine silver. The coins have the extremely large diameter of three inches.

These are the same specifications used by the U.S. Mint for companion bullion coins which also feature the same designs as these uncirculated coins and the quarters. However, whereas the bullion coins are struck for investors and sold through the U.S. Mint’s network of authorized purchasers for a small premium above the current spot price of the silver they contain, the uncirculated coins are sold directly to the public by the U.S. Mint for a pre-established price (currently $204.95). That price may be adjusted periodically, however, to reflect recent silver market fluctuations.

Shown on the reverse of the Chaco Culture coin is a design by AIP Master Designer Donna Weaver and sculpted by United States Mint Sculptor-Engraver Phebe Hemphill. It depicts a view to the west of two elevated kivas found in the Chetro Ketl Complex. Also shown are the north wall of Chetro Ketl and the north wall of the canyon. Reverse inscriptions include CHACO CULTURE, NEW MEXICO, 2012 and E PLURIBUS UNUM.

As previously mentioned, the obverse of all America the Beautiful related coins contains the same John Flanagan portrait of George Washington, the first President of the United States. Obverse inscriptions include UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, LIBERTY, IN GOD WE TRUST and QUARTER DOLLAR. The obverse also contains a ‘P’ mint mark indicating the coin was struck at the U.S. Mint’s facility in Philadelphia.

An edge inscription is used on each to indicate its weight and fineness. The inscription reads .999 FINE SILVER 5.0 OUNCE.

Current Sales, Mintages and Order Information

The U.S. Mint indicates that the maximum mintage for the Chaco Culture Silver Uncirculated Coin is 25,000. For comparison, the first five 2010-dated strikes of the program each had a maximum mintage of 27,000 which sold out. Last year’s 2011-dated strikes had mintages of 35,000.

For reference, the latest U.S. Mint sales for the currently available America the Beautiful Five Ounce Uncirculated Coins are shown below:

Sales of ATB 5 Ounce Silver Uncirculated Coins
2011-P Gettysburg National Military Park	22,282
2011-P Glacier National Park	18,713
2011-P Olympic National Park	16,352
2011-P Vicksburg National Military Park	16,428
2011-P Chickasaw National Recreation Area	14,710
2012-P El Yunque National Forest	10,920

 

The Chaco Culture coin may be purchased from the U.S. Mint for $204.95 via the Mint’s online product page, located here, or via the toll-free phone number, 1-800-USA-MINT (872-6468). The U.S. Mint has not established any household ordering limits for the release.

Coins of the series are encapsulated, placed in a protective outer box, and shipped with a Certificate of Authenticity.

Forthcoming 2012 5 Ounce Silver Coins

Three more America the Beautiful Silver Uncirculated Coins will be issued by the U.S. Mint yet this year. The Acadia National Park Silver Uncirculated Coin (ME) is scheduled to be released on August 13, 2012.

The final two strikes honoring Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park (HI) and Denali National Park and Preserve (AK) have respective release dates of September 24, 2012 and November 5, 2012.