2016 Shawnee 5 Oz Silver Bullion Coins Debut at 41,800

February 2, 2016 by · Leave a Comment 

On Monday, February 1, the United States Mint started selling 2016 Shawnee 5 Ounce Silver Bullion Coins to its network of Authorized Purchasers. This coin is the first of five America the Beautiful 5 Ounce Silver Bullion coins to appear this year. The design on its reverse or tails side represents Shawnee National Forest in Illinois.

Shawnee National Forest Quarter

Shawnee National Forest coins depict Camel Rock with natural vegetation in the foreground and a red-tailed hawk soaring in the sky overhead

First-day sales hit 41,800 coins, which equals 209,000 ounces in silver. The total is 16.8% higher than the previous issue, which earned sales of 35,800 in its first day and sold out the next day after reaching a total of 45,000.

Every 5-ounce silver coin is produced at the U.S. Mint in Philadelphia in .999 fine silver and has a 3-inch diameter. Authorized Purchasers buy them in bulk, a minimum of 500 at a time, at their melt value plus a $9.75 premium per coin. Then they sell them to various kinds of investors, dealers, and consumers.

These bullion silver coins have a brilliant, but not proof, finish. In three weeks, on February 25, the U.S. Mint will sell a collector edition directly to the public for $149.95. It is identical to the bullion version except it has an uncirculated finish and a ‘P’ mintmark.

The U.S. Mint on Monday also launched its bags and rolls of circulating quality Shawnee National Forest quarters. These are available for direct purchase at usmint.gov/catalog.

The quarters and 5-ounce silver coins share the same artwork on their obverse and reverse, including their inscriptions. The reverse depicts a close up view of one of the forest’s rugged bluffs, Camel Rock, nestled above the trees and vegetation with a red-tailed hawk soaring in the sky overhead. Justin Kunz created the design and Jim Licaretz sculpted it.

Quarters and 5-ounce silver coins do have different edges. Quarters have reeded edges. The bigger silver coins have flat edges and are incused with ".999 FINE SILVER 5.0 OUNCE."

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