Buy 5 Oz America the Beautiful silver bullion coins

President Theodore Roosevelt led the effort to establish a National Park system in the early 1900s. By the time he left office, 18 had been created. Today there are 59 National Parks and 117 National Monuments. There is also a number of other federally protected and managed places including wildlife refuges, historical parks, national forests, military parks, memorials and more.

Fifty-six of these remarkable parks and landmarks were chosen to adorn the US Mint’s America the Beautiful series of pure silver coins. These coins honor the myriad of wonderful landscapes and the rich history of our nation.

These massive 5-ounce coins will be a remarkable addition to any silver holding. And, because they can be purchased without paying high collectible premiums, they also make great investments.

America the Beautiful Silver Coin Design

Each America the Beautiful (ATB) coin carries the same design on the obverse. Buyers will recognize the familiar coin portrait of George Washington, the same design featured on currently circulating quarters, only greatly enlarged to fit the 5 oz size. The inscriptions on the obverse include; United States of America, Liberty, In God We Trust and Quarter Dollar.

Each coin’s reverse side varies depending upon the place being commemorated. The list of sites to adorn the 56 coins were chosen in a process which included state governors, the US Interior Department, the Secretary of the Treasury, the US Commission of Fine Arts and the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee.

The design for each coin was created by artists in the US Mint’s Artistic Infusion Program. This program was established in 2003 to include professional American artists from diverse backgrounds and who hold diverse interests. Artists collaborate with US Mint staff to craft images which work well on coinage.

ATB Series Launched in 2010

The first coin in the series, honoring Hot Springs National Park in Arkansas, was issued in 2010. Four additional coins followed with the same 2010 date. And each year thereafter 5 new designs are released.

Here is the list of 2010 ATB coins:

Arkansas - Hot Springs National Park: The park’s origins go all the way back to 1832 when Congress established a reservation for future recreational use. It was the first time federal land had been set aside for such a purpose. The reservation later became a National Park.

Wyoming - Yellowstone National Park: This National Park actually borders 3 northwestern states including Wyoming, Idaho and Montana. No other Park attracts more visitors each year.

California - Yosemite National Park: Another treasure in the National Park System, famous for vistas of the Yosemite Valley and El Capitan.

Arizona – Grand Canyon National Park: The Grand Canyon is certainly one of the great natural wonders of the world, inspiring by its immensity.

Oregon - Mt. Hood National Forest: Oregon is famous for its green forests and the snow-capped Cascade Mountain range.

2011 ATB Silver Coins

Pennsylvania – Gettysburg National Military Park: More than 600,000 Americans perished during the Civil War and the Battle of Gettysburg was the bloodiest of all battles fought during that conflict. The coin commemorates that storied battlefield, established as a national park in 1895.

Montana - Glacier National Park: The Rocky Mountains are the tallest in the US. The snow-capped peaks in Glacier National Park are among that range’s most scenic.

Washington - Olympic National Park: Mount Olympia, located on Washington’s Olympic Peninsula, includes several disparate ecosystems. These range from old growth forest to the glacier capped peak of the park’s mountain namesake.

Mississippi - Vicksburg National Military Park: The battle of Vicksburg, the culmination of the longer Vicksburg Campaign, was a significant turning point in the Civil War. The Confederacy suffered painful defeat deep within its own territory and the Military Park at Vicksburg commemorates that history.

Oklahoma - Chickasaw National Recreation Area: This beautiful spot stands out in the otherwise more flat and arid state of Oklahoma. Visitors can hike in the foothills of the Arbuckle Mountains, and view scenic rivers and trees.

2012 ATB Silver Coins

Puerto Rico – El Yunque National Forest: The first coin to be minted with a 2012 date is also the first in the series to represent a US Territory – Puerto Rico. El Yunque National Forest, a tropical rain forest, is the only one of its kind in the US National Forest system.

New Mexico - Chaco Culture National Historical Park: The Park is filled with pueblos, what remains of Native American communities which once populated the region. There is no better place to view the history of the people who once called the desert Southwest home.

Maine - Acadia National Park: The Park covers 47,000 acres of scenic Atlantic coastal land, mostly situated upon Mount Desert Island. Landscapes range from rocky beaches to the peak of Cadillac Mountain, the highest spot to be found anywhere on the Atlantic coast.

Hawaii - Hawaii Volcanoes National Park: Visitors will find two of the most active volcanos on the planet along with museums, trails, tours and visitor centers dedicated to volcanology and the biome which has developed around them.

Alaska - Denali National Park: Mount McKinley, the highest peak in North America, was renamed Denali and stands at the center of 6 million acres of Alaskan wilderness set aside for protection. Along with the 20,310-foot mountain is a host of wildlife and beautiful vistas for visitors to enjoy.

2013 ATB Silver Coins

New Hampshire - White Mountain National Forest: The Northeast is well-known for the spectacular “Fall colors” as leaves turn during the autumn in that region’s deciduous forests. There is no better place to see those colors than the White Mountain National Forest.

Ohio - Perry’s Victory and International Peace Memorial: Admiral Oliver Perry led the US fleet to victory in the Battle of Lake Erie during the War of 1812. This victory and history surrounding it are memorialized in this modest sized park along the shores of Lake Erie.

Nevada - The Great Basin Park National Park: Established in 1986, the Park is among those created more recently. It is a showcase for landscapes found in the Great Basin including Wheeler Peak and its population of bighorn sheep, and bristlecone pine forest.

Maryland - Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine: The Fort helped defend Baltimore Harbor from British attack during the War of 1812. The flag flown above the fort following that victory inspired Francis Scott Key to write his famous poem, which would later become known as the Star-Spangled Banner.

South Dakota - Mount Rushmore National Memorial: One of America’s most iconic landmarks was completed in 1941. The massive sculpted busts of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln were carved into the granite of Mount Rushmore, in South Dakota’s Black Hills.

2014 ATB Silver Coins

Tennessee - Great Smoky Mountains National Park: The Park includes beautiful deciduous forests, rivers, waterfalls and the Appalachian Mountains. Visitors can even hike along a section of the Appalachian Trail.

Virginia - Shenandoah National Park: Shenandoah is yet another National Park set amongst the vast and scenic Appalachian Mountain system – specifically in Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains. The park is known for its spectacular scenery and plentiful wildlife.

Utah - Arches National Park: Delicate Arch is perhaps the most widely pictured and most iconic of the sandstone arches included in this desert preserve. However there are more than 2000 other examples of these natural bridges for visitors to enjoy.

Colorado – Great Sand Dunes National Park: The tallest sand dunes in North America are located in the inland state of Colorado. Visitors can also find aspen forests, lakes, and tundra in this unique section of the West.

Florida - Everglades National Park: The Florida Everglades are not just a national treasure, they are also a World Heritage Site and International Biosphere Reserve. The habitat and wildlife protected there include rare and endangered species such as the Florida panther and manatee.

2015 ATB Silver Coins

Nebraska - Homestead National Monument of America: The Homestead Act of 1862 allowed any qualified person to claim up to 160 acres of federal land in return for a commitment to live upon, cultivate and otherwise improve that land. The promise of land ownership helped drive America’s westward expansion.

Louisiana - Kisatchie National Forest: There is but one National Forest in Louisiana. Vistors there can find longleaf pine forest covering the hills and hardwood trees blanketing the valleys.

North Carolina - Blue Ridge Parkway: The 469 mile stretch of highway is the longest linear park administered by the National Park Service. It connects two other National Parks – Shenandoah and Great Smoky Mountains.

Delaware - Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge: 15,978 acres have been set aside on Delaware Bay to provide sanctuary for migratory waterfowl along the Atlantic Flyway.

New York - Saratoga National Historical Park: Americans won their first significant battle in the Revolutionary War at Saratoga. The victory prompted France to recognize America’s independence from Britain and join the war as an ally to the colonial force.

2016 ATB Silver Coins

Illinois - Shawnee National Forest: The forest lies in southern Illinois, between the Mississippi and Ohio rivers. Visitors can see the Garden of the Gods and its sandstone formations and cliffs along with lakes, rivers and waterfalls.

Kentucky - The Cumberland Gap National Historical Park: The Cumberland Gap is a pass in the Cumberland Mountains. It is considered the “first great gateway to the west”. Pioneers beginning their journey westward traveled through, leaving a rich history in their wake.

West Virginia - Harpers Ferry National Historical Park: Robert Harper bought land at the confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers in 1752. The ferry business he established there provided the foundation for the community that later grew up around the river crossing – a community which played a prominent role in early US history.

North Dakota - Theodore Roosevelt National Park: The President credited with founding the National Park system is memorialized with a Park named in his honor. Roosevelt was captivated by the herds of bison and rolling hills when he first visited the area in 1883 and the experience started him along the road to conservation.

South Carolina - Fort Moultrie National Historical Park: The fort was built to defend the city of Charleston, SC but fortifications were not complete in time to fend off British occupation for a period of time during the Revolutionary War.

2017 ATB Silver Coins

Iowa - Effigy Mounds National Monument: Prehistoric Americans built mounds in this section of Iowa more than a thousand years ago. Many are in the shape of animals, including bear and birds.

Washington DC - Frederick Douglass National Historic Site: Douglass is a hero in the struggle to end slavery. The Abolitionist spent his final 17 years in the Anacostia home at the center of this Historic Site.

Missouri - Ozark National Scenic Riverways: The first National Park designed to protect a river system encompasses the Jack’s Fork and Current Rivers in Missouri. Visitors will find caves, trails and plenty of history.

New Jersey – Ellis Island National Monument: American is a nation of immigrants, many of whom found entry to our land through Ellis Island. 12 million people passed through the port of entry from 1892 to 1954.

Indiana - George Rogers Clark National Historical Park: Colonel Clark and his men defeated the British garrison at Fort Sackville in 1779, helping cement the United States’ claim on the western frontier.

2018 ATB Silver Coins

Michigan - Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore: The southern shore of Lake Superior features some unusual sandstone formations and beautiful, multihued cliffs – the Pictured Rocks. But that isn’t all. Visitors can also find shipwrecks, white birch forest and beaches.

Wisconsin - Apostle Islands National Lake Shore: The Apostle Islands are located in Lake Superior, just north of Wisconsin’s Bayfield Peninsula. There are 21 islands in all, plus 12 miles of lakeshore on the mainland. The park is filled with beaches, history and plenty of recreational opportunities.

Minnesota - Voyageurs National Park: The Fur Trade played a major role in early American history, particularly in the “10,000 lakes” region of Minnesota. Voyageurs Park preserves the history of the region, including the period when French trappers worked their trade and mingled with the Native population of the area.

Georgia - Cumberland Island National Seashore: Most of Cumberland Island, located off of Georgia’s southern Atlantic coastline, is protected. The park preserves habitat which provides home to numerous bird species and sites showcasing both the beautiful and ugly history of the region including that of the Native Americans, early missionaries, and African American slaves.

Rhode Island - Block Island National Wildlife Refuge: Block Island lies 12 miles offshore from Rhode Island. The island has been only lightly touched by man and provides some key habitat for migratory song birds

ATB Silver Coins in 2019 and Beyond

The coin series will add new coins each year until 2021, when the final coin is scheduled to be released. The following coins are upcoming, as of this writing:

2019 America the Beautiful Coins

Massachusetts – Lowell National Historical Park

Northern Marianas Islands – American Memorial Park

Guam – War in the Pacific National Historical Park

Texas – San Antonio Missions National Historical Park

Idaho – Frank-Church River of No Return Wilderness

2020 America the Beautiful Coins

American Samoa – National Park of American Samoa

Connecticut – Weir Farm National Historic Site

US Virgin Islands – Salt River Bay National Historical Park and Ecological Preserve

Vermont – Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park

Kansas – Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve

Alabama – Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site