2010 America the Beautiful Silver Bullion Coins Set for Fall

The development work for the 2010 America the Beautiful Silver Bullion Coins is over, the United States Mint confirmed late last week. Full production is expected to begin this Fall.

The new 12 year coin series goes hand-in-hand with the America the Beautiful Quarters™ and will, in fact, bear the same designs as the circulating quarters which feature national park and national site themes.

While three of this year’s five quarters have already entered circulation, the companion 5 ounce, .999 fine silver coins were delayed with production problems. After numerous tests, retrials and using a newly purchased coin press, the kinks of producing and also placing edge letterings on the massively wide, but fairly thin coins has been solved.

As parent site CoinNews.net reported on Thursday and as relayed by U.S. Mint spokesman Michael White, the final blank or planchet specifications for the silver coins have been sent to supplier Sunshine Minting, Inc.

Sunshine Minting will provide an anticipated 500,000 of the bullion coin blanks, which the Mint will use to manufacture this year’s five America the Beautiful Silver Coins. White indicated the mintage levels for each will be authorized by the U.S. Treasury Secretary. Given the numbers, it would seem appropriate and likely that their break out will be an even 100,000 for the:

• 2010 Hot Springs Silver Coin
• 2010 Yellowstone Silver Coin
• 2010 Yosemite Silver Coin
• 2010 Grand Canyon Silver Coin
• 2010 Mt. Hood Silver Coin

America’s Beautiful National Parks Quarter Dollar Coin Act, which authorizes the 5 oz silver coins, mandates that each are to be "exact duplicates of the quarter dollars," with the obvious exception of their .999 silver composition, weight and 3 inch diameter. The coins will have a denomination of "quarter dollar." As mentioned, they will also have edge letters detailing their weight and finesse. Standard quarters have reeded edges.

U.S. Mint Director Ed Moy indicated earlier in the year that their may be numismatic (perhaps both collector proof and uncirculated) versions, but there is no official word that it will happen this year, if at all. The Act specifies and authorizes bullion America the Beautiful coins. The Mint does not sell bullion coins directly to the public, but instead makes them available through its network of authorized dealers, like the bullion American Silver Eagles.

The National Park Service is also authorized to purchase and resell the coins, according to the Act.

Price points or premiums have not yet been determined. Although with silver currently over $18.40 an ounce and the coins having five ounces, their prices should be over $100.