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

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.

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."