Gettysburg National Military Park 5 Ounce Silver Uncirculated Coin Scheduled

The wait is almost over for the first collector 2011-P 5 ounce silver coin. The Gettysburg National Military Park 5 Ounce Silver Uncirculated Coin is scheduled to launch on September 22, 2011, according to the United States Mint’s Product Schedule. As with all of the upcoming dates in the Mint’s product lineup, however, the particular day is subject to change.

The 2011-P Gettysburg coin is the sixth issue in the collector America the Beautiful 5 Ounce Silver Uncirculated Coin series. The numismatic version is sold directly by the United States Mint to the public and comes encapsulated within a black protective box with a Certificate of Authenticity. The coin is given an uncirculated finish and carries the "P" mint mark representing the Mint production facility in Philadelphia.

Its price and mintage limit has not been announced yet, but the 2010-P 5 ounce coins that were released earlier this year were $279.95 each, and the United States Mint only produced 27,000 of each design. The collector 2010-P Grand Canyon National Park 5 Ounce Silver Uncirculated Coin officially sold out this week, while the final 2010-dated 2010-P Mount Hood National Forest 5 Ounce Silver Uncirculated Coins are still for sale.

The United States Mint sold the 5 ounce Gettysburg bullion version to its network of Authorized Purchasers beginning on April 25 and it quickly sold out of its 126,700 mintage on May 16. (Bullion versions do not have an uncirculated finish or a mint mark.) The collector version coming in September is expected to be limited to a much smaller number.

The 2011-P Gettysburg National Military Park 5 Ounce Silver Uncirculated Coin is composed of five ounces of .999 fine silver and has a dramatically large three inch diameter. In addition, it has edge incused lettering stating: ".999 FINE SILVER 5.0 OUNCE."

The reverse design honors Gettysburg National Military Park located in Pennsylvania, which memorializes the battlefield of the Battle of Gettysburg, a turning point in the Civil War for the Union Army, and reportedly the war’s bloodiest battle with 51,000 casualties.

The coin has the same design as that found on the Gettysburg America the Beautiful quarter that entered circulation on January 24 and was made available in bags and rolls on January 27, 2011. The imagery depicts the 72nd Pennsylvania Infantry Monument, found inside the park at Cemetery Ridge. It was designed by Joel Iskowitz and sculpted by Phebe Hemphill. Inscriptions include, "GETTYSBURG," "PENNSYLVANIA," "2011,” and “E PLURIBUS UNUM.”

All of the America the Beautiful Coins share the same obverse design, which is the portrait of President George Washington. There will be fifty-six distinct designs in all, one to honor a national site for each state, the District of Columbia and the five US territories.