America the Beautiful Silver 5oz Quarters (2010-)
The America the Beautiful Silver quarters are the largest Silver bullion coins in U.S. Mint history. These large five-ounce coins duplicate the designs of the America the Beautiful series of quarters, and though these are much more valuable they have the same face value. They are issued as collectibles and not intended for circulation.
America the Beautiful Silver Quarter Design
The America the Beautiful Silver oversize quarter is an outgrowth of the America the Beautiful circulating quarter program, which modified the existing Washington quarter design with new reverses.
The obverse of the Washington quarter is a bust of George Washington based on a sculpture by Jean-Antoine Houdon. It was created after Houdon took a life mask of Washington, then used that to create a marble sculpture that now sits in the Virginia State Capitol. Both Flanagan and Fraser’s designs created their Washington on Houdon’s template.
The reverse of the quarter was a heraldic eagle with its wings spread. This design lasted through 1998 when the state reverse designs were created. There was one break from 1975 to 1976 when the Bicentennial quarter was issued with a separate reverse commemorating the nation’s founding. In 1999, the 50 State Quarters Program created new reverses with five states each year getting a unique reverse. In 2009 the District of Columbia and U.S. territories got their own reverses, then in 2010, a new program called the America the Beautiful Quarters Program was authorized to run through 2021. These reverse honor areas of natural or historic significance in the U.S.
The oversize bullion coins are very similar to the circulation strikes but much larger, and they have rotating America the Beautiful reverses that were used for the circulation strikes depending on the year they were released. They have their weight and purity inscribed on the edge. Each coin is made of 99.93% Silver with the rest being made of copper. Every coin comes from the Philadelphia Mint, though only burnished versions of the coin have the P mint mark.
Historical Significance
This coin is notable mainly for its size, as it is the largest Silver coin in U.S. Mint history. Other than that, its major notability is because of its collectible value, not necessarily any historical significance.
Numismatic Value
Most of these have a small numismatic premium. There are few significant rarities or key dates in these. 2012 coins have significantly higher premiums, especially the Acadia and Hawai’i Volcanoes issues. Some graded coins in high condition may trade for higher prices as well.
Expand your collection today and shop our assortment of America the Beautiful Silver coins.
PCGS Products
You need the most up-to-date pricing on your coin collection. That’s why APMEX has partnered with PCGS, the premier grading authority in the world of rare coins, to bring you constantly updated pricing on collectibles and rarities. PCGS has been grading coins since 1986, bringing consistent standards of quality to a fractured industry. In the years since they have remained a source of reliable information on the current collectible and rare coin market.
