The United States Mint published images of six coins commemorating the centennial of the National Park Service (NPS). Their designs were originally unveiled on Nov. 19, 2015 during a ceremony at the U.S. Department of the Interior in Washington, DC.
Featuring portraits, emblems, and iconic landscapes, the 2016 National Park Service 100th Anniversary Commemorative Coins will launch on Mar. 24, 2016 in collector proof and uncirculated finishes. Their quantities include up to 100,000 $5 gold coins; 500,000 silver dollars; and 750,000 clad half-dollars, but consumer demand will determine how many are actually made.
$5 Gold Coins
Both $5 gold coins are made at the West Point Mint and carry the ‘W’ mint mark. Below are images of the proof and uncirculated editions. Their obverse (heads side) features John Muir and Theodore Roosevelt with Yosemite National Park’s Half Dome in the background.
The $5 gold coin reverse (tails side) features the NPS logo.
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Gold Obverse |
Gold Reverse |
Silver Dollars
Both silver dollars are struck at the Philadelphia Mint and bear the ‘P’ mint mark. Below are images of the proof and uncirculated editions. Their obverses feature Yellowstone National Park’s Old Faithful geyser and a bison.
Their reverses depict a Latina Folklórico dancer and the NPS logo, representing the multi-faceted cultural experience found in America’s national parks.
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Silver Obverse |
Silver Reverse |
Clad Half-Dollars
Production duties are shared for the two half-dollars. Proofs are made at the San Francisco Mint and have the ‘S’ mint mark while uncirculated editions are struck at the Denver Mint and carry the ‘D’ mint mark. Below are images of the proof and uncirculated editions. Their obverses feature a hiker discovering the majesty of the wilderness and a small child discovering a frog hiding in ferns, which celebrates the diversity and breadth of the NPS.
The clad half-dollar reverse features the NPS logo.
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Clad Obverse |
Clad Reverse |
Coin Prices
Pricing for the $5 gold coins will not be announced until shortly before they’re released. The U.S. Mint will establish those based on an average of LBMA gold prices. Introductory and regular prices for the $1 silver and 50c clad coins follow:
| Introductory Prices (approx. first 30 days) |
Regular Prices | |
|---|---|---|
| NPS Silver Proof Dollar | $45.95 | $50.95 |
| NPS Silver Uncirculated Dollar | $44.95 | $49.95 |
| NPS Proof Half-Dollar | $21.95 | $25.95 |
| NPS Uncirculated Half-Dollars | $20.95 | $24.95 |
Prices of the commemorative coins include (Public Law 113-291 mandated) surcharges of $35 for each gold coin, $10 for each silver coin and $5 for each half-dollar. The law authorizes the surcharges to be paid to the National Park Foundation for projects that help preserve and protect resources under the stewardship of the NPS and promote public enjoyment and appreciation of these resources.
I like the gold but it’s no sale for me on the silver and clad. I don’t see big sales of these coins.
Thanks Rhonda, appreciate the update! Yeah, the clad prices are out to lunch.
If you receive the updated (final as 1200 pm yesterday) sales numbers on the US Marshal’s, could you post those please –
Jp – I agree about the dollar and 50¢ designs so it’s the half-eagle for me as well. Hopefully the price of gold will stay down for the next few months….
Mrs. Rhonda (Kay) Unser – Thanks for the update! I was looking at the NPS commemorative coin photos on the Mint’s website before i read your blog on the subject. The mock-up design versions revealed on November 19 didn’t do justice to the designs. Originally I didn’t care much for the $5 gold coin design, but seeing the actual photos on the Mint’s website I changed my mind. I noticed also that the bison on the bottom of the NPS arrowhead logo is incused on the $5 gold coins & $1 silver coins but is raised on the clad half… Read more »
The silver and clad offer some of the ugliest coin designs yet.
The gold is not great, but next to the other designs… not so bad.
Been buying the commemorative coins, but seeing the work being produced, I just feel I am going to have to cherry pick the ones I like. Not about to give money for things I don’t like for the sake of collecting.
the geyser and the buffalo are just horrible and hard to look at.
just my opinion.
I agree, I don,t see Big sales on the Silver Dallas and Clad half . For me the details on the Coins ,,Not that great at all ? I feel that the workmen ship ,,, Well let’s say,, Don’t catch my Eye ,At all !! And the price??? .
@William Farias
IMO their “workmanship” suck and it has been for a long time for many of the coins. It is too bad the Mint is a monopoly and have no incentive to change since I’d guess most of their real efforts are geared towards catering to the big dealers/buyers and to the sale of bullion to AP’s.
You have all captured my sentiments as well on the silver & clad versions.
I’ll probably do the clad half dollars. You all talk about practices at the U.S. Mint, so like it or not I’ll voice mine on these National Parks Coins. I’m somewhat hurt by the Latina Folklorico on the dollar Coin. I’ve been to a great many national parks from Arcadia National Park in Maine to National Parks in Utah, Arizona, Washington, Virginia, well I’ve been to lots of them in my life time and I fail to understand the whole Latina thing. Many of our National Parks all have ties to our Native Americans and not one iota is given… Read more »
All three designs are great, especially the half. I think it’s really cool how Muirs beard and Roosevelts coat fade into the bottom of the coin. And I also agree with the person who mentioned the Latina dancer being on the silver $1, why??? And the font for “$1” is horrible. The italics look awful
I will stick with the current American Eagle’s design. What on earth is the design that looks like a stick of broccoli ? The other designs are cluttered rather than classically designed with elegant simplicity.
Wow. That cauliflower coin is the worst. And it features a poorly chosen and poorly rendered bison. Instead of using artistry to depict a geyser and bison, the designer seemed to have just copied some random photo. Seriously looks like he projected an image on a piece of paper, outlined it with a pen, and there you have it.
And it’s paired with an irrelevant Latin folk dancer on the reverse.
The US Mint really makes some of the ugliest coins of the 21st century.