A United States Mint collector series continues for the 8th year with today’s release of the 2017-P Effigy Mounds Five Ounce Silver Uncirculated Coin.
The new issue features a design honoring Effigy Mounds National Monument of Iowa (www.nps.gov/efmo). The area was established as a protected site in 1949 and preserves more than 200 prehistoric mounds built by Native Americans.
The collectible appears as the first 2017-dated release from the U.S. Mint’s America the Beautiful Five Ounce Silver Uncirculated Coin™ program. Like all series coins, it is produced from five ounces of .999 fine silver to a diameter of 3.000 inches.
Coin Designs
Created by United States Mint Artistic Infusion Program (AIP) Designer Richard Masters and sculpted by United States Mint Sculptor-Engraver Renata Gordon, the coin’s reverse (tails side) design shows an aerial view of mounds in the Marching Bear Group. If the image looks familiar, it may be because it is also featured on the associated Effigy Mounds quarter which was also recently released by the U.S. Mint.
Like those quarters, the obverse (heads side) of the five ounce coin bears the John Flanagan portrait of George Washington. The likeness of the first President of the United States made its inaugural appearance on the 1932 circulating quarter-dollar and has appeared on them (with minor variations) ever since.
A ‘P’ mintmark on the obverse identifies the coin as being produced at the U.S. Mint’s facility in Philadelphia.
.999 FINE SILVER 5.0 OUNCE is edge incused indicating the coin’s content and purity.
Ordering and Mintage
The 2017-P Effigy Mounds Five Ounce Silver Uncirculated Coin is available directly from the U.S. Mint by calling 1-800-USA-MINT (872-6468) or from this product page on the bureau’s website. Coin pricing is $149.95.
A maximum mintage of 25,000 applies but the figure is subject to change based on demand for the related bullion coin which is described below.
Effigy Mounds Five Ounce Silver Bullion Coin
Featuring similar specifications to the uncirculated coin, the United States Mint also strikes Effigy Mounds bullion coins. They are produced for investors, sold through the U.S. Mint’s network of authorized purchasers, and are available from coin and precious metal dealers for a premium above the current spot price of the silver they contain.
These bullion coins are produced to a brilliant finish at the Philadelphia Mint but they do not bear a mintmark. The Effigy Mounds bullion piece launched on Feb. 6 and has sales of 19,500 through March 6.
Effigy Mounds is the thirty-sixth design of the series which debuted in 2010 and runs through 2021. Four more coins will appear this year, continuing to honor sites of national interest and mirroring designs from the associated quarter program.
