Marking the first of five products to be issued this year in an annually appearing series is the five-ounce 2018 Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore Uncirculated Silver Coin.
This release debuts as part of the United States Mint’s America the Beautiful Five Ounce Silver Uncirculated Coin™ program. The new 3-inch 99.9% fine silver coin launched at noon ET today, Feb. 9.
Featured on the coin’s reverse (tails side) is a design emblematic of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore of Michigan. Stretching for 42 miles along the shoreline of Lake Superior, the national site takes its name from a 15-mile area of colorful sandstone cliffs.
The design offers a representation of Chapel Rock, found within the lakeshore area. Atop, we find a white pine tree.
Paul C. Balan created the artwork and Michael Gaudioso sculpted it. The imagery matches that of the related Pictured Rocks quarter. The 25-cent piece was released into circulation earlier this week and it is available in other U.S. Mint collector products like quarter rolls and bags and the 2018 ATB Quarters Proof Set.
Since this five ounce series was created as an associated program to the quarters, the obverse (heads side) also contains an effigy of the first President of the United States George Washington. The likeness of the first President by artist John Flanagan debuted on the 1932 circulating quarter dollars and has been seen with slight modifications on quarters ever since. It was restored for the America the Beautiful coins programs.
In addition, a ‘P’ mintmark located to the right of the portrait indicates the coin was produced at the U.S. Mint’s facility in Philadelphia.
Wrapping up the design details, edges of the big coins are incused with “999 FINE SILVER 5.0 OUNCE.”
Ordering and Price
The 2018-P Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore Five Ounce Silver Uncirculated Coin is available from this U.S. Mint product page or by calling 1-800-USA-MINT (872-6468).
Its price is $154.95, an increase of $5 from last year’s releases. No more than 20,000 will be sold, representing a 5,000 mintage reduction from 2017 issues.
Five Ounce Programs
America the Beautiful coins debuted in 2010 and will continue until at least 2021. There are five different designs released annually with each honoring a unique site of national interest.
Coins of this five ounce series are in a collector-grade uncirculated finish, encapsulated and shipped in a presentation case with a Certificate of Authenticity.
A similar series of bullion coins are issued. They are also made at the Philadelphia Mint from five ounce of 99.9% pure silver to the same diameter of 3 inches but they lack the uncirculated finish and ‘P’ mintmark.
They are also not sold directly to the public by the U.S. Mint like the uncirculated coins. Instead, they are sold through the Mint’s network of authorized purchasers for small premiums above their associated spot pricing.
