Another United States Mint coin program comes to an end today with the release of the 2021-P Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site Five Ounce Silver Uncirculated Coin.
The large 3-inch diameter, 99.9% pure silver coin serves as the 56th and final strike in the U.S. Mint’s America the Beautiful Five Ounce Silver Uncirculated Coin™ series. Its design will look familiar to many as it also appears on earlier issued Tallgrass Prairie quarters. The quarter and 5-ounce "America the Beautiful" series launched in 2010 and presents five designs annually with one recognizing a site of national interest in each state, the District of Columbia and the five U.S. Territories.
This last program coin bears a design emblematic of the Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site in Alabama. Congress established the location as a national historic site on November 6, 1998. However, its history and importance dates back decades before that. The site was created to commemorate the contributions of African-American airmen in World War II. Moton Field at the site was a primary flight training center for the pilots who came to be known as the Tuskegee Airmen. Their bravery not only helped to insure a successful end to the war, but also broke racial barriers.
Coin Designs and Specifications
Designed by Chris Costello with sculpting completed by Phebe Hemphill, the new coin’s reverse (tails side) shows an image of a Tuskegee Airman suiting up in traditional World War II flight gear. Moton Field control tower can be seen in the background. The pilot looks upward as two P-51 Mustangs pass above.
An inscriptions reads: "THEY FOUGHT TWO WARS" (a reminder of the two fronts each airman faced — fascism abroad and racial discrimination at home). Additional inscriptions include "TUSKEGEE AIRMEN," "ALABAMA," "2021," and "E PLURIBUS UNUM."
All coins of this and companion programs bear the same obverse (heads side) portrait of George Washington. The image of the first President of the United States was originally completed by John Flanagan and has appeared, with a few changes, on quarter dollars since 1932.
Obverse inscriptions read: "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA," "LIBERTY," "IN GOD WE TRUST" and "QUARTER DOLLAR." A ‘P’ mint mark also found on the obverse indicates the coin was produced at the Philadelphia Mint.
An edge incused inscription offers the content and fineness with "999 FINE SILVER 5.0 OUNCE."
Five Ounce Silver Uncirculated Coin Specifications
| Finish: | Uncirculated |
|---|---|
| Denomination: | Quarter |
| Composition: | 99.9% Silver |
| Weight: | 5.000 troy oz. (155.517 grams) |
| Diameter: | 3.000 inches (76.20 mm) |
| Edge: | Lettered |
Ordering
2021-P Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site Five Ounce Silver Uncirculated Coins may be ordered from the U.S. Mint’s product page for silver coins.
Pricing is $229 with a listed maximum mintage of 20,000.
Five Ounce Silver Bullion Coins
In addition to quarters and this uncirculated piece, the U.S. Mint also strike five ounce bullion coins. These are nearly identical to their uncirculated counterparts (such as today’s release), but they have no mintmark despite also being produced at the Philadelphia Mint. Also, the bullion coins carry a brilliant finish unlike the vapor blast finish of the uncirculated coin.
Finally, bullion coins are sold through the U.S. Mint’s network of authorized purchasers for a small premium above melt value. The Mint reports sales of 50,000 for the Tuskegee Airmen Five Ounce Silver Bullion Coin.
