The second issue in the debuting United States Mint five ounce silver series was the Yellowstone National Park Silver Bullion Coin which honors the referenced national park located mostly within the state of Wyoming.
The .999 fine silver bullion coin was released on December 10, 2010, as part of the United States Mint America the Beautiful Silver Bullion Coins™ Program. The five ounce piece was delayed along with the other four 2010 issues for four days by the Mint due to price gouging complaints from consumers. As a result, the Mint initiated new terms and conditions for its Authorized Purchasers who resell the coins to the public for the Mint.
Despite the initial pricing concerns from its potential customers, the Mint’s network of authorized purchasers wasted no time in ordering the total 33,000 mintage of the Yellowstone bullion coins. Within three weeks, the Mint declared the coins sold out along with the other four 2010 strikes of the series.
The Yellowstone National Park Silver Bullion Coin shares the same designs as the companion collector uncirculated five ounce silver coin (released the following year) and the corresponding circulating Yellowstone America the Beautiful Quarter. The obverse or heads side bears the well-known image of George Washington by John Flanagan. Surrounding the portrait are the inscriptions UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, LIBERTY, IN GOD WE TRUST and QUARTER DOLLAR.
The reverse or tails side the five ounce coin depicts Old Faithful geyser with a mature bull bison in the foreground. Behind the Old Faithful is scenery of the park with a smaller buffalo off to the side. Inscriptions are YELLOWSTONE, WYOMING, 2010 and E PLURIBUS UNUM. Don Everhart was the designer and sculptor. The design was developed "in consultation with representatives of Yellowstone National Park."
Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming
The following information was provided about the national park by the United States Mint during the launch of the companion Yellowstone America the Beautiful Quarter:
"When Americans pull this coin out of their pockets, some will remember fond memories of their family vacation in Yellowstone, others will be inspired to visit Yellowstone to create new memories," said United States Mint Director Ed Moy. "Many Americans will make the connection to their rich history as a nation and the extraordinary natural resources of Wyoming."
Established in 1872, Yellowstone National Park is the world’s first national park (and the second designated national site). Located in Wyoming, Montana and Idaho, it is home to a large variety of wildlife including grizzly bears, wolves, bison, and elk. Preserved within Yellowstone are Old Faithful and a collection of the world’s most extraordinary geysers and hot springs, and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone.
