Beginning today, Feb. 22, at noon ET, the United States Mint will be offering its 2018 America the Beautiful Quarters Silver Proof Set™ for $33.95.
Included as part of the set are the Mint’s five 2018-dated America the Beautiful quarter dollars, each struck to proof quality from 90% silver and 10% copper. The five coins contain reverse (tails side) designs honoring national sites in Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Georgia, and Rhode Island.
All five appear together in one protective lens and ship in an illustrated cardboard sleeve with pictures of the national sites honored. This set is similar to the clad version released in January (see a photo of it below).
However, that set has coins with identical compositions to their circulating counterparts whereas the coins in this release are silver.
Contents and Silver Weight of Set
The five coins found within the 2018 ATB Quarters Silver Proof Set honor the following sites:
- Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore in Michigan,
- Apostle Islands National Lakeshore in Wisconsin,
- Voyageurs National Park in Minnesota,
- Cumberland Island National Seashore in Georgia, and
- Block Island National Wildlife Refuge in Rhode Island
All are produced at the U.S. Mint’s facility in San Francisco and carry an ‘S’ mintmark.
Each of these are issued as part of the U.S. Mint’s America the Beautiful Quarters® Program which first appeared in 2010. Since then, five new quarters have been released annually with each honoring a different site of national interest.
The obverse (heads side) of each program coin depicts John Flanagan’s portrait of the first President of the United States, George Washington.
When added together, the five 90% silver coins have a total silver weight of 0.904 troy ounces. Other than their composition, they feature similar specifications to their circulating versions including a diameter of 0.955 inches, or 24.3 millimeters, and a weight of 6.250 grams.
Price and Ordering
America the Beautiful Quarters Silver Proof Sets may be ordered from the U.S. Mint’s annual proof sets page. Customers may also buy them by calling 1-800-USA-MINT (872-6468). No mintage, ordering or household limits apply.
90% silver…whats up with that. They are proof and not circulation. No need for the durability of a lower silver grade. 9999 silver needed.
Mouse
Mouse –
I agree totally! The U.S. Mint got approval last year to produce any silver coins in higher than .900 fine (traditional “coin silver” here in the USA going way back to circulating silver coin days). And, on this set which has been $31.95 for the last couple of years (and overpriced already!) the Mint had the nerve to raise the price by $2 up to $33.95 this year. Asinine!
Happy collecting/investing Mouse!
NumisdudeTX
Holy smokes Seth, I had no idea. Numismatists (all of us) are a dying breed. These over priced (beauty’s or not) with sub par silver content are pushing collectors farther and farther away. It appears to me that the mint is trying to cater to the novice. Sadly, sets will sell and people are going to have to learn the hard way. Re-sale down the line will be at a loss. This upsets me greatly as we all work very hard for each cent we earn and government run institutions (with a monopoly) should in my opinion, start valuing those… Read more »
I’m not sure why the U.S. Mint ever got involved in the business of minting bullion other than as another classic example of the bastardization of the American economy into a defacto socialist-capitalist amalgam. Besides, aren’t there already more than enough private mints in existence – plus those that would be given the opportunity to emerge as further competitors – to crank out a sufficient quantity of rounds, ingots and bars to satisfy popular demand? A U.S. Mint concentrating solely on the businesses it was originally supposed to be in, which is the production of circulating coinage for the general… Read more »
Old Collector – Well said my friend. I fully agree. Over the last few years I have been purchasing and thus supporting smaller mints / bullion based products and a few numismatic coins to secure my investment and support the small business. Very difficult market for the small guys, they need our support to stay afloat. Competition in any market is a good thing / healthy / not a fan of any monopoly. Our governments will always be tasked to produce our circulation coins and always should, but they need to stop price gouging on numismatics. I show my support… Read more »
Mouse, Good for you for lending your support to the private sector and the “little guy” who so often is the most reliable source of numismatic collectibles. It would be truly awesome if many more stackers and/or collectors adopted your type of enlightened consciousness and followed that same ever so supportive approach to allocating their financial outlays for bullion and collectible coinage! I concur wholeheartedly on the need for the U.S. Mint to cease and desist in its overtly arrogant price-gouging approach when it comes to the sale of numismatic products. Let’s face it, if that Mint couldn’t count on… Read more »
Greetings Old Collector – if you have not checked out Art Mint (small boutique mint located in Paris France) I highly recommend it. Their numismatic products are a bit pricey, but truly individual pieces of art work / that balance between art and currency. I have recently purchased their 3 coin Celestial Bodies series. They produce their work on a 2 ounce platform / each coin is struck to a high relief and obtains a minimum of 3 hours of personalized hand work before completion. When I purchase numismatic coins now, they have to be of a minimum silver or… Read more »
Mouse, As always, thank you for the very thoughtful recommendation. I did manage to take a good look at the Art Mint, and while it is everything that you said it is, the prices of the items for sale there are – as I perhaps somewhat expected they might be having some knowledge of that kind of specialized mint from previous numismatic web travels – unfortunately way out of my league. The fact is that Social (In)Security disbursements are in all honest not actually all that conducive to a lifestyle which extends anywhere near up to that level. All the… Read more »
You guys need to have a “HEN “party old women…..zzzzzzz