The Block Island National Wildlife Refuge Silver Uncirculated Coin will be struck by the US Mint as last 2018 release of a series. Shown on the reverse of the silver uncirculated coin will be a design emblematic of Block Island National Wildlife Refuge found in the state of Rhode Island. At the time of this posting, a release date was not known for the coin.
This coin is struck as part of the America the Beautiful Five Ounce Silver Uncirculated Coin™ Program which debuted with five 2010-dated strikes. The program features five new strikes released annually as part of it until the final silver uncirculated coin is issued in 2021.
All of the coins in this series are considered the numismatic versions of the Mint’s America the Beautiful Silver Bullion Coin™ Program. Like those bullion coins, each of these are struck from five ounces of .999 fine silver to a diameter of three inches and features obverse and reverse imagery similar to that found on a series of associated circulating quarter dollars.
Accordingly, the obverse of each will contain the John Flanagan portrait of George Washington which has been seen on the obverse of quarter dollars in the United States since 1932 – in one form or another. Inscriptions on the obverse will include UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, LIBERTY, IN GOD WE TRUST and QUARTER DOLLAR.
The reverse of all of the coins in the related series contain the designs showcasing a portion of a site of national interest from around the United States and its territories. In the case of this coin, the reverse contains a design emblematic of Block Island National Wildlife Refuge. Surrounding that design will be the inscriptions of BLOCK ISLAND, RHODE ISLAND, 2018 and E PLURIBUS UNUM.
Block Island National Wildlife Refuge in Rhode Island
Block Island National Wildlife Refuge of Rhode Island was established in 1973 with an initial transfer of 28 acres of land from the United States Coast Guard. From that small beginnings, the refuge has grown to approximately 127 acres today.
The refuge provides sanctuary for over 70 species of migratory songbirds. These birds stop at the island as part of their annual migration along the Atlantic Flyway.
