The second 2015 strike in a series of collectible coins will be the Kisatchie National Forest Silver Uncirculated Coin. This strike will also mark the twenty-seventh in the US Mint’s America the Beautiful Five Ounce Silver Uncirculated Coin™ Program overall and will honor Kisatchie National Forest of Louisiana with a design showcased on its reverse. A release date was not known at the time of this posting.
Coins of the America the Beautiful uncirculated series are each struck from five ounces of .999 fine silver to a diameter of three inches. The US Mint produces them as the numismatic versions of the America the Beautiful Silver Bullion Coins™ Program which also feature the same specifications.
However, whereas the bullion coins are intended for investors and sold through the Mint’s network of authorized purchasers for near market prices of the bullion value of each, these uncirculated coins will be initially sold directly to the public by the US Mint. As a numismatic product, they will also have a significant premium attached to them above the bullion value.
The reverse of the coin will contain the design emblematic of Kisatchie National Forest. This design will be surrounded by the inscriptions of KISATCHIE, LOUISIANA, 2015 and E PLURIBUS UNUM.
Both series of coins previously mentioned are actually based on a series of circulating quarters, also issued by the Mint. As such, the obverse will contain a design familiar to many as it has been on quarters in one form or another since 1932. This design is a portrait of George Washington by John Flanagan and will be surrounded by the inscriptions of UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, LIBERTY, IN GOD WE TRUST and QUARTER DOLLAR.
Kisatchie National Forest in Louisiana
Encompassing approximately 604,000 acres of land, Kisatchie National Forest of Louisiana was officially established in the 1930’s. It contains sections of old growth piney hills and hardwood bottoms that offer many different recreational opportunities.
Among those opportunities are camping, hiking, fishing, hunting and swimming.
