The Mount Hood National Forest Silver Bullion Coin is the last of five 2010-dated five ounce silver strikes from the United States Mint in a series and honors Mount Hood National Forest of Oregon.
Coins in this series are struck from five ounces of .999 fine silver with the 2010-dated releases featuring a diameter of three inches and an edge inscription showing the coin’s weight and fineness. The diameter and edge inscription was initially required by law, but was modified after production began for the 2010 issues. The law was changed to allow a diameter of between 2.5 and 3.0 inches and also to allow the coin’s weight and fineness to be placed elsewhere on the coin. Despite the change in requirements, the Mint has opted to remain with the initial specifications for subsequent strikes.
The US Mint released the Mount Hood Silver Bullion Coins on December 10, 2010, along with the other four 2010-dated strikes of the series. On that date, the Mint’s authorized purchases (APs) were allowed to place their initial orders for the strikes. By the end of the month, the APs had ordered the entire mintages of 33,000 of each of the five 2010-dated coins and within several weeks after that, customers were able to order them from the APs for a small premium above the current spot price of the five ounces of silver they contained.
Each silver bullion coin in the America the Beautiful Silver Bullion Coin™ Program honors a selected site of national interest from around the United States, including the District of Columbia and the five US Territories. These sites are showcased on the reverse of the coin.
John Flanagan’s portrait of George Washington is found on the obverse of all of the America the Beautiful coins. It was first featured on the 1932 circulating quarter dollar. Also shown are the inscriptions of UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, LIBERTY, IN GOD WE TRUST and QUARTER DOLLAR.
The silver bullion coin reverse shows an image of Mount Hood with Lost Lake depicted in the foreground. Included as well are the inscriptions of Mount Hood, Oregon, 2010 and E PLURIBUS UNUM.
Mount Hood National Forest in Oregon
The following information was provided about the national park by the United States Mint during the launch of the companion Mount Hood America the Beautiful Quarter:
"Each time Americans see this coin, they will connect with Mount Hood’s magnificent beauty, humbling presence and the spiritual qualities that beckon to us today as they did to early inhabitants," United States Mint Deputy Director Andy Brunhart said.
"What a fitting way to memorialize Mount Hood as an American icon," stated Forest Supervisor Gary Larsen, Mount Hood National Forest. "Mount Hood figured very significantly as sacred land for Native Americans and has similar importance for us today. We’re honored to have this recognition."
Located 20 miles east of Portland and the northern Willamette River Valley, Mount Hood National Forest extends south from the strikingly beautiful Columbia River Gorge across more than 60 miles of forested mountains, lakes and streams to the Olallie Scenic Area. The forest encompasses more than 1.06 million acres. Visitors enjoy fishing, camping, boating and hiking in the summer; hunting in the fall; and skiing and other snow sports in the winter. Two of its many highlights are the Timberline Lodge, a national historic landmark, and the Clackamas Wild and Scenic River. Mount Hood National Forest was established as a national site in 1893.
