This coin is part of the America the Beautiful silver bullion coins (abbreviated ATB) - a series of 56 silver bullion coins with a face value of a quarter dollar. The coins in the series contain 5oz (five troy ounces) of silver, making them the largest silver bullion coins issued to date by the United States Mint. The design of the coins duplicates exactly - though much enlarged - each of the America the Beautiful quarters. They were issued from 2010 to 2021.
All coins in the series feature a common obverse depicting George Washington in a restored version of the portrait created by John Flanagan for the 1932 Washington quarter, while the reverses feature five individual designs for each year of the program (one in 2021), each depicting a national park or national site - one from each state, federal district, and territory.
The Denali National Park and Preserve quarter design is the fifth to be released in 2012 and the 15th overall in the America the Beautiful Quarters Program; it was released on 5 November 2012 and represents the state of Alaska.
In 1980, the park was expanded from 2 to 6 million acres, including preserve lands, and the name changed from Mount McKinley National Park to Denali National Park and Preserve. Today’s boundaries include the awe-inspiring 20,320-foot Mount McKinley, the tallest mountain in North America. The park’s dynamic glaciated landscape supports a diversity of wildlife, including grizzly bears, caribou, wolves, Dall sheep and moose. Archaeological evidence that dates back more than 12,000 years ago indicates Alaska’s native people moved through this landscape seasonally, likely hunting large mammals, fishing and gathering plants. It was first established as a national site to protect wildlife populations on February 26, 1917 (39 Stat. 938). |
| Obverse | |
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At its centre, the obverse of the coin shows the portrait of George Washington, the first President of the United States (1789 - 1797), facing left. He has long hear, tied below the neck with a ribbon.
The designer's initials JF (for John Flanagan) are in relief on the neck truncation.
To the left of the portrait, the inscription LIBERTY. On three lines to the right, the motto IN GOD WE TRUST.
Around above, the legend UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. Around below, the value and denomination in words: QUARTER DOLLAR.
Ordinary "bullion" coins have no mint mark; those of the "uncirculated" variety have the Philadelphia Mint's P mint mark behind George Washington's neck. |
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| Reverse | |
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The reverse design features a Dall sheep, with Mount McKinley rising in the background.
Around above, the inscription DENALI. Around below left, the name of the state: ALASKA.
The initials of the designer SG (for Susan Gamble) are in small letters on a stone below left; the initials of the sculptor, JL (for Jim Licaretz) are below right.
The date of issue 2012 is below, followed by the motto E PLURIBUS UNUM ("Out of many, one" - signifying unity in diversity). |
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