Washington, D.C. — The U.S. Mint today announced that the Yellowstone National Park Commemorative Silver Dollar, celebrating the 125th anniversary of the America’s first national park, is now available from the Mint.
“We are honored to be part of a program promoting the conservation and preservation of our nation’s most precious national treasures, the natural wonders and wilderness of Yellowstone and America’s other national parks,” said U.S. Mint Associate Director for Numismatics David Pickens. Pickens was joined by Michael Finley, Superintendent of Yellowstone National Park and Jim Maddy, President of the National Park Foundation at the Interior Museum of the Department of the Interior for the official launch of the program.
The obverse design, by Mint sculptor/engraver Edgar Z. Steever, depicts one of Yellowstone Park’s famous geysers, with the park’s tree–lined landscape in the background. The reverse, by Mint sculptor/engraver William C. Cousins, portrays an American buffalo on the plains, with a brilliant sun rising above the mountains in the background, and is intended to be reminiscent of the seal of the Department of the Interior.
In 1872, Ulysses S. Grant signed Yellowstone Park into law, inaugurating the beginning of the Nation’s National Park system. In 1999, Yellowstone is recognized around the world as a universal symbol of American conservation, wilderness and natural beauty. A portion of the proceeds from sales of each coin are authorized to help support Yellowstone National Park, as well as other national parks through the National Park Foundation. With a maximum mintage of 500,000 coins, both the uncirculated and proof versions of the Yellowstone National Park Silver Dollar will be minted at the Philadelphia Mint and bear the P mint mark.
The Yellowstone National Park Commemorative Silver Dollar is available at pre–issue discount prices of $33 for the proof coin, $30 for the uncirculated coin, and $59.95 for the two–coin proof and uncirculated Set, through August 27. After August 27, the proof coin is $37; the uncirculated coin $32; and the proof and uncirculated set $64.95. For information about how to order the Yellowstone National Park Commemorative Silver Dollar, call 1–800–USA–MINT or visit the Mint’s website at www.USMINT.GOV.