Salt River Bay National Historical Park and Ecological Preserve 2020 Uncirculated Five Ounce Silver Coin

The Salt River Bay National Historical Site and Ecological Preserve 2020 Uncirculated Five Ounce Silver Coin is composed of 99.9 percent silver.

The 2020 America the Beautiful Five Ounce Silver Uncirculated Coin™ Salt River Bay National Historical Site and Ecological Preserve is the third release of 2020 in the America the Beautiful Quarters® Program.

The reverse (tails) design depicts a red mangrove tree in an early stage of its life cycle, as it evolves from a very small plant to an adult tree. The design brings awareness to the park’s endangered mangrove forests and the unique and delicate nature of how the species reproduces in salt water. Inscriptions are "SALT RIVER BAY," "U. S. VIRGIN ISLANDS," "2020," and "E PLURIBUS UNUM."

Salt River Bay National Historical Park and Ecological Preserve is a living museum on St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. Salt River Bay possesses an archeological and historical heritage more than 2,000 years old that exists within a dynamic ecosystem that supports threatened and endangered species. In 1992, Congress created Salt River Bay as part of the National Park Service to preserve, protect, and tell the story of its rich contributions to the Nation’s natural and cultural heritage.

The site’s blend of sea and land holds some of the largest remaining mangrove forests in the U.S. Virgin Islands. In addition to the mangroves, the other vitally important ecosystems within the preserve are an estuary, coral reefs, and even a submarine canyon. These ecosystems are home to 27 species that have been listed as rare, threatened, or endangered, such as the Green and Hawksbill Sea Turtles and the Blackbar Soldierfish. The coral reefs form the basis of communities that are comparable to tropical rainforests in their biological richness and global significance.