ATB Five Ounce Silver Coins

Just so we have them here to refer to, the original tentative release dates for those pucks are:

2/12 White Mountain
4/13 Perry's Victory
6/13 Great Basin
9/13 Ft. McHenry
11/13 Mt. Rushmore

And I do see on the US Mint site that release dates for these are now TBD. Curiouser and curiouser...

Maybe they don't want all the different coins out there at once so they're frightening all that really want an item to buy quickly. I want to get AK so I better do so quickly. Weird how Hawaii was sold out when no where near the limit was met

Has anyone here bought both versions of Hawaii? Can you describe the differences specifically? I've seen other designs in both versions, however this design is the only "post-modern" one.

What are the 2 versions?

Thanks.

Dave

OK, got it!

Thanks.

Some good news about the 5oz. pucks at last!

Here is a annotated portion of a Coin World article that appeared today on CW's website by Paul Gilkes pertaining to the 2013 ATB coins:

"The Mint also removed tentative release dates on its website at http://www.usmint.gov for Uncirculated 2013-P America the Beautiful 5-ounce silver quarter dollars. Mint officials said they removed the dates while they work to solidify specific release dates and establish mintage levels.

America the Beautiful program

White said the U.S. Mint has experienced no production problems or planchet delays involving the America the Beautiful 5-ounce silver coins.

Production has already begun for the 2013 bullion and 2013-P Uncirculated collector versions of the White Mountain National Forest (N.H.) and Perry's Victory and International Peace Memorial (Ohio) 5-ounce silver coins, White said.

Mintage levels for the bullion and Uncirculated numismatic versions still have to be determined, White said.

The early release by the U.S. Mint of its 2013 product schedule in December "was part of a continued effort to give our customers as much information as possible to make their purchasing decisions throughout the year," White said.

White noted the December announcement also advised customers and potential customers that the schedule could change without notice, and would be also updated when release dates for products to be offered later are established.

"In releasing the product schedule as well in advance as possible, we knew that pricing and date changes for some products would inevitably occur, as the dates did regarding the 2013 America the Beautiful Five-Ounce Silver Uncirculated Coins," White said. "We look forward to announcing the revised dates on the product schedule as soon as possible once they are determined.

"We regret any inconvenience this date change may cause our valued customers who purchase America the Beautiful Silver Uncirculated Coins," White said.

The 5-ounce bullion coins are struck on a dedicated press at the Philadelphia Mint using 3-inch planchets as received from the Mint's outside supplier. The blanks have been upset on the rim, annealed (softened through heat treatment) and sonically cleaned.

The ultrasonic cleaning to the planchets helps eliminate buildup of debris on the coinage dies that would require a halt in production for cleaning or replacement of dies.

The Uncirculated collector versions, struck on the same planchets as the bullion versions, are subjected to a post-strike process. The Uncirculated numismatic versions undergo a "vapor blasting" technique after striking, resulting in a finish replicating that used on 3-inch bronze Mint medals.

The bullion version of the 5-ounce coin bears no mint mark. The Uncirculated strikes bear the P Mint mark. "

This is from the MINTNEWSBLOG about the pucks.... "In response to some other questions, I was informed that the mintage levels for both numismatic and bullion versions of the coins had not yet been determined for 2013. Production has been started for the White Mountain National Forest and Perry's Victory Memorial 5 oz. Silver Bullion Coins. Production has not yet been started for the numismatic versions of the coins"

Well the price of these pucks are now back at $229 which is still 7 times melt. They are now back to better levels. Although I did make up my mind not to purchase any more at the higher levels I am now thinking that time will tell. My decision not to purchase did cost me the Hawaii puck I just couldn't justify purchasing at that price.

The current price level is what I paid back in November, 2011 but I'd rather pay what the prices were for most of last year, $205. As was stated above "time will tell". Although I said that I was through with this series at the higher price levels, I may get back in. It does hurt that I missed the Hawaii puck but it was just to rich for me.