Released today, April 7, by the United States Mint is the Great Smoky Mountains National Park Five Ounce Silver Uncirculated Coin.

Officially, the coin is the first release this year and the 21st overall from the Mint’s series dubbed the America the Beautiful Five Ounce Silver Uncirculated Coins™.

This numismatic or collectible coin shares the same designs as the Great Smoky Mountains National Park Quarter, down to identical inscriptions like the ‘QUARTER DOLLAR’ found on the face or obverse of the coins. The designs on the silver uncirculated coin are more vivid than the quarter, however, because they are so much larger. Key specifications of the coin include:

• 3.000 inch diameter
• 5.000 troy silver ounces
• 99.9% silver purity
• 0.165 inch thickness
• 25,000 mintage
• Lettered edge
• ‘P’ mint marks for U.S. Mint facility in Philadelphia

Edges of the five ounce silver coins are different from the quarters. Quarters are reeded while the silver coins have the edge letters of: .999 FINE SILVER 5.0 OUNCE.

Also, although the coins have a quarter-dollar face value, they are worth much more due to the five ounces of silver. (One ounce of silver was priced today in U.S. markets at about $19.90.) That also means the silver uncirculated coin will cost more than typical products with national park quarters. The Mint has them available at www.usmint.gov for $154.95 each. Buyers may order as many as they like as no household ordering limits are in place.

These coins have been scheduled to follow behind quarter launches with the Great Smoky Mountains National Park Quarter released on January 27, 2014. Shenandoah National Park Quarters were sent into circulation on March 31. Its companion five ounce silver uncirculated coin is set for release on May 15, 2014.

As a reminder, the Shenandoah National Park Quarters Three-Coin Set goes on sale Tuesday, April 8, for $9.95. At noon ET, it may be purchased from the U.S. Mint at www.usmint.gov. A link to an article about the set is immediately below.