2016-P 5 Oz America The Beautiful Shawnee Silver Coin - NGC SP70

Product ID: BST-0011921CDB

Specifications

Year 2016
Precious Metal Type Silver
Bullion Coin Type America the Beautiful
Format Coin
Country of Origin United States
Brand/Mint U.S. Mint
Mint Mark P - Philadelphia
Purity 0.999
Weight 5 oz
Thickness (mm) 4.064 mm
Diameter (mm) 76.2 mm
Grade SP70
Grading Service NGC
Finish Burnished

Product Details

Overview of the 2016-P ATB Shawnee 5 oz Silver Coin (NGC SP70)

The 2016-P America the Beautiful Shawnee National Forest 5 oz silver coin is a numismatic-grade bullion issue struck by the United States Mint at the Philadelphia Mint. Struck from five troy ounces of .999 fine silver, this coin carries legal tender status with a face value of twenty-five cents and forms part of the broader America the Beautiful series that began in 2010. This particular example has been graded SP70 by Numismatic Guaranty Company, the highest grade on the Specimen scale, certifying that it was struck to full Specimen quality with no post-production imperfections visible under standard magnification.

We carry NGC-certified examples of this coin because the graded market for ATB issues is well-established and the SP70 designation provides buyers with clear, objective documentation of the coin's condition. For collectors and serious buyers alike, the certification removes ambiguity and anchors the purchase in verifiable third-party standards.

History and Background

The America the Beautiful Quarters Program was authorized by Congress through the America's Beautiful National Parks Quarter Dollar Coin Ac

Overview of the 2016-P ATB Shawnee 5 oz Silver Coin (NGC SP70)

The 2016-P America the Beautiful Shawnee National Forest 5 oz silver coin is a numismatic-grade bullion issue struck by the United States Mint at the Philadelphia Mint. Struck from five troy ounces of .999 fine silver, this coin carries legal tender status with a face value of twenty-five cents and forms part of the broader America the Beautiful series that began in 2010. This particular example has been graded SP70 by Numismatic Guaranty Company, the highest grade on the Specimen scale, certifying that it was struck to full Specimen quality with no post-production imperfections visible under standard magnification.

We carry NGC-certified examples of this coin because the graded market for ATB issues is well-established and the SP70 designation provides buyers with clear, objective documentation of the coin's condition. For collectors and serious buyers alike, the certification removes ambiguity and anchors the purchase in verifiable third-party standards.

History and Background

The America the Beautiful Quarters Program was authorized by Congress through the America's Beautiful National Parks Quarter Dollar Coin Act of 2008. The program was designed to honor a different national park or site of national significance in each of the fifty states, the District of Columbia, and five U.S. territories, with five coins released per year over an eleven-year span. Alongside the standard quarter-dollar strikes, the United States Mint also produced five-ounce silver versions in both bullion and Specimen finishes, the latter struck with special dies and enhanced surface preparation at the Philadelphia Mint.

Shawnee National Forest, located in southern Illinois, is the honoree for the Illinois entry in the series. The forest spans more than 280,000 acres and is known for its rugged terrain, sandstone formations, and biodiversity, characteristics that made it a fitting subject for the ATB program's celebration of American natural heritage. The 2016-P Specimen strikes were produced in limited numbers specifically for the collector market, distinguishing them from the higher-mintage bullion versions produced at West Point.

Design and Aesthetics

The obverse features John Flanagan's classic portrait of George Washington, a design that has appeared on the quarter dollar since 1932. Flanagan's rendition emphasizes Washington's profile with fine detail in the hair and collar, and the coin includes the inscriptions "LIBERTY," "IN GOD WE TRUST," and the year of issue. At this scale, the five-ounce format gives the obverse design considerably more presence than its circulating counterpart.

The reverse depicts a scene representative of Shawnee National Forest, specifically a view of the Garden of the Gods, a rock formation distinctive to the region. The design captures the layered texture of the sandstone outcroppings with careful relief work, and the inscriptions "SHAWNEE NATIONAL FOREST," "ILLINOIS," and "E PLURIBUS UNUM" frame the composition. Specimen coins are struck with polished planchets and specially prepared dies, producing a sharp, frosted design against a mirrored or highly refined field that distinguishes them from standard bullion strikes.

The coin measures three inches in diameter and carries a reeded edge, standard for ATB five-ounce issues. At this size, the engraved detail in the landscape scene is particularly legible, and the Specimen finish enhances contrast in a way that highlights the depth of the relief work.

Authenticity and Product Integrity

NGC SP70 certification provides the strongest available guarantee of this coin's condition and authenticity within the third-party grading industry. Each coin graded by NGC is examined by multiple specialists, assigned a grade on an established scale, and sealed in a tamper-evident holder with a unique certification number that can be verified through NGC's online registry. The SP70 grade is awarded only to coins that display full Specimen characteristics with no post-mint flaws whatsoever.

As an authorized dealer for NGC, we handle certified coins with a clear understanding of grading standards and market expectations. The Philadelphia Mint struck the 2016-P Specimen coins under controlled conditions consistent with the Mint's collector-grade production protocols, and the NGC holder confirms the coin meets the highest standard within that framework. Buyers can verify the certification directly through NGC using the label information on the slab.

Condition and Packaging

The SP70 designation on this coin reflects a perfect Specimen strike with absolutely no post-production imperfections observable under standard numismatic magnification. Specimen coins are produced using specially prepared planchets and dies designed to create a distinctive finish that separates them from standard bullion issues. An SP70 coin represents the ceiling of that production standard, meaning no contact marks, spotting, or handling flaws are present.

This coin ships encapsulated in its NGC grading holder, which includes a label identifying the grade, certification number, and coin details. The rigid plastic slab protects the coin without requiring additional handling, and no further preparation is needed for storage or display. Because this is a graded numismatic product, standard packaging conventions for raw bullion, such as tubes or monster boxes, do not apply. The NGC slab itself is the definitive packaging format for this coin.

Pricing and Market Factors

Pricing for the 2016-P ATB Shawnee SP70 reflects two distinct components: the intrinsic silver value of five troy ounces of .999 fine silver, and the numismatic premium associated with the Specimen finish and perfect NGC grade. The silver content provides a baseline that moves with spot prices, but the premium above spot for SP70-graded ATB Specimen coins is driven primarily by collector demand, mintage levels, and the relative availability of perfect-grade examples in the secondary market.

Because this is a certified numismatic product rather than a standard bullion coin, its premium is not solely a function of production cost or mint reputation. The scarcity of SP70 examples within a given issue, combined with the completeness-driven nature of ATB collecting, creates pricing dynamics that can diverge meaningfully from spot-linked bullion premiums. Our pricing reflects current market conditions for graded ATB coins and is structured to give buyers a transparent view of what they are paying relative to both spot silver and the certified numismatic market.

Selling and Liquidity

Graded ATB Specimen coins occupy a specific segment of the precious metals and numismatic market. The combination of five ounces of fine silver and an NGC-certified grade means the coin trades across multiple buyer pools, including silver stackers attentive to the metal content and collectors focused on the ATB series or certified Specimen strikes. The NGC certification and slab condition make it straightforward to represent the coin accurately in any resale environment.

We operate as a two-way market, meaning customers can both purchase and sell products like this within the same platform. Liquidity for graded ATB coins is not as deep as it is for standard bullion coins, but the NGC certification adds a layer of market credibility that supports resale through dealers, auction houses, and collector networks. Understanding that distinction before purchase helps set realistic expectations about how and where this type of product trades when it is time to sell.

Why Buy the 2016-P ATB Shawnee 5 oz Silver Coin (NGC SP70)?

For buyers pursuing a complete ATB Specimen set or seeking certified five-ounce silver coins with documented condition, this coin offers a specific value that generic bullion cannot replicate. The SP70 grade provides documented assurance that the coin is flawless by NGC's standards, and the Shawnee issue is a finite, non-reproducible entry in a completed series. Once the program concluded and production ceased, the population of SP70-graded examples became fixed.

The Philadelphia Mint's Specimen production process results in a visually distinctive coin that stands apart from standard bullion strikes. For buyers who want five ounces of silver paired with numismatic certification and the collector-oriented appeal of the ATB series, this coin fills that role in a way that raw bullion simply does not. It functions as both a silver holding and a catalogued numismatic item within one of the most systematically collected modern U.S. coin series.

Why Buy from Bullion Standard?

We are an authorized dealer for NGC, which means our handling, presentation, and verification of NGC-certified products reflect a direct relationship with the grading service itself. Customers can trust that certified coins listed on our platform are genuine, accurately described, and presented with accurate grade information. Our A rating with the Better Business Bureau and memberships in both the American Numismatic Association and the National Coin and Bullion Association reflect a consistent commitment to professionalism across every category we carry.

Transparent pricing is fundamental to how we operate. Rather than obscuring premiums or presenting pricing without context, we structure our product pages to give buyers the information they need to evaluate what they are paying and why. Our two-way market model means liquidity considerations are built into the platform from the start, allowing buyers to understand both sides of the transaction before committing. Secure fulfillment, accessible customer support, and a straightforward buying experience complete the picture.

Get Near-Spot Pricing with Bullion Standard Pro

Bullion Standard Pro gives members access to live, executable wholesale bid and ask pricing across a broad range of precious metals, including certified numismatic coins like this ATB Shawnee SP70. For graded silver coins where premiums above spot can vary significantly based on population data and collector demand, having real-time visibility into wholesale pricing and bid/ask spreads provides meaningful context that static retail listings cannot offer. Pro members can evaluate this coin's current pricing against live market conditions rather than relying on estimated or delayed price information.

Portfolio valuation through Bullion Standard Pro is based on live executable wholesale bid pricing, giving members a realistic view of current liquidation value rather than spot-inflated estimates. Proprietary market intelligence tools allow members to track premium trends, compare products across the catalog, and make more informed decisions about when and what to buy or sell. For a product like this, where the numismatic premium plays a meaningful role in total value, that kind of analytical transparency makes a genuine difference.

Flexible and Secure Payment Options

We support a wide range of payment methods to make every transaction straightforward and secure. Buyers can complete purchases using Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, PayPal, bank-connected payments through Plaid, wire transfer, paper check, or cryptocurrency via BitPay. Each method is integrated with security protocols designed to protect both buyer and seller throughout the transaction.

Whether you prefer the familiarity of a credit card, the speed of a wire transfer, or the flexibility of cryptocurrency, our checkout process is built to accommodate how you prefer to transact. The goal is to remove friction from the buying experience so your focus can remain on the product rather than the payment process.

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