The fourth strike in 2015 to be part of the US Mint’s America the Beautiful Silver Bullion Coin™ Program will be the 2015 Bombay Hook America the Beautiful Silver Bullion Coin. This coin also marks the twenty-ninth strike in the program which will feature a total of fifty-six new coins in its eleven year run from 2010 to 2021.
Each coin in the series will be struck from five ounces of .999 fine silver as dictated by the America’s Beautiful National Parks Quarter Dollar Coin Act of 2008. Also, the coins weight and fineness will be inscribed on the edge.
Since these bullion coins are based on the circulating America the Beautiful Quarter Dollars issued at approximately the same time, they also feature almost identical designs. As such, the obverse of both series contain a portrait of the first President of the United States George Washington.
The reverse of this particular coin will show a portion of Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge which is located in Delaware. Final designs should be unveiled by the US Mint in early 2015, but design candidates should appear the previous year when the appropriate groups and individuals are allowed to review them.
Under the terms of the program, one location from each state in the union, the District of Columbia and the five US territories – Guam, US Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, American Samoa and the Northern Mariana Islands will be featured on a coin in this new series. That chosen location must be of national interest meaning sites like national parks, national forests, etc. will be selected.
The general public will not be allowed to purchase these bullion coins directly from the Mint. Instead, as is normal for US Mint bullion products, a network of authorized purchasers buy the coins in bulk from the Mint, and then resell them in smaller quantities to coin dealers and individuals for a small premium over the current spot price of the silver contained within them.
As the fourth coin issued in 2015, three other coins will precede it including ones showcasing Homestead National Monument of America of Nebraska, Kisatchie National Forest of Louisiana and Blue Ridge Parkway of North Carolina. One coin will follow the Bombay strike and it will feature Saratoga National Historical Park of New York
Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge in Delaware
Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge located in Delaware consists of 15,978 acres with a significant majority of that being tidal salt marsh. These marshes provide a constant supply of nutrient rich water flows that nourish the native plants which in turn creates an excellent refuge for many creatures.
Of these many creatures, the primary focus of the refuge are waterfowl and other migratory birds. Estimates place the number of species that can be found in refuge lands throughout the year at over 300 making it an ideal location for bird enthusiasts. Ducks and geese use the area as a winter haven or as a stop-over as the migrate further south and the threatened Bald Eagles can also usually be found here.
Elevation within the park averages less than ten feet above sea level but one can also find segments of timbered and grassy uplands. The refuge also hosts 1,000 plus acres of fresh-water pools and even some agricultural land.
A stretch nearly eight miles long on Delaware Bay established the refuge in 1937 when it was bought by the federal government. Slowly over the years, small additions have been added to get it to the size it is today where it currently hosts 100,000 visitors a year.
In addition to a 12-mile roundtrip auto tour, the refuge also offers many opportunities for photography, hiking and wildlife viewing.