The 2017 Frederick Douglass America the Beautiful Silver Uncirculated Coin will be issued by the United States Mint in 2017 as the second of five strikes released that year of the America the Beautiful Five Ounce Silver Uncirculated Coin™ series. A design shown on the reverse of the coin will be emblematic of Frederick Douglass National Historical Site located in the District of Columbia.
The Frederick Douglass Silver Uncirculated Coin marks the thirty-seventh in the program overall. This series debuted with five 2010-dated strikes and sees five new coins annually from that debut until the final of fifty-six total coins is issued in 2021.
Each coin of the series honors a different site of national interest. One site was chosen from each state, the District of Columbia and the five US territories. The release order for the coins is dictated by the order in which the selected site came under the direct control of the federal government.
Like all of the other coins of the series, the Frederick Douglass Silver Uncirculated Coin will be struck from five ounces of .999 silver to a diameter of three inches. The weight and composition of the coin is indicated with an edge inscription of ".999 FINE SILVER 5.0 OUNCE."
This series of coins is struck as the numismatic versions of the Mint’s America the Beautiful Silver Bullion Coins™ Program. Consequently, both series of coins feature the same basic specifications and designs.
The designs are actually originally created for a third US Mint series – the America the Beautiful Quarters® Program. Thus, the obverse of each coin contains the John Flanagan portrait of George Washington seen on circulating quarter dollars since 1932.
Reverse designs for coins of the programs are all emblematic of the selected sites of national interest, in this case Frederick Douglass National Historical Site. Design candidates for the reverse of the coin should be released by the US Mint in mid-2016 for review and comment. The final design selection will be chosen by the Secretary of the Treasury and should be unveiled later that year.
Frederick Douglass National Historical Site in the District of Columbia
The Frederick Douglass National Historical Site is located in the District of Columbia. The area came under the ownership of the federal government in 1962, however, it was not created as a national historical site until February 12, 1988.
The site preserves a house and surrounding area known as Cedar Hill. This was the home of noted 19th century African American Frederick Douglass.
Douglass was a slave who escaped to freedom and became one of the most famous abolitionists, authors and orators of his time.
The National Park Service used the following descriptive paragraph for the site:
"I will unite with any one to do right, and with no one to do wrong!"
"Walk the halls of Cedar Hill, home of the famed abolitionist Frederick Douglass."
"Born into slavery, Douglass escaped to spend his life fighting for justice and equality for all people. His tireless struggle, brilliant words, and inclusive vision of humanity continue to inspire and sustain people today."