The Shawnee National Forest quarter is the first of 2016 and the 31st overall in the America the Beautiful Quarters® Program. The Shawnee National Forest hosts the most acreage of any natural area in the state of Illinois. Its large, public open spaces offer many recreation opportunities including big–game hunting, long–distance pedestrian and equestrian trails, orienteering, bird watching, rock-climbing, beach recreation, and two National Scenic Byways: the Ohio River and the Great River Road.

-This is the first 2016 release in the America the Beautiful Quarters® Program

-Minted at the U.S. Mint at Philadelphia, Denver and San Francisco

The reverse (tails) design features a close view of Camel Rock with natural vegetation in the foreground and a red–tailed hawk soaring in the sky overhead. Inscriptions are “SHAWNEE,” “ILLINOIS,” “2016” and “E PLURIBUS UNUM.”

The US Mint launched the America the Beautiful silver bullion coin series in 2010. Each massive coin contains 5 troy ounces of .999 fine silver, despite the small "quarter dollar" denomination. The series is entering its sixth year in production and each year the coins' popularity grows.

The obverse features George Washington, as minted on US quarter dollars since 1932. The coins' reverse duplicates artwork found on the much-loved America the Beautiful quarters, commemorating national parks or national sites. The US Mint releases 5 designs every year, each representing a park in one of the 50 states and Washington DC. The limited series is set to run until 2021. 

Grab yours now before they are gone:
https://www.moneymetals.com/america-the-beautiful-5-ounce-silver-shawnee-national-forest/243