The first silver deposits in Arizona were
discovered in 1583, and when Arizona was annexed by the USA in 1853 a
40-year-long silver boom started, which only died down with the end of the
silver dollar. Even though most mines in the region produce copper today, it
was decided to opt for silver at the Scottsdale Mint, and a market gap was
discovered for coins with a special design. Be it the Biblical Coin Series, the
Silverback Gorilla or the Fiji Iguanas, the designers at the Scottsdale Mint
are definitely very creative.