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Florida “Sunshine State” – Silver Trade Unit Round
Description
| Mint Mark | None |
|---|---|
| VB ID | VB-PM-US-FLORIDA-TRADE-01 |
| Item | Florida “Sunshine State” – Silver Trade Unit Round |
| Mint | Unknown (Private Mint, USA) |
| Year of issue | Undated (likely 1970s–1980s private-mint era) |
| Composition | 1 troy ounce .999 fine silver (31.1 grams) |
| Diameter | 1 ozt .999 Fine Silver |
| Mint series | ~39mm |
| Edge | Reeded edge |
| Internal Notes | Commonly referred to as a “Silver Trade Unit” round. The phrase was used by many U.S. private mints during the 1970s–1980s and does not identify a specific mint. Style resembles generic bullion produced for tourist markets and state-themed souvenir lines. |
| Text front | “ONE TROY OUNCE 31.1 GRAMS / .999 FINE SILVER / SILVER TRADE UNIT” |
| Text back | “FLORIDA / SUNSHINE STATE / .999 FINE / SILVER / ” |
| Text edge | None |
| Cited Sources |
Obverse Description
The obverse features a traditional scales of justice design, with a balanced scale centered between two laurel branches. Above the scale is the weight legend “ONE TROY OUNCE 31.1 GRAMS,” and below appears the purity marking “.999 FINE SILVER.” The lower arc reads “SILVER TRADE UNIT,” a broad bullion term used by numerous private mints to denote a one-ounce generic trading round.
The style, font, and layout are characteristic of 1970’s-80’s privately minted bullion pieces.
Reverse Description
The reverse presents a Florida scenic motif. A long-billed wading bird (likely a heron or egret) stands on a weathered wooden piling surrounded by marsh grasses. Behind the bird, a stylized rising sun radiates upward, emblematic of Florida’s nickname, “The Sunshine State,” which arcs along the lower rim.
Purity is repeated as “.999 FINE SILVER,” with the word “SILVER” engraved to the right of the bird. The overall design aligns with state-themed souvenir rounds often sold through tourist markets and small bullion distributors.
Cited Sources
Because the piece carries no mintmark, attribution is based on comparisons to known private-mint issues and widely documented usage of “Silver Trade Unit” during the 1970’s-1980’s bullion boom:
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APMEX: “1 oz .999 Silver Trade Unit Rounds – Generic Private Mint Bullion” (describes the term’s non-mint-specific usage).
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Numista Catalog: Entries for private-mint Silver Trade Units and state-theme bullion rounds (various mint origins).
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Silver Art Collector community references: Identifies “Silver Trade Unit” as a generic bullion label used by multiple U.S. private mints between approx. 1970-1990.
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Reeded-edge private-mint specifications consistent across 1970’s-80’s state and tourist rounds.
