The U.S. Mint told its authorized purchasers Aug. 19 that they will be able to place orders for the 2014 Great Sand Dunes National Park 5-ounce silver quarter dollars beginning Aug. 25.

The 3-inch, .999 fine silver quarter dollars are the 24th to be issued in the America the Beautiful Quarters Program.

The 5-ounce coins bear the same designs, sans Mint mark, that appear on the copper-nickel clad and .900 fine silver America the Beautiful quarter dollars.

The reverse, designed and sculptured by U.S. Mint Sculptor-Engraver Donald Everhart II, features a father and son playing in the sand next to the creek bed. The Colorado park's distinctive mountains and sand dunes are featured in the background.

The 5-ounce silver bullion coins are not sold to the general public, but through a series of authorized purchasers who purchase the coins from the Mint for the spot price of the metal on a given day, plus a $9.75 premium per coin. The coins are then resold to dealers, collectors and investors. The price of the bullion coins can fluctuate daily.

The U.S. Mint will also offer an Uncirculated 5-ounce silver version bearing the P Mint mark of the Philadelphia Mint (where both the 5-ounce silver bullion and Uncirculated versions are struck). The Uncirculated version will be sold to the public at a fixed price, and is scheduled to become available Sept. 15, priced at $154.95, according to the Mint's website.