Commemorating When Man Landed on the Moon
Although the United States astronauts accomplished it, many countries in the world celebrated the success of the Apollo 11 mission and the 50th anniversary of the moon landing as well. Even Australia, Ghana, Canada, East Caribbean States, and even the Solomon Islands issued coinage to honor the half-century anniversary.
The Congress of the United States, knowing there would be tremendous interest in this issue, authorized the U.S. Mint to strike a clad half dollar, a silver dollar, a 5 oz silver coin, and a five dollar gold coin.
Coin Design Details
All four coins shared the same central artistic designs, with denomination and inscriptions adjusted for each issue. Also, all four of these coins are concave on the obverse and convex on the reverse. The designer of the obverse and reverse was Gary Cooper. Joseph Menna engraved the obverse while the Mint’s Phebe Hemphill engraved the reverse.
The obverse of all the coins depicted a boot print on the lunar surface, which was based on a photograph by Astronaut Buzz Aldrin. Above the boot print impressed into the lunar surface are the words, “MERCURY * GEMINI * APOLLO”, all of which were separated by a different phase of the Moon. To the left is “2019”, and to the right is “IN GOD WE TRUST.” On the lower periphery is the word “LIBERTY”.
The reverse depicts the visor and helmet of Buzz Aldrin’s space suit, with Astronaut Neil Armstrong, an American flag and the Lunar Module, The Eagle, in the reflection in this image. Aldrin’s shadow is also prominent in this image and on this coin. This view is based on the famous photograph taken by Armstrong, which was reproduced in newspapers around the world. Above this scene is the denomination “ONE DOLLAR”, while the upper periphery is inscribed with the phrase “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA”, and the lower periphery has the motto “E PLURIBUS UNUM”.
2019 Apollo 11 50th Anniversary Commemorative Clad Half Dollar
The clad half dollar was issued in an uncirculated version and was struck at the Denver Mint and bears a “D” mintmark on the obverse. The U.S. Mint also struck a proof clad half Dollar at the San Francisco Mint and bears an “S” mintmark on its obverse. Congress authorized a maximum mintage of 750,000 of these clad half dollars. 41,738 uncirculated coins sold, while 181,811 proof coins sold.
The proof coin was also offered in a special Apollo 11 Half Dollar Set with an enhanced uncirculated Kennedy Half Dollar, a coin only available in that set. Only 100,000 sets were made. A proof set of the clad half dollars was also sold.
2019 Apollo 11 50th Anniversary Commemorative Silver Dollar
These silver dollars were struck in .999 fine silver. The only change on this coin was the denomination, which was changed to “ONE DOLLAR”. Congress had authorized a maximum mintage of 400,000 silver dollars to be struck. The Philadelphia Mint struck uncirculated and proof versions of the 2019 Apollo 11 50th Anniversary Commemorative Silver Dolla, so both coins bear a “P” mintmark. 59,697 uncirculated coins, were sold, and 223,737 proof coins were sold.
2019 Apollo 11 50th Anniversary Commemorative Five Ounce Proof Silver Coin
The next silver coin to be added to this grouping was a 5 oz proof silver coin. This marked the first time a 5-ounce silver coin was included in a U.S. commemorative program and the first curved 5-ounce coin issued by the Mint.
The U.S. Mint suffered some production problems producing this 5 oz curved coin. The Congress of the United States had authorized 100,000 across all five ounce proof silver coin product options to be struck. The U.S. Mint, even after delays and mechanical problems, still sold 68,259 of these special coins. Again, the designs were the same; the denomination remained $1, and all coins were struck at the Philadelphia Mint.
2019 Apollo 11 50th Anniversary Commemorative $5 Gold Coin
The coin used the same designs on the obverse and reverse, was also curved, and differed in size, denomination, and metallic composition. A maximum number of 50,000 2019 Apollo 11 50th Anniversary Commemorative $5 Gold Coins could be struck. The coins were struck in uncirculated and proof finishes, and all of them were struck at the West Point mint and bear a “W” mark. 12,035 uncirculated coins were sold while 34,037 proof coins were sold.
After the Mint recovered production costs, surcharges were distributed to the Smithsonian Institution’s National Air and Space Museum, the Astronaut Memorial Foundation, and the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation. Add these coins to your collection and explore other U.S. silver modern commemorative coins and modern U.S. gold commemorative coins.
