Commemorative Values

Thomas Edison’s lightbulb impacted the world by lighting up the night. For the 125th Anniversary of his invention, Congress honored him with a Commemorative Silver Dollar.

The United States Congress celebrated the Bicentennial of the War of 1812 and the Battle of Baltimore by authorizing a commemorative Silver Dollar and a commemorative $5.00 Gold coin. The subject of those coins was the 200th anniversary of our National Anthem – the Star Spangled Banner. 

The Centennial of the Old San Francisco Mint’s survival occurred in 2006. In 1906, not only did the US Mint building in San Francisco, survive a massive earthquake, it also survived the tremendous fires that ravaged the city.  

Donna Weaver designed the reverse of this silver dollar, and it displayed the skyline of Salt Lake City with the Rocky Mountains dominating the design. The “rhythm of the land” design is above the mountains with “XIX WINTER OLYMPIC GAMES” beneath it.

In early Major League Baseball, African American players were not allowed in the major leagues. The owners of these teams formed the Negro National League in order to play against other teams of Black and Hispanic players across the country.  

Congress authorized Public Law 116-94 to honor American law enforcement officers. Given their service and sacrifices, they authorized a 3-coin set – a Clad Half Dollar, a Silver Dollar, and a Five Dollar Gold coin.

The Purple Hear has been awarded to the nearly 2 million service members killed or wounded since 1917, during World War I. The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor Commemorative coins were authorized and approved by the Congress of the United States.

The 100th Anniversary of the National Park Service was celebrated in 2016. Congress authorized a 3-coin set of commemorative coins to be issued for the occasion.

In 2014, the National Baseball Hall of Fame celebrated its 75th Anniversary as Congress authorized the striking of a 3-coin set – a Clad Half Dollar, a Silver Dollar, and a Five Dollar Gold coin.

First awarded in 1863 during the Civil War, the Medal of Honor currently has 3,525 recipients and 618 medals have been awarded posthumously.

The surcharges added to the cost of each coin were used towards the construction of the Heritage Center of the United States Marine Corps, which is in Quantico, Virginia.  

The March of Dimes was founded to eradicate polio. As the vaccine brought the disease under control, the foundation’s mission shifted to improve the health of expectant mothers and their babies.

For the 200th anniversary of Louis Braille’s birth, Congress authorized a commemorative Silver Dollar coin to be struck. The obverse depicts a bust of Braille facing the viewer.

The coin depicts the legs and feet of the “Little Rock Nine’” accompanied by the legs and feet of a soldier in military garb. The Brown ruling allowed desegregation and the military was called in to keep the peace.  

The Lions Club is one of the world’s largest service organizations with operations in more than 200 countries and well over 1 million members.

To commemorate the expedition of Captain Meriwether Lewis and Lieutenant William Clark, whose expedition led to the opening of the West and the Pacific Ocean, Congress authorized a Silver Dollar in 2004.

Three ships left England in 1606 with 105 adventurers to begin the first permanent English settlement in the New World. They arrived in Jamestown in May of 1607.

The designs were announced prior to a football match and a prototype of the coin was used for the coin toss at the game. The prototypes were destroyed after the game.  

In 1913, the Girl Scouts of America were established to foster the growth and experiences of girls and young women in America. One hundred years later Congress honored the Girl Scouts with a commemorative silver dollar coin.

While Presidents are honored on a clad $1 coin, First Spouses were honored on a one-half ounce of .9999 fine gold. These one-half troy ounce gold coins bear a $10 face value.

Only three commemorative coins were authorized in 2003, and all of them commemorated the centennial of the First Flight by the Wright Brothers in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina.