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Commemorative Values

Commemorative coins are a time-honored tradition dating back to ancient Greece, and they have been struck intermittently since the late 19th century. They are responsible for a number of firsts in U.S. coinage, including the first coin to have a U.S. president portrait and more. 

The 2020 Women’s Suffrage Centennial Silver Dollar honors the 70-year fight that led to the ratification of the 19th Amendment, with powerful imagery celebrating generations of women who pushed for the vote.
The U.S. Military Academy, in West Point, NY, was authorized by President Thomas Jefferson on March 16, 1802.
Read how Congress honored the U.S. Army’s founding with a special 2011 three-coin commemorative set through the United States Army Commemorative Coin Program.

All Commemorative Values Resources

1937 Roanoke Island, North Carolina Half Dollar

Learn about the 1937 Roanoke Island, North Carolina Half Dollar and how the design captured the haunting “lost colony” story.

1936 Providence, Rhode Island Tercentenary Half Dollar

Learn more about how the Providence, Rhode Island Tercentenary Half Dollar was issued to commemorate the 300th anniversary of Roger Williams’s 1636 settlement at Providence

Pilgrim Tercentenary Half Dollar (1920 – 1921)

Learn more about how the Pilgrim Tercentenary Half Dollars of 1920 and 1921 were created to mark 300 years since the Mayflower landing in the

Panama-Pacific Commemorative Coin Program

Learn how the 1915 Panama-Pacific Exposition didn’t just celebrate the Panama Canal, it showcased San Francisco’s revival and gave collectors a commemorative program unlike anything
Two Oregon Trail Memorial Half Dollars on the table.

The Oregon Trail Memorial Half Dollar (1926-1939)

Ezra Meeker’s lifelong attempt to keep the Oregon Trail’s pioneer story alive is what drove Congress to approve this half dollar. Learn more about Meeker’s

1935 Old Spanish Trail Half Dollar

Learn more about how Hoffecker’s lobbying, selective history, and careful distribution popularized the 1935 Old Spanish Trail Half Dollar.

1936 Norfolk, Virginia, Bicentennial Half Dollar

Learn about the 1936 Norfolk, Virginia, Bicentennial Half Dollar's origin and the reason for the coin’s delayed release.
Two New Rochelle, New York Half Dollars on a table.

1938 New Rochelle, New York Half Dollar

New Rochelle marked its 250th anniversary in the late 1930s with a commemorative half dollar that celebrated the city’s Huguenot roots and helped fund the

1923 Monroe Doctrine Centennial Half Dollar

Learn how the 1923 Monroe Doctrine Centennial Half Dollar was issued to mark the 100th anniversary of the Monroe Doctrine.

1921 Missouri Centennial Half Dollar

Discover how the 1921 Missouri Centennial Half Dollar was created to celebrate the state's 100th year in the Union following the Missouri Compromise, along with

1934 Maryland Tercentenary Half Dollar

Learn how the 1934 Maryland Tercentenary Half Dollar was created to mark 300 years since the first English settlers arrived in Maryland and the details

1920 Maine Centennial Half Dollar

Learn how the 1920 Maine Centennial Half Dollar was created to mark Maine’s 100th year of statehood and raise money to support statewide centennial events.

1936 Lynchburg, Virginia, Sesquicentennial Half Dollar

Learn how the 1936 Lynchburg, Virginia, Sesquicentennial Half Dollar was authorized to mark the founding of Lynchburg.

1903 Louisiana Purchase Exposition Gold Dollars (McKinley & Jefferson)

Learn about how Congress created 1903 Louisiana Purchase Exposition Gold Dollars to commemorate the centennial of the Louisiana Purchase and to raise funds and excitement

1936 Long Island Tercentenary Silver Half Dollar

Congress authorized the 1936 Long Island Tercentenary Silver Half Dollar to mark the 300th anniversary of the first European (Dutch) settlement on Long Island, an

1925 Lexington-Concord Sesquicentennial Half Dollar

The 1925 Lexington-Concord Sesquicentennial Half Dollar was created to mark the 150th anniversary of the battles that ignited the American Revolution. Read more to learn

Lewis and Clark Exposition Gold Dollar (1904 – 1905)

Lewis and Clark Exposition Gold Dollars were authorized to commemorate the centennial of the Lewis and Clark expedition and to be sold at Portland, Oregon’s

1946 Iowa Centennial Commemorative Half Dollar

The 1946 Iowa Centennial Commemorative Half Dollar was authorized after a long lull in U.S. commemoratives, aiming to fund and spotlight Iowa’s 100th anniversary of

1918 Illinois Centennial Half Dollar

This 1918 Illinois Centennial Half Dollar was issued to celebrate 100 years of statehood and to fund statewide anniversary events as World War I was

1924 Huguenot-Walloon Tercentenary Half Dollar

This 1924 commemorative half dollar was made to honor the 300th anniversary of the Huguenots and Walloons arriving in New Netherland. Read to learn why

1935 Hudson, New York Sesquicentennial Half Dollar

The Hudson, New York Sesquicentennial Half Dollar was authorized to celebrate the city’s 150th anniversary. Read more to learn about how a distribution fiasco shaped
Learn how Congress marked the 125th anniversary of Thomas Edison’s lightbulb in 2004 with a commemorative silver dollar honoring his invention and its impact.
Star-Spangled Banner Commemorative Coins were made to remember the War of 1812 and to mark the 200th anniversary of America’s national anthem. Learn more about the bold flag-focused designs and how the coin incorporated a famous American poem in a special release.
Learn about the 2006 Old San Francisco Mint Centennial coins and how they honor the mint that survived the 1906 earthquake and fires.
Learn about the two commemorative coins honoring the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics: a silver dollar and a $5 gold coin, both featuring bold Olympic-themed designs.
Congress honored the centennial legacy of the Negro Leagues in 2022 with a three-coin commemorative set recognizing the players, teams, and pioneers who kept baseball thriving when the majors were segregated. Learn more about how this set celebrates figures like Rube Foster, highlights the hard realities Negro Leaguers faced on the road, and ensures their lasting impact on America’s pastime is remembered.
Congress approved the 2021 National Law Enforcement Memorial and Museum three-coin program to honor officers’ service and sacrifice while raising funds for the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial and Museum. Learn more about how a clad half dollar, a silver dollar, and a $5 gold coin worked together to create one tribute.
Learn how the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor Commemorative Coin Program was created to honor the nearly two million Americans wounded or killed in action since 1917 and to support the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor in New Windsor, New York.
Congress marked the National Park Service’s 100th anniversary in 2016 with a three-coin commemorative program celebrating a century of protecting America’s parks, lands, and monuments. Learn more about how a clad half dollar, a silver dollar, and a $5 gold coin honored the NPS mission and gave collectors a lasting way to salute our national treasures.
National Baseball Hall of Fame Commemorative Coins were created to salute Cooperstown’s 75th anniversary and to showcase a bold first for the U.S. Mint: concaved coins. Learn more about the coin design competition and what made this set an instant modern classic for collectors.
The 2011 Medal of Honor Commemorative Coin Program marked the award’s 150th anniversary and to spotlight the extraordinary valor of its recipients while supporting the Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation. Read more to learn about how the silver dollar and companion $5 gold coin was designed, minted, and tied to the legacy of America’s highest military decoration.
Learn how the 2005 Marine Corps 230th Anniversary Silver Dollar was authorized for the Marine Corps’ 230th anniversary and how it helped fund the National Museum of the Marine Corps and its Heritage Center in Quantico.
The 2015 March of Dimes Silver Dollar was issued to honor the foundation’s 75th anniversary and The March of Dimes Foundation legacy, from fighting polio during FDR’s presidency to supporting healthier mothers and babies today. Read more to learn about the special Roosevelt dime tie-ins and the inspiration of the coin design.
Congress authorized the 2009 Louis Braille Commemorative Silver Dollar to mark the bicentennial of Braille’s birth. Learn how his reading system transformed education and independence for blind and visually impaired people.
Congress authorized the 2007 Little Rock Central High School Desegregation Commemorative Silver Dollar to mark the 50th anniversary of the Little Rock Nine’s courageous integration of their school in 1957. Read more to learn about this victory for civil rights and public education in America and the inspiration for the coin’s design.
The 2017 Lions Clubs International Centennial Silver Dollar was authorized to celebrate the Lions Cub’s 100th anniversary and to recognize a century of worldwide volunteer service. Read more to learn about how the coin supported the Lions’ ongoing mission across the globe.
The 2004 Lewis & Clark Bicentennial Silver Dollar weas issued to honor the 200th anniversary of their expedition that opened the American West. Read more to learn about how this coin celebrated the explorers’ impact on U.S. history.
This 2012 commemorative silver dollar honored U.S. Army infantrymen and helped raise funds for the National Infantry Museum and Soldier Center. Read more to learn about the symbolism behind the issue and how collectors responded to it. 
To mark the Girl Scouts’ 100th anniversary, Congress issued the 2013 Girl Scouts of the USA Centennial Silver Dollar. Read more to learn about why this well-intentioned tribute didn’t sell as well as the U.S. Mint hoped.
Learn about the First Spouse series and how these coins were created alongside the Presidential $1 coins to honor U.S. First Ladies (or Liberty stand-ins for unmarried presidents) in the order they served.
In 2003, Congress honored the 100th anniversary of the Wright brothers’ first powered flight at Kitty Hawk. Read more to learn about the inspiration for the design of this coin and its success with collectors.
Congress issued the 2014 Civil Rights Act silver dollar to mark the 50th anniversary of the 1964 law and to honor its role in expanding equal rights in the U.S. Read about how the coins design showcases freedom in education, voting, and self-determination.

2004 Thomas Alva Edison Commemorative Silver Dollar

Learn how Congress marked the 125th anniversary of Thomas Edison’s lightbulb in 2004 with a commemorative silver dollar honoring his invention and its impact.

Star-Spangled Banner Commemorative Coins

Star-Spangled Banner Commemorative Coins were made to remember the War of 1812 and to mark the 200th anniversary of America’s national anthem. Learn more about the bold flag-focused designs and how the coin incorporated a famous American poem in a special release.

San Francisco Old Mint Centennial Coins

Learn about the 2006 Old San Francisco Mint Centennial coins and how they honor the mint that survived the 1906 earthquake and fires.

2002 Winter Olympic Commemorative Coin Program

Learn about the two commemorative coins honoring the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics: a silver dollar and a $5 gold coin, both featuring bold Olympic-themed designs.

Negro Leagues Baseball Commemorative Coin Program

Congress honored the centennial legacy of the Negro Leagues in 2022 with a three-coin commemorative set recognizing the players, teams, and pioneers who kept baseball thriving when the majors were segregated. Learn more about how this set celebrates figures like Rube Foster, highlights the hard realities Negro Leaguers faced on the road, and ensures their lasting impact on America’s pastime is remembered.

National Law Enforcement Memorial and Museum Commemorative Coin Program

Congress approved the 2021 National Law Enforcement Memorial and Museum three-coin program to honor officers’ service and sacrifice while raising funds for the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial and Museum. Learn more about how a clad half dollar, a silver dollar, and a $5 gold coin worked together to create one tribute.

National Purple Heart Hall of Honor Commemorative Coin Program

Learn how the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor Commemorative Coin Program was created to honor the nearly two million Americans wounded or killed in action since 1917 and to support the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor in New Windsor, New York.

National Park Service 100th Anniversary Commemorative Coins

Congress marked the National Park Service’s 100th anniversary in 2016 with a three-coin commemorative program celebrating a century of protecting America’s parks, lands, and monuments. Learn more about how a clad half dollar, a silver dollar, and a $5 gold coin honored the NPS mission and gave collectors a lasting way to salute our national treasures.

National Baseball Hall of Fame Commemorative Coin Program

National Baseball Hall of Fame Commemorative Coins were created to salute Cooperstown’s 75th anniversary and to showcase a bold first for the U.S. Mint: concaved coins. Learn more about the coin design competition and what made this set an instant modern classic for collectors.

2011 Medal of Honor Commemorative Coin Program

The 2011 Medal of Honor Commemorative Coin Program marked the award’s 150th anniversary and to spotlight the extraordinary valor of its recipients while supporting the Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation. Read more to learn about how the silver dollar and companion $5 gold coin was designed, minted, and tied to the legacy of America’s highest military decoration.

2005 Marine Corps 230th Anniversary Silver Dollar

Learn how the 2005 Marine Corps 230th Anniversary Silver Dollar was authorized for the Marine Corps’ 230th anniversary and how it helped fund the National Museum of the Marine Corps and its Heritage Center in Quantico.

2015 March of Dimes Silver Dollar

The 2015 March of Dimes Silver Dollar was issued to honor the foundation’s 75th anniversary and The March of Dimes Foundation legacy, from fighting polio during FDR’s presidency to supporting healthier mothers and babies today. Read more to learn about the special Roosevelt dime tie-ins and the inspiration of the coin design.

2009 Louis Braille Bicentennial Silver Dollar

Congress authorized the 2009 Louis Braille Commemorative Silver Dollar to mark the bicentennial of Braille’s birth. Learn how his reading system transformed education and independence for blind and visually impaired people.

2007-P Little Rock Central High School Desegregation Commemorative Silver Dollar

Congress authorized the 2007 Little Rock Central High School Desegregation Commemorative Silver Dollar to mark the 50th anniversary of the Little Rock Nine’s courageous integration of their school in 1957. Read more to learn about this victory for civil rights and public education in America and the inspiration for the coin’s design.

2017 Lions Clubs International Centennial Silver Dollar

The 2017 Lions Clubs International Centennial Silver Dollar was authorized to celebrate the Lions Cub’s 100th anniversary and to recognize a century of worldwide volunteer service. Read more to learn about how the coin supported the Lions’ ongoing mission across the globe.

2004 Lewis & Clark Bicentennial Silver Dollar

The 2004 Lewis & Clark Bicentennial Silver Dollar weas issued to honor the 200th anniversary of their expedition that opened the American West. Read more to learn about how this coin celebrated the explorers’ impact on U.S. history.

2012 Infantry Soldier Silver Dollar

This 2012 commemorative silver dollar honored U.S. Army infantrymen and helped raise funds for the National Infantry Museum and Soldier Center. Read more to learn about the symbolism behind the issue and how collectors responded to it. 

2013 Girl Scouts of the USA Centennial Silver Dollar

To mark the Girl Scouts’ 100th anniversary, Congress issued the 2013 Girl Scouts of the USA Centennial Silver Dollar. Read more to learn about why this well-intentioned tribute didn’t sell as well as the U.S. Mint hoped.

First Spouse $10 Gold Coins (2007 – 2020)

Learn about the First Spouse series and how these coins were created alongside the Presidential $1 coins to honor U.S. First Ladies (or Liberty stand-ins for unmarried presidents) in the order they served.

First Flight Centennial Commemorative Coins

In 2003, Congress honored the 100th anniversary of the Wright brothers’ first powered flight at Kitty Hawk. Read more to learn about the inspiration for the design of this coin and its success with collectors.

2014 Civil Rights Act of 1964 Commemorative Silver Dollar

Congress issued the 2014 Civil Rights Act silver dollar to mark the 50th anniversary of the 1964 law and to honor its role in expanding equal rights in the U.S. Read about how the coins design showcases freedom in education, voting, and self-determination.

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What is an Eagle?

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