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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

1928 Hawaiian Sesquicentennial Half Dollar

Congress authorized the 1928 Hawaiian Sesquicentennial Half Dollar at the Territory’s request to mark 150 years since Captain Cook’s landing, with sales meant to fund

1922 Grant Memorial Commemorative Coins

Congress approved special Grant Memorial coins in 1922 to help restore and preserve Ulysses S. Grant’s Ohio birthplace, pairing silver half dollars and gold dollars

1936 Battle of Gettysburg Half Dollar

Congress approved the 1936 Battle of Gettysburg Half Dollar to honor the battle that marked a turning point for the Union. Read more to learn

1925 Fort Vancouver Centennial Half Dollar

Learn how Congress created a three-coin commemorative program in 2013 to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the establishment of Fort Vancouver.

1936 Elgin, Illinois Centennial Silver Half Dollar

Learn how Elgin’s 1936 Elgin Illinois Centennial Silver Half Dollar was authorized to help fund the city’s centennial celebration and to raise money for a

1937 Delaware Tercentenary Half Dollar

The Delaware Tercentenary half dollar was created to commemorate the 300th anniversary of the Swedes’ 1638 arrival in Delaware, with celebrations planned in both Wilmington

1935 Connecticut Tercentenary Half Dollar

The 1935 Connecticut Tercentenary Half Dollar was authorized in 1935 to mark 300 years since the colony’s founding and to support statewide celebrations, with Henry

1936 Columbia, South Carolina Sesquicentennial Half Dollar

Learn about the 1936 Columbia, South Carolina commemorative half dollar was authorized for the city’s 150th anniversary.

1936 Cleveland Centennial/Great Lakes Exposition Half Dollar

The 1936 Cleveland Centennial/Great Lakes Expo half dollar was made to celebrate Cleveland’s founding and to support the city’s Great Lakes Exposition that year.

1936 Cincinnati Music Center Half Dollar

Learn how this coin was authorized to help fund Cincinnati’s planned 1936 celebrations marking the city’s 50 years of musical importance and the 50th anniversary

San Diego California-Pacific Exposition Half Dollar (1935-1936)

The 1935–36 California Pacific International Exposition in San Diego issued a commemorative half dollar to help support the World’s Fair. Learn about the lack of

1925 California Diamond Jubilee Silver Half Dollar

The 1925 California Diamond Jubilee Silver Half Dollar was authorized to support the state’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations. Learn more about these collectibles from the San

1936 Bridgeport Connecticut Centennial Half Dollar

The 1936 Bridgeport Connecticut Centennial Half Dollar was authorized to support the city’s 100th-anniversary celebrations, with surcharges benefiting the events. Struck only at the Philadelphia

Daniel Boone Bicentennial Half Dollar (1934-1938)

Learn how the Daniel Boone Bicentennial half dollars, first issued in 1934 to mark the 200th anniversary of Boone’s birth, evolved over several years into

Booker T. Washington Memorial Half Dollar (1946 -1951)

Issued from 1946 to 1951, the Booker T. Washington commemorative half dollar honors Washington’s legacy and supports the preservation of his "slave cabin" where he

George W. Carver-Booker T. Washington Commemorative Silver Half Dollar (1951 – 1954)

Learn how Congress approved the George W. Carver-Booker T. Washington Commemorative Silver Half Dollar in 1951 as a follow-up tribute honoring two African American agricultural

1937 Battle of Antietam 75th Anniversary Commemorative Silver Half Dollar

Learn about the half dollar that honored the Civil War’s bloodiest single day and the dwindling band of surviving veterans who gathered for its 75th

Arkansas Centennial Half Dollars (1935-1939)

Learn how these half dollars, created for the centennial of Arkansas’s admission to the Union, were produced over several years and at multiple U.S. Mint

1936 Albany Charter Half Dollar

Learn how the 1936 Albany Charter Half Dollar was created to fund and commemorate the city’s colonial roots.

1921 Alabama Centennial Half Dollar

The 1921 Alabama Centennial Half Dollar is noted for several firsts, including being the first U.S. coin designed by a woman, Laura Gardin Fraser, and

1999 Yellowstone National Park Commemorative Silver Dollar

Learn how this modern commemorative is a scenic tribute to Yellowstone’s natural wonders and a standout addition for collectors who love U.S. history and the
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.
Congress authorized the 1928 Hawaiian Sesquicentennial Half Dollar at the Territory’s request to mark 150 years since Captain Cook’s landing, with sales meant to fund
Congress approved special Grant Memorial coins in 1922 to help restore and preserve Ulysses S. Grant’s Ohio birthplace, pairing silver half dollars and gold dollars
Congress approved the 1936 Battle of Gettysburg Half Dollar to honor the battle that marked a turning point for the Union. Read more to learn
Learn how Congress created a three-coin commemorative program in 2013 to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the establishment of Fort Vancouver.
Learn how Elgin’s 1936 Elgin Illinois Centennial Silver Half Dollar was authorized to help fund the city’s centennial celebration and to raise money for a
The Delaware Tercentenary half dollar was created to commemorate the 300th anniversary of the Swedes’ 1638 arrival in Delaware, with celebrations planned in both Wilmington
The 1935 Connecticut Tercentenary Half Dollar was authorized in 1935 to mark 300 years since the colony’s founding and to support statewide celebrations, with Henry
Learn about the 1936 Columbia, South Carolina commemorative half dollar was authorized for the city’s 150th anniversary.
The 1936 Cleveland Centennial/Great Lakes Expo half dollar was made to celebrate Cleveland’s founding and to support the city’s Great Lakes Exposition that year.
Learn how this coin was authorized to help fund Cincinnati’s planned 1936 celebrations marking the city’s 50 years of musical importance and the 50th anniversary
The 1935–36 California Pacific International Exposition in San Diego issued a commemorative half dollar to help support the World’s Fair. Learn about the lack of
The 1925 California Diamond Jubilee Silver Half Dollar was authorized to support the state’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations. Learn more about these collectibles from the San
The 1936 Bridgeport Connecticut Centennial Half Dollar was authorized to support the city’s 100th-anniversary celebrations, with surcharges benefiting the events. Struck only at the Philadelphia
Learn how the Daniel Boone Bicentennial half dollars, first issued in 1934 to mark the 200th anniversary of Boone’s birth, evolved over several years into
Issued from 1946 to 1951, the Booker T. Washington commemorative half dollar honors Washington’s legacy and supports the preservation of his “slave cabin” where he
Learn how Congress approved the George W. Carver-Booker T. Washington Commemorative Silver Half Dollar in 1951 as a follow-up tribute honoring two African American agricultural
Learn about the half dollar that honored the Civil War’s bloodiest single day and the dwindling band of surviving veterans who gathered for its 75th
Learn how these half dollars, created for the centennial of Arkansas’s admission to the Union, were produced over several years and at multiple U.S. Mint
Learn how the 1936 Albany Charter Half Dollar was created to fund and commemorate the city’s colonial roots.
The 1921 Alabama Centennial Half Dollar is noted for several firsts, including being the first U.S. coin designed by a woman, Laura Gardin Fraser, and
Learn how this modern commemorative is a scenic tribute to Yellowstone’s natural wonders and a standout addition for collectors who love U.S. history and the

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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