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

Albany (NY) Charter 250th -1936

Learn how Albany’s 250th-anniversary half dollar was created to fund and commemorate the city’s colonial roots.

Alabama Centennial – 1921

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

Yellowstone National Park – 1999

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

XXV Olympiad France & Spain – 1992

Learn how these commemorative coins hold a bit of Olympic history from the games that helped redefine global basketball.

World Cup Tournament – 1994

The 1994 XV FIFA World Cup brought the world’s biggest soccer tournament to U.S. soil, and Congress marked the occasion with a three-coin commemorative set

Women in Military Service Memorial – 1994

Learn how the 1994 Women in Military Service Memorial Silver Dollar honored American servicewomen and helped fund a new memorial at Arlington National Cemetery.

White House Bicentennial – 1992

The 1992 White House Bicentennial silver dollar honors 200 years since construction began, featuring the White House on the obverse and architect James Hoban on

1994 Vietnam Veterans Memorial Silver Dollar

The 1994 Vietnam Veterans Memorial Silver Dollar was issued to mark ten years since the Wall’s dedication, with surcharges supporting its upkeep. Learn more about

U.S. Capitol Bicentennial Silver Dollar

Learn how the U.S. Mint marked the Capitol’s 200th anniversary with a commemorative silver dollar and its patriotic design.

1997 Botanic Garden Silver Dollar

The U.S. Mint issued the 1997 Botanic Garden Silver Dollar to celebrate the 175th anniversary of the U.S. Botanic Garden. Learn more about this coin’s

1991 USO 50th Anniversary Silver Dollar

Learn how Congress marked the USO’s 50th anniversary in 1991 with a commemorative silver dollar, celebrating 50 years of providing entertainment and more to U.S

Constitution Bicentennial Commemorative Coins

In 1987, the U.S. Mint honored the Constitution’s 200th anniversary with a silver dollar and a $5 gold coin. Learn more about these striking designs

2001 United States Capitol Visitor Center Commemorative Coins

In 2001, the U.S. Mint honored Congress’s 200th anniversary in Washington with a special three-coin commemorative set. Read to learn more about the half dollar,

1993 Thomas Jefferson 250th Anniversary Silver Dollar

Read about how Congress issued a silver dollar to celebrate the 250th birthday of Thomas Jefferson.

Statue of Liberty Centennial Commemorative Coins

Learn more about how the Statue of Liberty Centennial Commemorative Coins captured the story of America’s immigrants and how these coins helped fund the restoration

1995 Special Olympics World Games Silver Dollar

Learn how the 1995 Special Olympics World Games Silver Dollar honors Eunice Kennedy Shriver and to how its surcharges supported the Special Olympics mission.

Smithsonian Institution 150th Anniversary Coins

The Smithsonian’s 150th anniversary inspired a 1996 commemorative silver dollar and $5 gold coin. Learn more about the mintages and how these four releases capture

1988 Seoul Olympic Games Commemorative Coin Program

The U.S. Mint marked America’s participation in the 1988 Seoul Olympics with a silver dollar and a $5 gold coin. Read and learn more about

1998 Robert F. Kennedy Commemorative Silver Dollar

Read to learn more about the 1998 Robert F. Kennedy silver dollar and how it was issued for the 30th anniversary of his death.

1996 National Community Service Silver Dollar

Learn how the 1996 National Community Service Silver Dollar was created to spotlight volunteerism and motivate more Americans to serve their communities.

Mount Rushmore Golden Anniversary Commemorative Coins

Learn how the 1991 Mount Rushmore commemorative program marked the monument’s 50th anniversary and raised funds for preservation and anniversary activities.
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 this coin 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.
In 2004, Congress issued a Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Silver Dollar 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.
Congress authorized the 2007 Jamestown commemorative coins to mark 400 years since the first English settlement at Jamestown, a turning point that shaped America’s early society and ambitions. Read more to learn about how this anniversary was celebrated and why Jamestown’s legacy still matters today.
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 a 2013 commemorative 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.
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

Coin Type – Thomas Alva Edison – 2004

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.

Coin Type – San Francisco Old Mint Centennial – 2006

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

Coin Type – Salt Lake City Winter Olympics – 2002

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 Coins

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.

Coin Type – Marine Corps 230th Anniversary – 2005

Learn how this coin 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.

Coin Type – Louis Braille Bicentennial – 2009

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 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.

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.

Coin Type – Lewis & Clark Bicentennial – 2004

In 2004, Congress issued a Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Silver Dollar 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.

Coin Type – Jamestown 400th Anniversary – 2007

Congress authorized the 2007 Jamestown commemorative coins to mark 400 years since the first English settlement at Jamestown, a turning point that shaped America’s early society and ambitions. Read more to learn about how this anniversary was celebrated and why Jamestown’s legacy still matters today.

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. 

Girl Scouts of the USA Centennial Silver Dollar

To mark the Girl Scouts’ 100th anniversary, Congress issued a 2013 commemorative 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

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.

Coin Type – First Flight Centennial – 2003

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.

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