In 1917, Father Flannagan’s Boys Home was established for orphans during World War I. This home offered assistance to boys (and now children) of all ages, races, and backgrounds. Father Edward Flanagan had a national perspective and helped children outside of his home in Omaha, NE. He had a national vision. As the 100th anniversary approached, Congress authorized legislation to strike 3 coins to honor Boys Town – a clad Half Dollar, a Silver Dollar, and a Five Dollar Gold coin.
For the clad Half Dollar, Renata Gordon designed the obverse. It depicts a young boy holding the hand of an older boy, who is carrying a suitcase. They both are dressed in 1917-type garb. They are walking towards a sign or pylon on which is inscribed “BOYS TOWN” and to the right are the word “LIBERTY,” and the current date “2017.” To the left of the scene is the date of founding “1917,” and the motto, “IN GOD WE TRUST.” On the bottom periphery is the phrase “SAVING CHILDREN.” This design was sculpted by Chris Costello.
The reverse, which was designed by Phebe Hemphill and again sculpted by Chris Costello, depicts a modern-day version of the Boys Town homes. Above the homes are profiles of four students in caps and gowns. This displays the young men and women who graduate from High School and the Boys Town programs. The upper periphery has the motto “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,” with the phrase “E PLURIBUS UNUM,” under it. Under the homes is the phrase “HEALING FAMILIES,” and the bottom periphery has the denomination “HALF DOLLAR.”
(A 2017-D Boys Town Clad Half Dollar, Uncirculated, Obverse [left], Reverse [right].)
The Congress authorized striking 300,000 of these Clad Half Dollars. The Uncirculated Clad Half Dollar was struck at the San Francisco Mint and bears an :S” mintmark, while a Proof version was struck at the Denver Mint and has a “D” mintmark. These half dollars included a $5 surcharge that would go to Boys Town to defray their operations costs.
(A 2017-D Boys Town, Clad Half Dollar, Proof, Obverse [left], Reverse [right].)
Of the 300,000 coins authorized, 15,525 Uncirculated Clad Half Dollars were sold and 23,164 of the Proof versions were sold.
In addition to the Clad Half Dollar, Congress authorized a Silver Dollar coin to be struck as well. The aims of these coins were to support the excellent work that Boys Town does. Boys Town supports families now, not just orphaned children. The Silver Dollar and the Five Dollar Gold coins also raised money for the work of Boys Town.
The Silver Dollar obverse was designed by Artistic Infusion Program artist Emily Damstra and sculpted by the U.S. Mint’s Joe Menna. It depicts a young girl sitting alone and looking towards the sky for help and reassurance. A single leaf is above her. But no tree branches or trunks are shown. This was meant to convey a sense of loneliness and isolation. The upper periphery displays two words, separated by that leaf “BOYS TOWN.” As she sits on the ground and looks skyward, there is a message written beneath her. The message is “WHEN YOU HELP A CHILD TODAY” and it is ostensibly continued on the reverse. Under that message are “IN GOD WE TRUST,” “LIBERTY,” and the dates “1917 – 2017.”
The reverse of the coin was also designed by Damstra and sculpted by Menna. It features a very large tree with lots of branches and full of leaves. Under a branch are a family of five figures holding hands and seemingly dancing and happy. The family includes the girl depicted on the obverse. The message is completed on the reverse as “YOU WRITE THE HISTORY OF TOMORROW.” Under the message are the phrases “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,” ONE DOLLAR,” and “E PLURIBUS UNUM.”
(A 2016-P Boys Town Silver Dollar, Uncirculated, Obverse [left], Reverse [right].)
Congress authorized up to 350,000 of these Silver Dollar coins to be struck. Both the Uncirculated and Proof versions were struck at the Philadelphia Mint, and both bear the “P” mintmark. The Uncirculated version sold 12,234 coins while the Proof version sold 31,610 coins.
(A 2016-P Boys Town Silver Dollar, Proof, Obverse [left], Reverse [right].)
The final coin in this set authorized by Congress was a Five Dollar Gold commemorative. Congress had authorized up to 50,000 of these gold coins to be struck. The obverse was designed by Artist Infusion Program artist Donna Weaver and sculpted by the U.S. Mint’s Don Everhard. It depicts a bust of Father Edward Flanagan, without whom there would be no Boys Town. He is facing left and on the upper periphery is “BOYS TOWN CENTENNIAL.” To the right of him is “IN GOD WE TRUST,” and to the left of his is ”FR. EDWARD FLANAGAN.” Near the bottom periphery is the word “LIBERTY,” and the date “2017.”
The reverse of this gold coin depicts an outstretched hand with an oak seedling in it. This represents a young oak tree growing out of an acorn – the potential for each child to grow strong and mighty. The upper periphery has “UNITD STATES OF ANERUICA,” and the phrase “THE WOK WILL CONTINUE.” The lower periphery has the denomination “FIVE DOLLARS,” and the motto “E PLURIBUS UNUM.” This reverse was also designed by Donna Weaver and sculpted by Jim Licaretz.
Our Congress had authorized up to 50,000 of these Five Dollar Gold Coins and the West Point Minting facility struck both Uncirculated and Proof versions.
(A 2017-W Boys Town Five Dollar Gold, Uncirculated, Obverse [left], Reverse[right].)
Both the Uncirculated and Proof versions of this coin bear the “W” mintmark. Only 2,947 of the Uncirculated coins and 7,347 of the Proof versions were sold. The U.S. Mint also offered a 3-coin Proof set using the Proof strikings of all three of these coins.
(A 2017-W Boys Town Five Dollar Gold, Proof, Obverse [left], Reverse[right].)
| Date | Mintmark | Denomination | Type | Mintage | Value |
| 2017 | S | Clad Half Dollar | Uncirculated | 15,525 | $45 |
| 2017 | D | Clad Half Dollar | Proof | 23,164 | $45 |
| 2017 | P | Silver Dollar | Uncirculated | 12,234 | $80 |
| 2017 | P | Silver Dollar | Proof | 31,610 | $85 |
| 2017 | W | Five Dollar Gold | Uncirculated | 2,947 | $550 |
| 2017 | W | Five Dollar Gold | Proof | 7,347 | $575 |
| 2017 | D-P-W | Proof Set | Proof | Included | $600 |
