Learn About Silver and Gold Bill of Rights Commemoratives
Congress authorized a set of three coins to honor President James Madison and the Bill of Right that Madison authored. Although Congress missed the bicentennial of the Bill of Rights, which would have occurred in 1991, they still felt that it was important enough to warrant the issuance of three commemorative coins.
The first “modern” commemorative Half Dollar, the George Washington Bicentennial of Birth, was struck in 1982 in 90% Fine Silver. The subsequent commemorative Half Dollars were then struck in a “clad” composition of copper and nickel.
However, this coin was struck, once again, in 90% Silver. The obverse featured a seated half portrait of President Madison, facing right, with quill pen in hand, writing on parchment paper – presumably the Bill of Rights. To the right of Madison is his home on Virginia, Montpelier, and also to the right are “JAMES MADISON,” “FATHER OF THE BILL OF RIGHTS,” and below Montpelier is “IN GOD WE TRUST.” The upper periphery has “LIBERTY” and the lower has the date “1993.” T. James Ferrell was the designer.
On the reverse, the central vignette is a hand holding a flaming torch. To the left of the torch is “THE BILL OF RIGHTS” with a five-pointed star below it and to the right of the torch is “OUR BASIC FREEDOMS” again with a five-pointed star below it. Above the torch is inscribed “E PLURIBUS UNUM” and “UNITED STATES ODF AMERICA” is on the upper periphery, while the denomination, “HALF DOLLAR” adorns the lower periphery. Dean Mc Mullen designed the reverse of this coin.
Some 9,656 of these 1993 Bill of Rights Silver Half Dollars were marked with the initials of the Madison Foundation and the American Numismatic Association, on the edge as well as numbered. This was a special promotion that benefitted both organizations.
The 1993 Bill of Rights Commemorative Half Dollars were available in an Uncirculated version which was struck at the West Point Mint and bears a “W” mintmark. There was also a Proof version, which was struck at the San Francisco Mint bearing an “S” mintmark.
The next coin in this set was a Silver Dollar. Continuing the theme, this coin also depicts a portrait of James Madison, facing left. In front of his face is the word “LIBERTY” and below that is “JAMES MADISON.” The lower periphery has “IN GOD WE TRUST” as well as the date “1993”. The obverse was designed by William Krawczewicz.
The reverse is dominated by a large depiction of Madison’s home Montpelier, again with “MONTPELIER” below and with a large “E PLURIBUS UNUM” above his home. The upper periphery has “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” while the lower periphery has the denomination “ONE DOLLAR.” Dean McMullen also designed the reverse of the Silver Dollar.
The 1993 Bill of Rights Silver Dollars were struck in Denver and bear a “D” mintmark for the Uncirculated version while the Proof version was struck at the San Francisco Mint and has an “S” mintmark.
The Bill of Rights legislation also included a $5.00 Gold coin. This obverse of this coin depicted yet a third portrait of James Madison reading what was a copy of the Bill of Rights that he had just penned. He is facing left and above the Bill of Rights is the word “LIBERTY” and 13 five-pointed stars form an arc around the right side of the coin. The lower periphery has “IN GOD WE TRUST,” his name “JAMES MADISON” and the date “1993.” The obverse was designed by Scott R. Blazek.
The reverse has an eagle holding a scroll at the top, UNDERNEATH IS “BILL OF RIGHTS” and a quote from Madison “EQUAL LAWS PROTECTING EQUAL RIGHTS ARE THE BEST GUARANTEE OF LOYALTY AND LOVE OF COUNTRY.” Below that is “E PLURIBUS UNUM” and “FIVE DOLLARS.” On the upper periphery is “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” and to the right side is an olive branch and to the left is a torch of liberty. Joseph D. Pena was the designer.
Both the Uncirculated version of the 1993 Bill of Rights $5.00 Gold coin as well as the Proof version were struck at the West Point facility and both bear the “W” mintmark. The maximum authorized mintage, combined for both versions was set at 300,000 coins.
Each of the six coins struck, three in Uncirculated and three in Proof, were sold individually as well as in a 2-coin set of the Uncirculated Half Dollar and the Uncirculated Silver Dollar, a 2-coin set of the Proof Half Dollar and the Proof Silver Dollar. They were also available in a 3-coin Uncirculated set containing the Uncirculated Half Dollar, Silver Dollar and the $5.00 Gold. Likewise, the 3-coin Proof set contains one of each of the Proof versions of the Half Dollar, Silver Dollar and $5.00 gold coins. Finally, a complete 6-coin set of all of the issued coins in Uncirculated and in Proof was also available.
Date | Mintmark | Denomination | Type | Mintage | Value |
1993 | W | Silver Half Dollar | Uncirculated | 193,346 | $30 |
1993 | S | Silver Half Dollar | Proof | 586,315 | $40 |
1993 | D | Silver Dollar | Uncirculated | 98,383 | $50 |
1993 | S | Silver Dollar | Proof | 534,001 | $50 |
1993 | W | Gold $5.00 | Uncirculated | 23,266 | $550 |
1993 | W | Gold $5.00 | Proof | 78,651 | $550 |
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