In 2003, only three commemorative coins were authorized by the United States Congress, all issued to commemorate the centennial of the Wright Brothers’ First Flight at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. The coins were a clad half-dollar, a silver dollar, and a ten-dollar gold coin. These coins were offered for sale from August 1, 2003, through July 31, 2004.
2003-P First Flight Centennial Commemorative Clad Half Dollar
Mint designer John Mercanti designed the obverse of the First Flight Centennial Commemorative Clad Half Dollar. The obverse design depicts the famed Wright Brothers Monument, located in Kill Devil Hills near Kitty Hawk. The monument is displayed in the center with the word “LIBERTY” adorning the upper periphery. To the left of the monument is the phrase “IN GOD WE TRUST” on two lines. Below the monument is “WRIGHT MONUMENT” and below that is the date “2003”.
The reverse was designed by Norman E. Nemeth and depicts the Wright 1903 Flyer (the early model of their airplane), piloted by Orville Wright. His brother, Wilbur, is on the ground below with an arm raised towards him. The upper periphery has “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” at the top and the phrase “E PLURIBUS UNUM” just below it. Below the aircraft is the denomination “HALF DOLLAR.” Donna Weaver sculpted the reverse.
(A 2003-P First Flight Centennial Commemorative Clad Half Dollar, Uncirculated, Obverse [left], Reverse [right].)
(A 2003-P First Flight Centennial Commemorative Clad Half Dollar, Proof, Obverse [left], Reverse [right].)
Congress authorized 750,000 coins, split between uncirculated and proof, but sales fell short of expectations: only 57,122 uncirculated coins and 109,710 proof coins were sold. Both the uncirculated and proof clad half-dollar coins were struck at the Philadelphia Mint. The coins were sold individually, as a 2-coin half-dollar set, and as part of a 3-coin proof set.
2003-P First Flight Centennial Commemorative Silver Dollar
The 2003 First Flight Centennial Commemorative Silver Dollar was produced in uncirculated and proof finishes. Thomas James Ferrell designed the obverse. It depicts conjoined busts of both Wilber and Orville Wright, facing left, and the word “LIBERTY” is on the upper periphery with the phrase “IN GOD WE TRUST” just below it. Beneath their portraits are their names, “WILBUR & ORVILLE WRIGHT.”
The reverse of the coin was again designed by Norman E. Nemeth. It also depicts the Wright 1903 Flyer in flight, above the dunes at Kill Devil Hills. Above the plane is the denomination “ONE DOLLAR” and below and to the right is the phrase “E PLURIBUS UNUM”. On two lines just above the bottom periphery is “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA”.
(A 2003-P First Flight Centennial Commemorative Silver Dollar, Uncirculated, Obverse [left], Reverse [right].)
(A 2003-P First Flight Centennial Commemorative Silver Dollar, Proof, Obverse [left], Reverse [right].)
Congress authorized a maximum mintage of 500,000 of these silver dollars, but only 53,333 in uncirculated condition were sold, while 190,240 of the proof coins were sold. The uncirculated and proof coins were struck at the Philadelphia Mint.
2003-W First Flight Centennial Commemorative $10 Gold Coin
The Congressional legislation also authorized that a $10 gold coin also be struck in uncirculated and proof versions. This was the first $ 10.00-denomination gold commemorative coin struck by the U.S. Mint since the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic $10.00 Gold Commemorative coin, excluding the 2000 Library of Congress bimetallic $10 coin.
The obverse depicts conjoined portraits of Wilbur and Orville Wright, facing forward. Above the busts is the word “LIBERTY” and to the left is “IN GOD WE TRUST,” while to the right are the dates “1903 / 2003.” Below the busts are their names, “ORVILLE & WILBUR WRIGHT” with “FIRST FLIGHT CENTENNIAL” adorning the lower periphery. Donna Weaver designed this coin.
The reverse also depicts the Wright 1903 Flyer in flight, with a Bald Eagle soaring above them. On the upper periphery is “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” and “E PLURIBUS UNUM” is to the right, with the denomination “TEN DOLLARS” on the lower periphery.
Both the uncirculated and proof 2003 First Flight Centennial Commemorative $10 Gold coins were struck at the West Point Mint. The maximum authorized mintage was 100,000 coins. Of that authorized mintage, 10,009 of the uncirculated coins sold, while only 21,676 of the proof coins were sold.
(A 2003-W First Flight Centennial Commemorative $10 Gold Coin, Uncirculated, Obverse [left], Reverse [right].)
(A 2003-W First Flight Centennial Commemorative $10 Gold Coin, Uncirculated, Obverse [left], Reverse [right].)
Find what your collection is missing and explore APMEX’s exceptional assortment of U.S. classic silver commemorative coins and U.S. classic gold commemorative coins.
