Coin Type – Infantry Soldier – 2012

Congress continued to honor the United States Army with an additional coin in 2012. This coin specifically honored the US Army Infantrymen, who have been so instrumental in every battle the Army has fought. Congress authorized a new commemorative Silver Dollar with a maximum mintage of 350,000 coins. The surcharge proceeds would be directed towards the establishment of a National Infantry Museum and Soldier Center. The chosen designs were announced prior to a football match and a prototype of the coin was used for the coin toss at the football game. The prototypes were destroyed after the coin toss and the game.  

The obverse of the coin was designed by Joel Iskowitz and sculpted by the US Mint’s Michael Gaudioso. The central design is a 20^th century infantry soldier leading a charge and encouraging others to follow him. His actions represent the “Follow Me’ motto of the US Army’s Infantry. As the soldier runs to the left, in the upper periphery is the word “LIBERTY,” and behind him are the words “IN GOD WE TRUST.” In front of him at to the bottom left is the date of issue “2012.” 

The reverse, which was designed by Ronald Sanders and sculpted by Norman E. Nemeth, displays two crossed rifles, which is the branch insignia of the Infantry, with “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,” above the rifles and the denomination, ONE DOLLAR,” below the rifles. In the lower periphery is the motto “E PLURIBUS UNUM.” 

(A 2012-W Infantry Soldier Silver Dollar, Uncirculated, Obverse [right], Reverse [left].) 

The surcharge attached to each coin was to go towards the completion of the National Infantry Museum and Soldier Center. The Uncirculated coins were struck at West Point, while the Proof version of this coin was also struck at the West Point Minting facility, due to West Point’s long association with the United States Army.  

(A 2012-W Infantry Soldier Silver Dollar, Proof, Obverse [right], Reverse [left].) 

About one half of the authorized coins were struck and sold by the United States Mint.