Jackie Robinson’s 50th Anniversary of Integration with MLB
In 1997, the 50th Anniversary of Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier occurred. Robinson was the first African-American to play Major League Baseball and his memory was honored by the United States Mint by issuing an Uncirculated Silver Dollar, a Proof Silver Dollar, an Uncirculated Five Dollar Gold coin, and a proof Five Dollar Gold Coin. The coins were also included in 2-Coin sets, 4-Coin sets as well as a set that included the Proof Gold, a baseball card and a commemorative pin.
The Silver Dollar obverse was designed by Alfred Matelsky. It depicts Jackie Robinson sliding into home plate. The upper periphery has “LIBERTY” while “IN GOD WE TRUST” is to the right of him and the “S” mintmark is below that. The lower periphery has the date “1997” on it.
On the reverse, in the center, is the logo of the Jackie Robinson Foundation acknowledging the 50th Anniversary of his integration with Major League Baseball. Two of Jackie Robinson’s greatest accomplishments surround the logo – “ROOKIE OF THE YEAR 1947” and “HALL OF FAME 1962”. Below is “E PLURIBUS UNUM” while the lower periphery has “ONE DOLLAR” and the upper periphery has “UNITED STATES IF AMERICA.” T. James Ferrell designed the reverse of this coin.
Both the Uncirculated and Proof versions of the Jackie Robinson Silver Dollar were struck at the San Francisco Mint. While only 200,000 Silver Dollars were authorized, the Uncirculated version sold 30,180 pieces and the Proof version sold 110,002 coins.
The coins were sold singly, in a two-coin set, as well as a four-coin set and a Legacy set that included a Five Dollar Proof, a baseball card and a pin.
To accompany the 1997 Jackie Robinson Silver Dollar coins, the US Mint also struck a Five Dollar Gold Coin, in both Uncirculated and Proof versions. The Uncirculated version has the distinction of being one of the lowest mintage modern commemoratives at only 5,174 coins.
The obverse was designed by T. James Ferrell and it depicts a portrait of an aged Jackie Robinson, facing right, with “JACKIE ROBINSON” above, “IN GOD WE TRUST” to the right, the date to the left “1997” and the word “LIBERTY” below his portrait.
The reverse, designed by James Peed, has a baseball in the center, and on the ball are the dates of birth and death for Jackie Robinson “1919 – 1972” and the words “LEGACY OF COURAGE” in script. Below the ball is “E PLURIBUS UNUM” and on the upper periphery is “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” and on the bottom periphery is “FIVE DOLLARS.”
Both the Uncirculated and Proof versions of the Five Dollar Gold Coins were struck at the West Point Mint. The Uncirculated version sold a meager 5,174 coins, while the Proof version sold 24,072 coins.
Date | Mintmark | Denomination | Type | Mintage | Value |
1997 | S | Silver Dollar | Uncirculated | 30,180 | $90 |
1997 | S | Silver Dollar | Proof | 110,002 | $90 |
1997 | W | Five Dollar Gold | Uncirculated | 5,174 | $975 |
1997 | W | Five Dollar Gold | Proof | 24,072 | $525 |
1997 | W | Legacy Set | Proof | Unknown | $775 |
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