The History of the Lions Clubs International
The United States Congress authorized Public Law 112-181 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Lions Clubs International by issuing a Lions Clubs International Centennial Silver Dollar. The coins were sold individually, and a striking ceremony was held at the Philadelphia Mint in November of 2016. The surcharge proceeds were intended to fund the Lions Club’s service and environmental projects, raising awareness and resources for those in need, and funding the Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF).
The surcharges specifically funds programs for the blind and visually impaired in the U.S. and abroad, funds investment in adaptive technologies for people with disabilities, and funds investment in youth and those affected by major disasters.
Melvin Jones, the founder of the Lions Club, founded the club in order to gather members of business clubs together to form a new club that centers in giving back to their communities. Melvin, with help from his wife, Rose Amanda Freeman, wrote letters to clubs nationwide inviting them to take up his idea for a service-centered organization. Delegates from various business clubs were invited to Chicago to meet and form what became Lions Clubs International. On June 7, 1917, Lions Clubs International was born. The Lions Clubs International now has operations in more than 200 countries and has over 1 million members.
Design & Mintage Details
The Lions Clubs International Centennial Silver Dollar was issued to mark the centennial of its founding. Artistic Infusion Program (AIP) artist, Joel Iskowitz, who designed coins and medals for the United States Mint, designed the obverse of the coin. Joseph Menna sculpted the obverse. The obverse has two main subjects that it depicts: a portrait of Melvin Jones, who founded the Lions Club, and a representation of their international logo of the profile of a lion’s head. The logo contains the words “LIONS INTERNATIONAL” with a large “L” in the center. Above the portrait and logo is the word “LIBERTY.” One the lower periphery is the date “2017,” and the motto “IN GOD WE TRUST.” To the left of Mr. Jones’ portrait is his name and title “MELVIN JONES FOUNDER.”
The reverse was designed by Patricia Lucas-Morris and was sculpted by Don Everhart. The reverse features a male lion, a female lion, and a lion cub, with a world globe behind them to signify the international nature of this organization. Around the upper periphery is “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,” and on the lower periphery is the phrase “CELEBRATING 100 YEARS OF SERVICE.”
The coin was struck in both an uncirculated finish and a proof finish. Both versions were struck at the Philadelphia Mint. The legislation provided for a maximum authorized mintage of up to 400,000 coins across both types. The uncirculated version sold 17,247, while the proof version sold 68,519 coins. Find this coin and other U.S. silver modern commemorative coins on our website.
(A 2017-P Lions Clubs International Commemorative Silver Dollar, Uncirculated, Obverse [left], Reverse [right].)
(A 2017-P Lions Clubs International Commemorative Silver Dollar, Proof, Obverse [left], Reverse [right].)
