Celebrating 75 Years of the March of Dimes Foundation
Congress authorized the 2015 March of Dimes Silver Dollar coin to honor the 75th anniversary of the March of Dimes Foundation, which began in 1938 as the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis. The original mission of the March of Dimes was to combat polio. As polio came under control through vaccination, the Foundation’s mission shifted to improving the health of expectant mothers and their babies. The Foundation was established with the support of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who was diagnosed with polio. Roosevelt died in April 1945, ten years before Salk’s polio vaccine was declared a success. Today, the March of Dimes is recognized for its long-standing commitment to maternal and infant health through research, education, and advocacy.
Jonas Salk created the first widely effective polio vaccine with major backing from the March of Dimes, originally the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis, founded in 1938 to combat polio. The organization financed Salk’s work, coordinated the massive 1954 “Polio Pioneers” field trials, and helped usher the vaccine into public use in 1955. In later years, the March of Dimes broadened its mission to focus more broadly on maternal and infant health.
The March of Dimes Foundation currently advocates at the federal, state, and local levels to improve the health of mothers and babies in the United States and maintains a strong focus on scientific research. Each year, the Foundation funds millions of dollars in research aimed at reducing preventable maternal and infant deaths, understanding the causes of preterm birth, and advancing birth equity for mothers of all backgrounds. The organization also supports early-career researchers through the Basil O’Connor Starter Scholar Research Awards.
Design & Distribution
The obverse and reverse were designed by Paul Balan and engraved by the US Mint’s Michael Gaudioso. It features the conjoined profile images of President Franklin Roosevelt and the inventor of the polio vaccine, Dr. Jonas Salk. In front of their images, on the outer periphery, is the word “LIBERTY,” and the phrase “IN GOD WE TRUST.” Below the images is the date of striking, “2015.”
The reverse of this coin depicts a newborn infant resting in an adult’s hand. Around the outer periphery is inscribed “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.” In the lower right field is “MARCH OF DIMES,” and in the lower left is the denomination, “$1.” The bottom periphery has the motto “E PLURIBUS UNUM.” The reverse was engraved by Don Everhard.
Congress authorized up to 500,000 2015 March of Dimes Silver Dollars across all product options. Of these, 24,742 uncirculated coins and 32,030 proof coins were sold. The U.S. Mint also offered a Special Silver Set; 75,000 were produced and sold out. These silver dollars would be a great addition to any medicinal or historical-themed collection. View our selection of U.S. silver modern commemorative coins to find more commemorative silver dollars for your collection.
(A 2015-P March of Dimes Silver Dollar, Uncirculated, Obverse [left], Reverse [right].)
(A 2015-W 2015 March of Dimes Silver Dollar, Proof, Obverse [left], Reverse [right].)
