The Congress of the United States authorized Public Law 116-94 to honor American law enforcement officers. Given their service and sacrifices, they authorized a 3-coin set – a Clad Half Dollar, a Silver Dollar, and a Five Dollar Gold coin. The National Law Enforcement Memorial and Museum promotes law enforcement and helps the public to understand the scope of the sacrifices that they make.
The Clad Half Dollar obverse was designed by John P. McGraw and sculpted by Renata Gordon of the US Mint. The design features a sheriff’s star representing law enforcement that protects and serves local and rural communities. There is a five-pointed star inside of a larger six-pointed star. The is a ribbon inside the six-pointed star with the word “LIBERTY,” and below is a ribbon with the date “2021.” There is an outer ring on which the upper portion has inscribed on it “SERVE AND PROTECT,” and on the lower portion of the ring is inscribed “IN GOD WE TRUST.”
The reverse of the coin was designed by Heidi Wastweet and sculpted by Renata Gordon. It has a quite unusual design. It depicts a human eye looking through a magnifying glass at a human fingerprint. This coin honors the human aspect of law enforcement and the people who support law enforcement such as those working in criminal laboratories. On the lower portion of the coin is the emblem for the National Law Enforcement Museum. The upper periphery has “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,” on it and below is “NATIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT MEMORIAL ANS MUSEUM.” On the left periphery is “E PLURIBUS UNUM,” and the denomination, “HALF DOLLAR.”
(A 2021-D National Law Enforcement Clad Half Dollar, Uncirculated, Obverse [left], Reverse [right}.)
The Denver Mint struck the Uncirculated coins, and these coins have a “D” mintmark. The Proof coins were struck at the San Francisco Mint and these coins bear an “S” mintmark. The United States Mint sold 10,203 Uncirculated coins and the San Francisco Mint struck the Proof versions and sold 27,702 proof coins.
(A 2021-S National Law Enforcement Clad Half Dollar, Proof, Obverse [left], Reverse [right}.)
The Congress of the United States authorized up to 750,000 of the Clad Half Dollars could be struck but the actual mintages were significantly less. Just under 38,000 of these coins were struck and sold across both types.
The next authorized coin was the 2021 Law Enforcement Memorial and Museum Commemorative Silver Dollar. Unlike numerous other Modern Commemorative coin series, the designs on these three coins differed from one another.
The Silver Dollar’s obverse was designed by Frank Morris and sculpted by Phebe Hemphill. The obverse depicts a police officer kneeling near a young child, helmet in his hands, while the child is sitting atop a basketball and reading a large book. This depiction is meant to symbolize the work that the police do with the local community. The upper left periphery has “SERVE & PROTECT,” while the upper right displays “LIBERTY,” the date “2021,” and the motto “IN GOD WE TRUST.”
The reverse of this Silver Dollar depicts a law enforcement officer shaking hands with a member of the public. Only the arms and hands are shown. This represents the bonds of trust that the police have made with the people that they serve. Working together keeps communities safer is the intended message. Above the handshake is the phrase “E PLURIBUS UNUM.” On the upper periphery is “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,” and on the lower periphery is the denomination expressed as “ONE DOLLAR.” The reverse was designed by Ronald D. Sanders and was sculpted by John P. McGraw.
(A 2021-P National Law Enforcement Memorial and Museum Commemorative Silver Dollar, Uncirculated, Obverse [left] Reverse [right].)
Both the Uncirculated version and the Proof versions were struck in Philadelphia, and both bear a “P” mintmark. Congress had authorized 400,000 of these coins to be struck among all versions. The Uncirculated coin sold 9,424 coins while the Proof version sold 29,705 coins.
(A 2021-P National Law Enforcement Memorial and Museum Commemorative Silver Dollar, Proof, Obverse [left] Reverse [right].)
The next and final coin in this National Law Enforcement Memorial and Museum Commemorative coin set was the Five Dollar Gold coin. The obverse of this coin was designed by Frank Morris and was sculpted by Phebe Hemphill. It depicts a male and a female officer facing to the left. Their hands are raised to the brim of their caps while they are saluting. On the left upper periphery are “LIBERTY,” the date “2021,” and below that is the motto “IN GOD WE TRUST.”
The reverse of this Five Dollar Gold Commemorative was created by Ronald D. Sanders and sculpted by Craig Campbell. It depicts a folded American flag into a tri-corner design. There are three roses beneath the flag, symbolizing law enforcement officers who gave their lives in the line of duty. Beneath the flag is the denomination “FIVE DOLLARS.” There is an outer ring on which “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,” is inscribed on the upper portion and the motto “E PLURIBUS UNUM.”
(A 2021-W National Law Enforcement Memorial & Museum, Five Dollar Gold, Uncirculated, Obverse {left], Reverse [right].)
(A 2021-W National Law Enforcement Memorial & Museum, Five Dollar Gold, Gold, Obverse {left], Reverse [right].)
Both the Uncirculated and the Proof versions were struck at the West Point minting facility, and both bear a “W” mintmark. The United States Congress had authorized up to 50,000 coins. The Uncirculated sold 1,753 coins and the Proof version sold 10,261 coins.
All surcharges for all three coins were generated to help fund the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial and Museum.
| Date | Mintmark | Denomination | Type | Mintage | Value |
| 2021 | D | Clad Half Dollar | Uncirculated | 10,203 | $50 |
| 2021 | S | Clad Half Dollar | Proof | 27,702 | $60 |
| 2021 | P | Silver Dollar | Uncirculated | 9,424 | $100 |
| 2021 | P | Silver Dollar | Proof | 29,705 | $120 |
| 2021 | W | Five Dollar Gold | Uncirculated | 1,753 | $800 |
| 2021 | W | Five Dollar Gold | Proof | 10,261 | $900 |
| 2021 | S-P-W | 3 Coin Proof Set | Proof | 4,394 | $975 |
