Honoring American Law Enforcement
The Congress of the United States authorized Public Law 115-65, known as the National Law Enforcement Museum Commemorative Coin Act of 2017, to honor American law enforcement officers with the National Law Enforcement Memorial and Museum Commemorative Coin Program. The National Law Enforcement Memorial and Museum promotes law enforcement and helps the public understand the scope of the sacrifices law enforcement officers make, among other educational initiatives.
The coins in this program were the 2021 National Law Enforcement Memorial & Museum $5 Gold Coin, the 2021 National Law Enforcement Memorial & Museum Clad Half Dollar, and the 2021 National Law Enforcement Memorial & Museum Silver Dollar.
2021 National Law Enforcement Memorial & Museum Clad Half Dollar
The clad half dollar’s obverse was designed by Ronald D. Sanders and sculpted by John McGraw. 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 a larger six-pointed star. There 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 “SERVE AND PROTECT, and on the lower portion of the ring is “IN GOD WE TRUST.”
The reverse of the coin was designed by Heidi Wastweet and sculpted by Renata Gordon. 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 it, including those working in forensic science and investigative professionalism. 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 AND MUSEUM.” On the left periphery is “E PLURIBUS UNUM,” and the denomination, “HALF DOLLAR.”
The Denver Mint struck the uncirculated coins, which bear a “D” mintmark. The proof coins were struck at the San Francisco Mint and bear an “S” mintmark. Out of 750,000 of the clad half dollars authorized by Congress, the United States Mint sold 10,203 uncirculated coins and sold 27,702 proof coins.
(A 2021-S National Law Enforcement Memorial & Museum Clad Half Dollar, Proof, Obverse [left], Reverse [right].)
2021 Law Enforcement Memorial and Museum Commemorative Silver Dollar
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 sits atop a basketball and reads a large book. 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 police have with the people they serve, as well as the mutual trust and accountability between law enforcement and the public. 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 sculpted by John McGraw.
Both the uncirculated and proof versions were struck in Philadelphia, and both bear a “P” mintmark. Congress authorized the striking of 400,000 of these coins across all versions. The uncirculated coin sold 9,424, while the proof version sold 29,705.
2021 National Law Enforcement Memorial & Museum $5 Gold Coin
The next and final coin in this National Law Enforcement Memorial and Museum Commemorative coin set was the 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 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.”
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. 1,753 uncirculated coins were sold, and 10,261 proof coins were sold.
All surcharges for all three coins were generated to help fund the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial and Museum. Explore these commemorative coins and other modern U.S. gold commemorative coins and U.S. silver modern commemorative coins.
