Honoring Rube Foster and the Negro National League
The Congress of the United States authorized, in Public Law 116-290, a series of three coins were going to be created to honor the Negro Leagues of Major League Baseball that were established in 1920. The Negro National League (NNL) was established by Andrew “Rube” Foster and other Black team owners in Kansas City, Missouri. Foster was the first president of the league. In the first half of the 1900s, more than 240 Latinos played in the Negro Leagues because of Jim Crow segregation laws.
The MLB officially recognized Negro Leagues as major leagues in 2020. MLB integrated available and verified statistical data into official records in May 2024, but not all historical Negro League data survives, and additional research may continue. Congress authorized a clad half dollar, a silver dollar, and a five dollar gold coin to honor the Negro Baseball League players in 2022.
2022 Negro Leagues Baseball Clad Half Dollar
The clad half dollar’s obverse was designed by Chris Costello and sculpted by John McGraw. The central vignette depicts a ballplayer at bat, awaiting the pitch heading towards him. Below the batter is a team bus, which typically also served as shelter for the Negro Leagues team when they were refused accommodations at hotels, motels, and restaurants. On the side of the bus is “NEGRO LEAGUES BASEBALL.” On the upper periphery is “IN GOD WE TRUST,” the word “LIBERTY,” and the date “2022.”
The reverse of this coin depicts a group of five baseball players in uniform and holding bats and a catcher’s mitt. Above the players is the motto “E PLURIBUS UNUM.” Below the players are the phrases “HALF DOLLAR” and “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.” The reverse was designed by Justin Kunz, and Phebe Hemphill was the reverse sculptor.
(A 2022-D Negro Leagues Baseball Commemorative Half Dollar, Uncirculated, Obverse [left], Reverse [right].)
The Denver Mint struck the uncirculated version, and this coin bears a “D” mintmark on the obverse. The San Francisco Mint struck all the proof clad half dollars of this issue. These coins bear an “S” mintmark on the obverse. Congress had authorized a maximum issue of 400,000 of these coins, and 8,789 uncirculated coins and 18,558 proof coins have been sold.
2022 Negro Leagues Baseball Silver Dollar
The silver dollar commemorative coin was the next coin in that 3-coin series. The obverse of the silver dollar was designed by Matt Swaim and sculpted by Eric David Custer. It depicts a pitcher having thrown the ball as the ball looms larger as it gets closer to the rim of the coin (and the viewer). The baseball stitching provides an outer rim, and the upper periphery has “IN GOD WE TRUST,” inscribed on it. On the right periphery is the date of issue “2022,” and on the lower periphery is “LIBERTY.”
The reverse of the silver dollar depicts a batter ready to swing, a catcher attempting to catch the pitched ball, with an umpire standing behind them both. Around the periphery are the phrases, “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,” and “E PLURIBUS UNUM.” The denomination is also on the reverse and was expressed as “$1.” The reverse was designed by Don Everhard and sculpted by Craig Campbell.
The uncirculated and proof coins were struck at the Philadelphia Mint, and both bear a “P” mintmark. Legislation has authorized that the Mint could strike up to 400,000 coins of all types.
(A 2022-P Negro Leagues Baseball Commemorative Silver Dollar, Proof, Obverse [right], Reverse [left].)
In addition to the uncirculated and proof versions of this silver dollar, there was a limited-edition silver medal of Jackie Robinson that could be sold with a proof coin. This set was limited to 15,000 sets.
The other limited-edition offering was a Proof Silver Dollar with a Privy Mark on the obverse. The Privy mark was shaped like a diamond with “100” inside, representing the centennial of the NNL.
2022 Negro Leagues Baseball $5 Gold Coin
The gold coin was designed by Laurie Musser and sculpted by Phebe Hemphill. This gold coin depicts a portrait of Rube Foster, the founder, wearing a cap and facing left. His signature is beneath his portrait. On the upper left periphery are the words “NEGRO LEAGUES BASEBALL,” and to the left are “IN GOD WE TRUST,” and the date “2022.” The word “LIBERTY” is on the lower periphery.
The reverse was designed by Donna Weaver and sculpted by Eric David Custer; it depicts a hand holding a baseball cap. Under the cap is “THEIR LEGACY PLAYS ON,” and the denomination, which is expressed as “$5.” The upper periphery has “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,” and the lower periphery has the motto, “E PLURIBUS UNUM.”
Congress had authorized a maximum of 50,000 coins among all types. Both the uncirculated and proof coins were struck at the West Point minting facility. Both coins bear a “W” mintmark.
(A 2022-W Negro Baseball Leagues, Five Dollar Gold, Uncirculated, Obverse [left], Reverse [right].)
Explore these commemorative coins and other modern U.S. gold commemorative coins and U.S. silver modern commemorative coins.
