The History of the Purple Heart
The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor Commemorative Coin Program was authorized and approved by the Congress of the United States. The Purple Heart recipients’ names are maintained on a Roll of Honor. Although the medal dates to 1917, it was officially relaunched on February 22, 1932, on Washington’s 200th birthday. The Purple Heart has been awarded nearly 1.9 million times since 1932.
Three Coins Created to Honor Those Who Sacrificed for Our Freedom
Congress designated three separate coin denominations for this commemorative coin set: a clad half dollar, a silver dollar, and a $5 gold coin. This release included the second colorized silver dollar in U.S. Mint history as well as a 3-coin proof set.
2022 National Purple Heart Hall of Honor Clad Half Dollar
The obverse of the clad half dollar was sculpted by Craig Campbell and designed by Beth Zaiken. It depicts a figure in a military uniform, a single combat boot, and a pair of crutches. The implication is that the soldier lost their leg in military action. The negative space is absent of any design and represents the soldier’s loss. To the left of the figure is a copy of the Purple Heart medal. In the field below, the design is “ALL GAVE SOME,” implying that all those who serve have given to our nation. Around the periphery are “IN GOD WE TRUST,” “LIBERTY,” and the date of striking “2022.”
The reverse of this clad commemorative half dollar was sculpted by John McGraw. In the background is a silhouette of a Marine in a dress uniform, and in the foreground is a young boy holding a US Marine cap. This represents those Purple Heart recipients who lost their lives. The inscription is “SOME GAVE ALL.” The periphery displays these inscriptions, “E PLURIBUS UNUM,” and “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.” Under this last inscription is the denomination, “HALF DOLLAR.” This clad half dollar was designed by Beth Zaiken.
The Denver Mint struck the uncirculated version of this clad half dollar, so all coins have a “D” mint mark. The San Francisco Mint struck the proof version, and those coins bear an “S” mintmark. Congress authorized up to 750,000 of these coins across all versions. 11,177 uncirculated coins and 18,536 proof coins were sold.
2022 National Purple Heart Hall of Honor Silver Dollar
Heidi Wastweet designed this coin, and Eric David Custer sculpted the obverse, and Craig Campbell sculpted the reverse. There are colorized and uncolorized versions of this coin. 25,000 additional colorized proof coins were made. This is the second series in United States Mint coinage history to bear color applied at the Mint’s direction. The color is relegated to the medal’s background and is purple, as the medal appears. This offering sold out shortly after it was placed on sale.
The obverse of the silver dollar depicts the Purple Heart Medal hanging from its ribbon. To the left of the medal are five five-pointed stars. Also to the left is the word “LIBERTY,” and the dates “1932 – 2022,” which were the dates of the first award of the medal and the date of striking of this coin. Around the periphery are two phrases – “COMBAT WOUNDED & KILLED IN ACTION,” and “IN GOD WE TRUST.”
The reverse of this silver dollar coin depicts an injured soldier lying on a stretcher, with a nurse tending to his bandages. The upper periphery displays, in three lines – “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,” “E PLURIBUS UNUM,” and the denomination, which is expressed as “ONE DOLLAR.”
Congress authorized 400,000 of these silver dollars to be struck at the West Point Mint. Uncirculated, proof, and colorized proof coins were all struck there as well. All these coins bear a “W” mintmark on the reverse of each coin. The uncirculated version sold 12,153 coins, while the proof version sold 39,156.
2022 National Purple Heart Hall of Honor $5 Gold Coin
Donna Weaver designed this coin, and the obverse was sculpted by Joseph Menna. Like the silver dollar, it depicts the Purple Heart Medal, this time to the left, with “THE PURPLE HEART” predominant in the right field, with the date of issue “2022” below. Above the medal and to the left is “IN GOD WE TRUST.” The upper periphery is inscribed with the word “LIBERTY,” and the lower periphery has “A GRATEFUL NATION HONORS AND REMEMBERS.”
The reverse was sculpted by John P. McGraw and bears a facsimile signature of “G. WASHINGTON,” with a heart above. This is representative of the Badge of Military Merit that Washington designed for use during the Revolutionary War. The dates “17” and “82” appear on either side of the heart, and “BADGE OF MILITARY MERIT” is below the signature. The upper periphery displays “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,” while on the lower periphery are “E PLURIBUS UNUM” and the denomination, which is expressed as “FIVE DOLLARS.”
Congress authorized up to 50,000 of these gold coins to be minted. The West Point Mint struck both the uncirculated and proof versions. 1,245 uncirculated coins and 2,203 proof coins were sold. A 3-coin Proof Set containing proof versions of the clad half dollar, silver dollar, and gold coins was also sold.
Expand your collection today and view other U.S. classic silver commemorative coins and modern U.S. gold commemorative coins.
