Coin Type – Star Spangled Banner – 2012

The United States Congress celebrated the Bicentennial of the War of 1812 and the Battle of Baltimore by authorizing a commemorative Silver Dollar and a commemorative $5.00 Gold coin. The subject of those coins was the 200^th anniversary of our National Anthem – the Star Spangled Banner. 

The obverse of the silver Dollar commemorative was designed by Joel Iskowitz once again. It was sculpted by the US Mint’s Phebe Hemphill. His design depicts an image of Miss Liberty holding and waving a large American flag, with fifteen stars and 15 stripes, as flown over Fort Mc Henry, in Baltimore Harbor. It is majestically waving in a very strong breeze. On the upper periphery is the word “LIBERTY,” and on the lower periphery are “IN GOD WE TRUST,” and the date “2012.”  

The reverse of this coin was designed by William C Burgard II. It was sculpted by Don Everhart of the US Mint. It depicts a modern fifty star, thirteen stripe flag waving and the two flags together demonstrate that continuity between the War of 1812 and the year of issue 2012. The upper periphery contains the denomination, “ONE DOLLAR,” and the lower periphery is inscribed “E PLURIBUS UNUM,” and “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.”  

(A 2012-P Star Spangled Banner Silver Dollar, Uncirculated, Obverse [left], Reverse [right].) 

Both an Uncirculated version as well as the proof versions of this commemorative silver dollar were struck at the Philadelphia Mint. The maximum authorized mintage across both versions of this coin was 500,000 pieces. The coins were sold individually and in a two-coin set with the proof Silver Dollar and $5 Gold coin. There was also a special version of the Proof Silver Dollar along with a facsimile copy of Francis Scott Key’s poem and information about Fort Mc Henry. 

 (A 2012-P Star Spangled Banner Silver Dollar, Proof, Obverse [left], Reverse [right].) 

In addition to the Uncirculated and Proof versions of the commemorative silver dollars, the Mint also struck an Uncirculated and a Proof version of the commemorative $5.00 gold coin as well. All the surcharges for the Silver Dollars and the Gold Coins went to the Maryland War of 1812 Bicentennial Commission. 

The obverse of the $5.00 Gold commemorative coin was designed by Donna Weaver and sculpted by Joe Menna. It depicts a naval battle scene with an American Ship nearest to the viewer and a damaged British ship in the background. The left and upper peripheries have “IN GOD WE TRUST,” “LIBERTY,” and the dates “1812 – 2012.” 

The reverse has an unusual design in that it displays the first five words of our National Anthem, in Francis Scott Key’s handwriting “O SAY CAN YOU SEE,” superimposed over a field of fifteen stripes with fifteen five-pointed stars. Inscriptions around the outer periphery are, “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,” “FIVE DOLLARS,” and “E PLURIBUS UNUM.” The novel design was the work of Richard Masters, and it was again sculpted by Joe Menna.  

(A 2012-W Star Spangled Banner Five Dollar Gold, Uncirculated, Obverse [left], Reverse [right].) 

As with the commemorative silver dollar, both versions – Uncirculated and Proof – of the Five Dollar gold commemorative coins were struck at the same mint – the West Point minting facility for these gold coins. Congress had authorized a maximum of 100,000 of these gold coins, to be struck. 

(A 2012-W Star Spangled Banner Five Dollar Gold, Proof, Obverse [left], Reverse [right].)