Commemorating the Anniversary of America’s National Anthem
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 200th anniversary of our National Anthem, the Star-Spangled Banner. All surcharges on silver dollars and gold coins went to the Maryland War of 1812 Bicentennial Commission.
2012 Star-Spangled Banner Commemorative Silver Dollar
The obverse of the silver dollar commemorative was designed by Joel Iskowitz and was sculpted by Phebe Hemphill. His design depicts Lady Liberty holding and waving a large American flag, with 15 stars and 15 stripes, as flown over Fort McHenry 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 III and was sculpted by Don Everhart. It depicts a modern fifty-star, thirteen-striped 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 Commemorative Silver Dollar, Uncirculated, Obverse [left], Reverse [right].)
Uncirculated and 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. The coins were sold individually and in a two-coin set, including the proof silver dollar and the $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 McHenry.
(A 2012-P Star-Spangled Banner Commemorative Silver Dollar, Proof, Obverse [left], Reverse [right].)
2012 Star-Spangled Banner Commemorative $5 Gold Coin
The obverse of the Star-Spangled Banner Commemorative $5 Gold Coin was designed by Donna Weaver. 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.” Richard Masters designed the reverse. Joseph Menna sculpted the obverse and reverse of this coin.
As with the commemorative silver dollar, uncirculated and proof gold commemorative coins were struck at the West Point Mint. Congress had authorized a maximum of 100,000 of these gold coins to be struck.
(A 2012-W Star-Spangled Banner Commemorative $5 Gold Coin, Proof, Obverse [left], Reverse [right].)
Add these coins in your collection to remember the song of our nation and explore other U.S. classic silver commemorative coins and modern U.S. gold commemorative coins.
