Statue of Liberty Centennial – 1986

The Statue of Liberty Commemorative Coin Act’s 6 Releases

In 1986, the Centennial of the Statue of Liberty was going to be celebrated and the US Mint was served with legislation to create coins to commemorate this anniversary. Public Law 99-61, which was known as the “Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Commemorative Coin Act,” provided for the production of 25,000,000 Half Dollar coins, 10,000,000 Silver dollars and 500,000 gold $5 coins.  It was approved on July 9, 1985, and signed by President Reagan. This set would comprise several firsts – the first copper-nickel clad Half Dollar commemorative and the first $5.00 gold commemorative coin in the numismatic history of America, as well as the first $5.00 gold coin since the Indian Head $5.00 gold coin of 1929.  

 The Half Dollar

Edgar V. Steever designed the obverse of this coin. The central vignette is a large sun rising to highlight the Statue of Liberty, to the left. Miss Liberty is welcoming a steamer heading to Ellis Island, carrying its precious cargo of immigrants, yearning for the promise of America. In the background is the growing skyline of Manhattan circa 1913. Around the periphery of the obverse is inscribed “LIBERTY – IN GOD WE TRUST – 1986”.

Sherl Joseph Winter designed the reverse of the coin. It depicts on an immigrant family of four, with their meager belongings on the wharf, pointing towards and looking at thriving New York City across the harbor. There are two lines of text surrounding the periphery. The outer lines are “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” and “HALF DOLLAR”. The inner lines of text are “A NATION OF IMMIGRANTS” and “E PLURIBUS UNUM”.

The Silver Dollar

The Silver Dollar obverse was designed by US Mint Engraver John Mercanti. The dominant figure is the Statue of Liberty facing the viewer with the Great Hall of Ellis Island in the background. Above Miss Liberty is emblazoned the word “LIBERTY” and below her is the date “1986”. To the right of her is the motto “IN GOD WE TRUST” and to the left is “ELLIS ISLAND – GATEWAY TO AMERICA.”

The reverse again designed by Mercanti, but with assistance from Matthew Peloso, displays the Torch of Miss Liberty, with rays emanating from it. Below the torch are the words of Emma Lazarus, penned back in 1883 “GIVE ME YOUR TIRED, YOUR POOR, YOUR HUDDLED MASSES YEARNING TO BREATHE FREE” which are also inscribed on the Statue of Liberty. Underneath is the motto “E PLURIBUS UNUM” and around the periphery are “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” and “ONE DOLLAR.”

The $5.00 Gold

Chief Engraver of the US Mint Elizabeth Jones designed the obverse of the $5 Gold coin. Jones designed a beautiful but unusual view of a close-up of the face of Miss Liberty. You can see her face and a portion of her crown of rays. Simplistic yet elegant at the same time. Separated by rays are “1986” and the word “LIBERTY”.

The reverse of this gold coin was a cooperative effort of Miss Jones and Philip Fowler. It depicts an eagle with wings upraised as it is about to land. The periphery has the words “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” and “FIVE DOLLARS” separated by 6 five-pointed stars on the left and 7 five-pointed stars to the right. The inner periphery has the mottoes “IN GOD WE TRUST” and “E PLURIBUS UNUM”.

This series was incredibly profitable, as most Americans had ancestors who were immigrants themselves at one point and they could certainly relate to their ancestors arriving at Ellis Island and seeing the Statue of Liberty as they entered New York Harbor. It generated more than $78 million dollars of profit which helped complete the restoration of both Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty. Most notably, Miss Liberty received a shining gilt-covered torch to continue to light the way.

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