The 200th Anniversary of the United States Capitol Building
At the U.S. Capitol, the Senate and House convene to debate national policy, reach consensus, and craft federal laws. Today, the U.S. Capitol spans 1.5 million square feet and has over 600 rooms. President George Washington approved the winning design in 1793, and construction began shortly thereafter.
On top of the dome of the Capitol is a bronze statue. The Statue of Freedom, also known as “Lady Freedom”, was sculpted by Thomas Crawford and placed on the Capitol in 1863 during the Civil War. A woman stands and is wearing a helmet with a laurel wreath and is holding a sword and a shield. The figure is dressed in a toga-like robe and positioned on a cast-iron pedestal topped by a globe inscribed with E Pluribus Unum (out of many, one). Out of three design concepts, the current statue design was chosen to represent enduring freedom and bravery during the biggest recorded divide in the United States.
Since 1793, the U.S. Capitol has been built, burnt in the War of 1812, and rebuilt. Today, the United States Capitol is considered a symbol of endurance. The bicentennial of the beginning of construction of the United States Capitol occurred in 1994, and Congress responded by authorizing commemorative U.S. Capitol Bicentennial Silver Dollars with a maximum mintage of 500,000. Surcharges were deposited into the Capitol Preservation Fund to support projects overseen by the United States Capitol Preservation Commission.
Design Details
The obverse of the coin was designed by William C. Cousins. He created a view of the Capitol rotunda primarily, rather than the adjoining buildings. The Statue of Freedom which sits atop the Capitol was surrounded by 13 five-pointed stars. To the left of the rotunda are the words “BICENTENNIAL OF UNITED STATES CAPITOL” with “IN GOD WE TRUST” and “LIBERTY” above them and near the rim. To the right is the date “1994.”
The reverse depicts a grand motif that has an American shield, branches, and four American flags, with an eagle atop all of it. “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” graces the upper periphery while “ONE DOLLAR” is on the bottom periphery. Inside the grand motif is the phrase “E PLURIBUS UNUM” on a banner just below the eagle. This was designed by John Mercanti, based on the stained glass window near the grand staircases between the House and Senate Chambers.
A total of 68,332 uncirculated coins were struck at the Denver Mint and bear the “D” mintmark. 279,579 proof coins were struck at the San Francisco Mint and bear the “S” mintmark.The coins were sold individually, as a two-coin set and the Proof coin was also sold in a special Architectural History Edition that also included a 12-page booklet offering the history of the U.S. Capitol. Add this coin today and explore other U.S. silver modern commemorative coins.
