Celebrating the 200th Anniversary of the Constitution
In 1987, the United States was going to celebrate the bicentennial of the signing of the United States Constitution. While the document was initially created as a statement about the freedoms and the inclusiveness of the United States towards all of its citizens, it purposely excluded the rights of those people who were enslaved.
At the time of the Constitution’s creation, critics objected that the Three-Fifths Clause increased the political power of slaveholding states by counting three-fifths of enslaved people for purposes of representation and direct taxation.
While not a perfect document, it was a statement of the rights of free men. Congress passed Public Law 99-582 to authorize two bicentennial commemorative coins. The 1987 Constitution Bicentennial Commemorative Silver Dollar and the 1987 Constitution Bicentennial Gold $5 Coin were struck in uncirculated and proof. No clad half dollar was created.
1987 Constitution Bicentennial Commemorative Silver Dollar
The silver dollar coin was designed by Patricia L. Verani. Her design depicted a large quill pen, as used by the authors of the Constitution in 1787. The pen rests atop several sheets of parchment, representing the actual, historical document. The first three words of the preamble to the Constitution, “WE THE PEOPLE,” are emblazoned across the bottom of the document in a large font. Around the periphery were the words “THE U. S. CONSTITUTION 200th ANNIVERSARY – 1787 – LIBERTY – 1987.” Above these dates on the bottom, the periphery is 13 five-pointed stars.
The reverse depicts a large group of American citizens from diverse walks of life and across different time periods. Around the periphery are the words “E PLURIBUS UNUM – UNITED STATES OF AMERICA – DOLLAR 1.”
A total of 451,629 silver dollars were struck in uncirculated condition at the Philadelphia Mint. Another 2,747,116 coins were struck at the San Francisco Mint in proof condition.
1987 Constitution Bicentennial Gold $5 Coin
Marcel Jovine designed this coin. The obverse depicts a stylized American Eagle facing left. The eagle is holding a large quill pen in its talon. Rays of the sun are emanating from behind the eagle and are broken up by the word “LIBERTY” with the date “1987” at the bottom periphery.
The reverse of the $5 gold coin features a large vertical quill pen. Nine stars represent the first nine states required to ratify the Constitution, while the inscription ‘SEPT 17 1787’ refers to the date the Constitution was signed. To the right of the quill feather are 4 additional five-pointed stars, representing the remaining states at that time. Below those 4 stars is the legend “E PLURIBUS UNUM” and around the periphery are the words ”UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” and “BICENTENNIAL OF THE CONSTITUTION” and the denomination “FIVE DOLLARS” is just above.
241,225 uncirculated gold coins and 651,659 proof gold coins were struck at the West Point Mint. Add these coins to your collection today and shop other U.S. classic silver commemorative coins and modern U.S. gold commemorative coins.
