U.S. Constitution Bicentennial – 1987

Celebrating the 200^th Anniversary of the Constitution

In 1987, the United States was going to celebrate the Bicentennial of the United States Constitution. While the document was initially celebrated as a statement to the world of 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. Even at the time of its creation, abolitionists complained that southern slave states would benefit from their treachery by counting all free men as citizens and counting all of those enslaved as 3/5ths of a citizen. Therefore, they qualified, by treachery, for greater representation in Congress due to the inclusion of those they enslaved.

While not a perfect document, it was a statement of the rights of free men. The United States Constitution Bicentennial Commission promoted a Public Law 99-582 to have Congress authorize two coins to celebrate the Constitution.

Congress authorized two different coins to celebrate the Bicentennial celebration. A Silver Dollar coin was to be struck in both Uncirculated and Proof conditions. Additionally, a $5.00 Gold coin would also be struck in Uncirculated and Proof conditions.

The Silver Dollar coin was designed by Londonderry, NH, artist Patricia Lewis 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 The pen rests atop several sheets of parchment, representing the actual, historical document.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 200^th 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 all different walks of life and differing time periods. Around the periphery are the words “E PLURIBUS UNUM – UNITED STATES OF AMERICA – DOLLAR 1”.       

A total of 451,629 Silver Dollar coins were struck in Uncirculated condition at the Philadelphia Mint. Another 2,747,116 coins were struck at the San Francisco Mint in Proof condition.

For the $5.00 gold coin, the designs of artist Marcel Jovine were selected. The obverse depicts a stylized version of the American Eagle on the obverse, facing left. The eagle is holding a large quill pen in his 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 $5.00 gold coin also features a large quill pen, shown vertically, as the central vignette of the design. To the left of the tip of the quill feather are 9 five-pointed stars in an arc. These 9 stars represent the nine states that ratified the Constitution and the date of ratification “SEPT 17 1787.” 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.

The $5.00 Gold coin was also struck in both Uncirculated with 214,225 examples minted and distributed and 651,659 examples struck in Proof. Both the Uncirculated and Proof versions were all struck at the West Point Mint, in New York.

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