Celebrating Those that Defend: The United States Army
To inspire and educate the American public, the Congress of the United States authorized the issuance of three commemorative coins through the United States Army Commemorative Coin Program to honor and celebrate the founding of the United States Army and to celebrate its rich traditions, history, and role in American society. The Congress authorized three separate coins: a clad half dollar, a silver dollar, and a gold commemorative coin, and surcharges from all three were directed to the Army Historical Foundation to support the construction of the National Museum of the United States Army.
2011 United States Army Commemorative Clad Half Dollar
The 2011 United States Army Commemorative Clad Half Dollar would be struck in copper-nickel “clad” composition. The obverse was designed by Donna Weaver and sculpted by Charles L. Vickers. It is a split scene depicting the U.S. Army in a time of peace. On the left is a soldier surveying; the center panel depicts two soldiers building a flood wall; and the right panel depicts a Redstone Arsenal rocket used for space exploration. The upper periphery has “U. S. ARMY – SERVICE IN PEACE,” while the center panel has the motto, “IN GOD WE TRUST.” Below the rocket in the right panel is the date “2011.” The lower periphery has the word “LIBERTY.”
The reverse was designed by Thomas Cleveland and sculpted by Joseph Menna. It depicts a Continental Army soldier with his musket at the ready. To the right of the soldier are the words “FIRST IN SERVICE TO THE NATION.” Above the Continental soldiers are 13 five-pointed stars, representing the 13 original colonies. The upper periphery has “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,” while the lower periphery has “E PLURIBUS UNUM,” and the denomination “HALF DOLLAR.”
The uncirculated versions were struck at the Denver Mint, while the proof versions were struck at the San Francisco Mint. The combined authorized mintage of 750,000 coins was permitted by Congress.
(2011-D United States Army Commemorative Clad Half Dollar, Uncirculated, Obverse [left], Reverse [right].)
2011 United States Army Commemorative Silver Dollar Coin
The next coin authorized by Congress was the 2011 United States Army Commemorative Silver Dollar Coin. The obverse was designed by Richard Masters and sculpted by Michael Gaudioso. Two American soldiers, one male, one female, are back-to-back. Behind them is a large globe, representing the worldwide deployment of the U.S. Military. Above the soldiers on the upper periphery is the word “LIBERTY.” Below the soldiers in the phrase “IN GOD WE TRUST,” and below, on the bottom periphery, is the date “2011.”
The reverse of this silver dollar was designed by Susan Gamble and sculpted by Don Everhart. It features the Great Seal of the United States. Below the eagle is “U. S. Army,” and in a ring around the Great Seal are the seven core values of the United States Army: “LOYALTY, DUTY, RESPECT, SELFLESS SERVICE, HONOR, INTEGRITY, PERSONAL COURAGE.” On the upper periphery is “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,” and on the lower periphery is the denomination “ONE DOLLAR.”
The uncirculated version was struck at the San Francisco Mint, while the proof version of this silver dollar was struck at the Philadelphia Mint. Between the two versions, Congress authorized 500,000 silver dollars.
2011 United States Army Commemorative $5 Gold Coin
The third and final coin authorized by Congress to honor the U.S. Army was the 2011 United States Army Commemorative $5 Gold Coin.
The obverse was designed by Joel Iskowitz and sculpted by Phebe Hemphill. It depicts five US Army soldiers from different eras. The design features, from left to right, Continental, Civil War, modern, World War II, and World War I soldiers. The five soldiers are in a “V” formation with the word “LIBERTY” on the upper periphery, the date “2011” to the lower right, and on the lower periphery is the phrase “IN GOD WE TRUST.”
The reverse design is based on the official U.S. Army emblem and symbolizes the Army’s enduring history of service and dedication to defending the Nation. “THIS WE’LL DEFEND” is inscribed, and above it is “E PLURIBUS UNUM.” The upper periphery has “DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY.” Below the central device is “1775,” the denomination, “FIVE DOLLARS,” and “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,” is on the lower periphery. This was sculpted by the US Mint Engraver, Joseph Menna.
The Congress authorized the striking of up to 100,000 of these gold commemorative coins. The uncirculated version was struck at the Philadelphia Mint, while the proof version was struck at the West Point minting facility.
Add these coins to your collection today and shop other U.S. classic silver commemorative coins and modern U.S. gold commemorative coins.
(2011-W United States Army Commemorative $5 Gold Coin, Proof, Obverse [right], Reverse [left].)
