A Silver Dollar to Honor Women in the Military
The 1994 Women in Military Service for America Memorial Silver Dollar was one of three silver dollars in the U.S. Mint’s 1994 Veterans Program. The other two honored the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and the U.S. Prisoner of War Museum.
In 1948, Congress passed the Women’s Armed Services Integration Act, allowing women to serve as permanent members of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force, although their participation was initially limited in both assignments and numbers. Notable women pushed the boundaries and opened opportunities for future generations, including Cathay Williams, who had to disguise herself as a man to become the first black woman to join the Army, Linda Bray, who was widely recognized as the first woman to lead troops in combat during Operation Just Cause in Panama in 1989, and Eileen Collins, who was the first female Space Shuttle Commander for the Air Force, among others.
The Women in Military Service Memorial
The purpose of the 1994 Women in Military Service for America Memorial Silver Dollar was to raise funds for the construction of a memorial complex honoring American Women who served in the Military. The Women in Military Service Memorial was opened to the public on October 18, 1997, and is located in the entrance to Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.
The Women in Military Service Memorial functions as the leading national institution recognizing the service and experiences of American servicewomen and maintains the only comprehensive archival record of women’s military service. Through interactive exhibitions, educational initiatives, and a specialized library, the memorial examines issues including women in combat roles, evolving military policies, gender identity, sexual orientation, and the historical dimensions of women’s participation in the armed forces.
Design and Mintage Details
The obverse features a profile view of American Servicewomen serving in the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard. The outer periphery of the coin has “ARMY – MARINES – NAVY – AIR FORCE – COAST GUARD,” each separated by a five-pointed star. Under the profiles in large letters is the word “LIBERTY” with “IN GOD WE TRUST” and the date “1994” on two separate lines. This coin was designed and sculpted by T. James Ferrell.
The reverse of the coin has a depiction of the proposed Women in Military Service Memorial with “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” along the upper periphery, “WOMEN IN MILITARY SERVICE MEMORIAL” below, and the denomination “ONE DOLLAR” to the right. The final inscription “E PLURIBUS UNUM” is in three lines along the lower periphery.
Slightly more than 300,000 of the 1994 Women in Military Service for America Memorial Silver Dollars were struck in either uncirculated or proof. Uncirculated coins were struck at the West Point Mint, and proof coins were struck at the Philadelphia Mint. Add this historic coin to your collection and browse other U.S. silver modern commemorative coins to find your next purchase.
