Commemoratives Site Map

  • Highlights
    After a hiatus of several decades, the United States Mint resumed the issuance of commemorative coins in 1982. This began the era of modern commemoratives, which has generally included several issues per year struck in gold, silver, or clad composition. Amidst the long and continuing series, there are some highlights that represented important milestones.
  • Certified Coins
    Commemorative coins are typically issued by the United States Mint within special presentation cases with an accompanying certificate of authenticity. Some collectors prefer to maintain their collection in this original packaging. Others will build sets of commemorative coins that have been encapsulated and graded by PCGS or NGC.

    • Store Pages
  • 1982 George Washington
    The 1982 George Washington Commemorative Half Dollar marked the beginning of the modern commemorative coin era. The coin was issued for the 250th anniversary of the birth of George Washington.
  • 1984 Olympics
    A commemorative coin program including three different coins was authorized to celebrate the 1984 Olympic Games held in Los Angeles. Designers of the coins included Elizabeth Jones, the chief engraver of the US Mint and Robert Graham, who created sculptur
  • 1986 Statue of Liberty
    The Statue of Liberty Commemorative Coins were issued to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the original dedication. The designs of the coins featured various views of the Statue of Liberty, New York Harbor, an eagle, and Liberty's torch with the statue's
  • 1987 Constitution
    The 1987 Constitution Commemorative Coins were issued to mark the 200th anniversary of the U.S. Constitution. The two coins released featuring quill pens, an eagle, and a group of people representing Americans throughout history.
  • 1988 Olympics
    The 1988 Olympic Commemorative Coins were issued to mark the U.S. participation in the Olympic Games held in Seoul, Korea. The obverse design of the gold coin is viewed as one of the most beautiful designs of all modern commemoratives.
  • 1989 Congress
    The 1989 Congress Commemorative Coins celebrated the 200th anniversary of Congress. The coins issued as part of the program include depictions of the Capitol building, the Statue of Freedom on top of the Capitol dome, and the Mace of the House.
  • 1990 Eisenhower
    The United States Mint issued the 1990 Eisenhower Commemorative Silver Dollar in honor of the 100th anniversary of the birth of Dwight D. Eisenhower. The coin is intended to honor him as a Five Star General and the President of the United States.
  • 1991 Korean War
    The United States Mint issued the 1991 Korean War Memorial Commemorative Silver Dollar for the 38th anniversary. This unusual anniversary date was chosen because North and South Korea were divided at the 38th parallel.
  • 1991 Mount Rushmore
    The Mount Rushmore Commemorative Coins were issued rot he 50th anniversary of the National Memorial, which features portraits of Presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, and Theodore Roosevelt.
  • 1991 USO
    The 1991 USO Commemorative Coins were issued for the 50th anniversary of the United Service Organizations. The group has supplied social, recreational, welfare, and spiritual facilities to the armed services.
  • 1991-1995 World War II
    The US Mint issued three coins carrying the dates "1991-1995" for the 50th Anniversary of World War II. The coins were originally released in the year 1993. The coins included a $5 gold, silver dollar, and clad half dollar.
  • 1992 Christopher Columbus
    The Christopher Columbus Commemorative Coins were issued to celebrate the 400th anniversary of his arrival in the New World. Three differently designed coins were issued including a $5 gold coin, silver dollar, and copper nickel clad half dollar.
  • 1992 Olympics
    The 1992 Olympic Commemorative Coins were issued for the XXV Olympiad. The United States Mint issued commemorative $5 gold coins, silver dollars, and clad half dollars with designs featuring athletes.
  • 1992 White House
    The United States Mint issued the 1992 White House 200th Anniversary Silver Dollar to celebrate the laying of the cornerstone on October 13, 1792. The coin depicts the north portico of the White House and the bust of James Hoban, the original architect.
  • 1993 Bill of Rights
    The United States Mint issued a series of three commemorative coins in 1993 to celebrate the Bill of Rights, which was added to the Constitution a little over 200 years ago. The designs of the coin prominently feature James Madison.
  • 1993 Thomas Jefferson
    The United States Mint issued the 1993 Thomas Jefferson Silver Dollar to celebrate the 250th anniversary of his birth. Although the coins are dated 1993, the coins was issued in 1994. Only a single commemorative coin was issued for the program.
  • 1994 Prisoner of War
    The Prisoner of War Museum Silver Dollar was issued for the museum that was intended to be built in Andersonville, Georgia. There were three other similarly theme commemorative coins issued that year and the US Mint.
  • 1994 U.S. Capitol
    Commemorative coins issued for the bicentennial of the United States Capitol building. A silver dollar was issued with a maximum authorized mintage of 500,000 across uncirculated and proof versions.
  • 1994 Vietnam Veterans
    The US Mint issued the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Commemorative Coin as one part of a trio of similar silver dollars. The uncirculated version of this coin was minted at West Point and the proof version was minted at Philadelphia.
  • 1994 Women in Military
    There were three similarly themed memorial type commemorative coins issued by the United States Mint in 1994. This coin was authorized for the construction of a memorial complex for women in military service.
  • 1994 World Cup
    Commemorative coins were issued to celebrate the 1994 World Cup playoff held in the United States. The coins included a $5 gold, silver dollar, and clad half dollar struck in proof and uncirculated versions.
  • 1995 Civil War
    The Civil War Battlefields Commemorative Coins were issued for the preservation of Civil War battlefields and the 100th anniversary of the dedication of Gettysburg National Military Park. Coins included $5 gold, silver dollars, and half dollars.
  • 1995 Olympics
    There were eight different commemorative coins issued in 1995 for the centennial Olympic Games held in Atlanta, Georgia. These coins represented basketball, baseball, gymnastics, paralympics, track and field, cycling, torch runner, and stadium.
  • 1995 Special Olympics
    A silver dollar commemorative coin was issued in 1995 for the Special Olympic World Games held in Connecticut. The maximum authorized mintage was 800,000 coins, but around 450,000 were sold.
  • 1996 Community Service
    A commemorative silver dollar was issued to celebrate the spirit of volunteerism in the United States. The design for the 1996 National Community Service Silver Dollar was based on a medal designed by Augustus Saint Gaudens.
  • 1996 Olympics
    The centennial Olympic Games were marked with the issuance of eight different commemorative coins issued in 1996 featuring swimming, soccer, tennis, paralympics, rowing, high jump, flag bearer, and cauldron.
  • 1996 Smithsonian
    Commemorative coins were issued for the 150th Anniversary of the establishment of the Smithsonian Institution. The program included $5 gold and silver dollars issued with unique designs.
  • 1997 Botanic Garden
    The US Mint issued the 1997 Botanic Garden Silver Dollar for the occasion of the 165th anniversary. One of the more remembered aspects of the program was the special set offered including the low mitnage matte proof 1997-P Jefferson Nickel.
  • 1997 Jackie Robinson
    The lowest mintage for a modern commemorative coin occurred with the uncirculated version of the 1997 Jackie Robinson $5 Gold Coin. The mintage was a mere 5,174, which inspired higher demand and high premiums.
  • 1997 Law Enforcement
    Although the maximum authorized mintage for the 1997 National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Silver Dollar was 500,000, sales occurred at such a low level that the coins became a later rarity.
  • 1997 Roosevelt
    A commemorative coin program was authorized for Franklin D. Roosevelt, the 32nd President of the United States, who also appears on the circulating dime.
  • 1998 Black Patriots
    The 1998 Black Revolutionary War Patriots Silver Dollar depicts Crispus Attucks, the first patriot killed in the Boston Massacre. There was actually no known picture of him, so the portrait is an artist's conception.
  • 1998 Robert F. Kennedy
    The US Mint issued the Robert F. Kennedy Silver Dollar to coincide with the 30th anniversary of his death. The coins experienced elevated demand compared to other recently released commemorative silver dollars.
  • 1999 Dolley Madison
    A commemorative coin program was authorized to mark the 150th anniversary of the death of Dolley Madison. Interestingly, the designs for the coin were by Tiffany & Co.
  • 1999 George Washington
    The obverse design of the 1999 George Washington $5 Gold Coin is a left facing portrait by Laura Gardin Fraser. The reverse depicts an eagle. The design was originally intended for the Washington Quarter.
  • 1999 Yellowstone
    The Yellowstone National Park Silver Dollar was issued to commemorate the 175th anniversary of the park's establishment by Congress.
  • 2000 Leif Ericson
    The United States Mint released the 2000 Leif Ericson Silver Dollars to celebrate the 1,000th anniversary of the discovery of the new world. Special sets released also included an Icelandic coin featuring Ericson.
  • 2000 Library of Congress
    A commemorative coin program was authorized to mark the 200th anniversary of the founding of the Library of Congress. A gold and platinum bimetallic $10 coin was included as well as a silver dollar.
  • 2001 American Buffalo
    The 2001 Buffalo Silver Dollar was released to commemorate the opening of the National Museum of the American Indian, located within the Smithsonian Institution. The design chosen for the silver dollar was taken from the Buffalo Nickel first issued for ci
  • 2001 Capitol Visitor Center
    The United States Mint issued commemorative coins for the Capitol Visitor Center in 2001. The program included the $5 gold coin, silver dollar, and clad composition half dollar. This was the first time in several years that three coins had been issued for
  • 2002 Olympics
    The United States Mint issued commemorative coins for the Winter Olympic Games held in Salt Lake City. This would be the last time commemorative coins were authorized for the Olympics, as the topics selected shifted in the following years.
  • 2002 West Point
    A commemorative silver dollar was authorized to celebrate the bicentennial of the founding of the West Point Military Academy. Proof and uncirculated versions of the coin were struck at the United States Mint facility at West Point.
  • 2003 First Flight
    A single commemorative coin program was authorized for 2003. The three coins included in the program marked the 100th anniversary of the First Flight or Orville and Wilbur Wright.
  • 2004 Lewis and Clark
    A second commemorative coin program authorized for 2004 was issued to mark the bicentennial of the Lewis and Clark expedition. The silver dollars featured an image of the two famous explorers on the obverse and an image based on a peace medal given to Nat
  • 2004 Thomas Edison
    The 2004 Thomas Edison Silver Dollar was issued for the 125th anniversary of the electric light bulb. The obverse featured the inventor Thomas Alva Edison, who is credited with hundreds of important inventions.
  • 2005 John Marshall
    The 2005 John Marshall Silver Dollar had been authorized to celebrate the 250th anniversary of his birth. He was the fourth Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court. The US Mint recorded sales of 67,096 uncirculated coins and 196,753 proof coins.
  • 2005 Marines
    Commemorative silver dollars were issued for the 230th anniversary of the Marine Corps. This issue proved extremely popular with collectors due to the obverse design, which portrays the famous flag raising at Iwo Jima.
  • 2006 Benjamin Franklin
    The 2006 Benjamin Franklin Silver Dollars were issued to mark the 300th anniversary of his birth. Two different designs were issued to represent different aspects of his life and legacy.
  • 2006 San Francisco
    To mark the centennial of the "Granite Lady", the United States Mint produced $5 gold and silver dollar coins for the Old San Francisco Mint. This issue makes use of two classic coin designs, but unfortunately the reverse designs.
  • 2007 Jamestown
    A program including two different commemorative coins was authorized to mark the 400th anniversary of the first settlement in America. The obverse design of each coin featured the image of Captain John Smith and a Native American.
  • 2007 Little Rock
    The 2007 Little Rock Silver Dollar was issued to mark the 50th anniversary of the desegregation of the Little Rock Central High School. The program included a silver dollar with a maximum mintage of 500,000 pieces.
  • 2008 Bald Eagle
    A single commemorative coin program was authorized for the year 2008, although it would include three different coins in proof and uncirculated versions. The Bald Eagle Commemorative Coins were issued to mark the importance as a symbol of America and the
  • 2009 Abraham Lincoln
    The 200th anniversary of the birth of Abraham Lincoln was celebrated with the issuance of a commemorative silver dollar. The issue proved to be extremely popular with collectors and sold out of the maximum authorized mintage.
  • 2009 Louis Braille
    The 2009 Louis Braille Silver Dollar was issued to celebrate the 200th anniversary of this important figure. He was the inventor of the Braille system of reading and writing for the blind and visually impaired.
  • 2010 Boy Scouts
    To celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Boy Scouts of America, a commemorative silver dollar was produced by the United States Mint. The issue would eventually sell out of the entire 350,000 maximum authorized mintage.
  • 2010 Disabled Veterans
    A commemorative coin program was created to honor American Veterans Disabled for Life. The silver dollar featured an image of the legs and boots of soldiers on the obverse and a wreath of oak leaves and branches on the reverse.