U.S. Commemorative coins are produced to commemorate (celebrate, memorialize and/or honor) people, places, events or institutions.
Most Circulating coins also commemorate or memorialize U.S. Presidents and other famous people. Take a look at the coins in your pocket; President Lincoln is on the U.S. Penny, President Jefferson is on the Nickel, the U.S. Dime memorializes President Franklin Roosevelt and the Quarter has the image of President George Washington.
The most valuable Commemorative coins are a the result of a combination of rarity, quality and the value of the precious metals (gold, silver, or platinum) of which they are made. There are quite a few U.S. Commemorative Gold coins that are very collectable and valuable.
For specific types of commemorative coins, click on the links below:
Gold Commemorative Coins | Silver Commemorative Coins
Early Commemorative Coins | Modern Commemorative Coins
Bald Eagle Commemorative Coin
Commemorative Coin Surcharges
The U.S. Congress has continued the long tradition of authorizing surcharges to be placed on U.S. Commemorative coins to raise money for causes related to the Commemorative coin.Below are several examples of how Congress has used the surcharges placed on Commemorative Coins.
In 1893, Congress allowed a surcharge on the sale of the Queen Isabella (of Spain) Commemorative Quarter to benefit the Board of Lady Managers at the World Fair in Chicago to pay for construction of an exhibit to honor the role of women.
The sale of the 2008 Bald Eagle commemorative coins ($5 gold coin, Silver dollar & clad half-dollar) includes surcharges that are to be paid to the American Eagle Foundation of Tennessee to protect Bald Eagles throughout the nation.
A portion of proceeds from the sale of the 1997 Jackie Robinson Commemorative Coins ($5 gold coin and Silver dollar) went to the Jackie Robinson Foundation which provides scholarships for education and leadership.
Surcharges collected from the sale of the 2007 Little Rock High School Desegregation Silver Dollar are to be paid to the Secretary of the Interior (since the High School is a National Historic Site) to be used to for the protection of buildings and the interpretation of historic stories.
Surcharges from the sale of the 2005 Marine Corps 230th Anniversary Silver Dollar were authorized for the creation of a National Museum of the Marine Corps at Quantico, Virginia.
Congress authorized $35 for each 2002 Gold Olympic Winter Games Commemorative Coin and $10 for each 2002 Silver Olympic Winter Games Commemorative Coin to help support the 2002 Salt Lake Olympic Winter Games.
Enough examples of self imposed taxes on buyers, but chances are if you are really interested in the person, place or event being commemorated, you may think the "cause" is worth-while. I expect to see the U.S. Congress raise money for many monuments, historic sites and civic groups this way in the future. Perhaps our Congressmen and Senators will send some of that money our way?
Old vs Modern Commerative Coins
When searching for U.S. Commemorative coins, you will find that they are usually divided into Old Commemorative Coins (1892-1981) and Modern Commemorative Coins (1982-present).The U.S. Mint considers old Commemorative coins those produced between 1892 and 1956 and new commemorative coins were produced from 1982 to Present. So what does the mint consider coins produced between 1957 and 1981?
The U.S. Mint has been authorized by the U.S. Congress to produce a variety of United States commemorative coins over the years (both old and new).
People Honored with Commemorative Coins (Modern)
Below are several examples of People that have been commemorated on Modern U.S. Commemorative coins:On President Lincoln's birthday this year (Feb. 12, 2009) the new 2009 Abraham Lincoln Commemorative Silver Dollar will commemorate the 200th anniversary of his birth. 500,000 Abraham Lincoln Commemorative Silver Dollar coins will be available, and surcharges collected from the sale of these coins will benefit the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission. The U.S. Mint says they will be ready for purchase on 4/3/2009, but are already available at auctions.
In 2006, the tercentenary of Benjamin Franklin’s birth was honored with two Silver Dollar coins. One coin honors Franklin as a Scientist (remember his experiments with electricity) and the second coin honors Franklin as one of our founding fathers.
In 2005, Chief Justice John Marshall was commemorated on the 250 year anniversary of his birth with a Silver Dollar.
In 2004, Thomas Edison was commemorated on the 125 year anniversary of his invention; the light bulb with a Silver Dollar.
In 2000, Leif Erickson (The Viking) was honored for discovering the New World 1000 years earlier (rough estimation) with a Silver Dollar.
George Washington, in 1999 (200th Aniversary of his death) with $5 Gold Coin and in 1982 (250th Anniversary of his birth) with a Silver Half Dollar.
People Honored with Commemorative Coins (Old)
Below are several (Old Commemorative Coin) examples of People that have been commemorated on U.S. Commemorative coins:In 1893, Queen Isabella (of Spain) was honored with a Commemorative Quarter Dollar for providing Columbus with the ships which he used to “Discover America”. She is the only foreign monarch to be so honored on a U.S. Commemorative coin.
In 1922, U.S. Grant was commemorated on the 100 year anniversary of his birth with two coins; a $5 Gold coin and a half-dollar coin.
In 1934, Daniel Boone was honored on the bicentennial of his birth with a half -dollar Commemorative coin.
Events Honored with Commemorative Coins
Below are several examples of Events that have been commemorated on U.S. Commemorative coins:
In 1903, the Louisiana Purchase (which doubled the size of the U.S. territory at that time) was commemorated on the 100 year anniversary of the purchase with a $5 Gold Commemorative coin. There were two versions of the coin, one with Thomas Jefferson (who was President in 1803) and the other with William McKinley (who was assassinated in 1901, but had signed the bill appropriating the money for the Commemorative Coin before his death).
Some other examples include:
2003 Flight Centennial Commemorative $10 Gold Coin, also Silver Dollar and Half-dollar coins
2004 Bicentennial of the Lewis & Clark Expedition - $1 Silver coin.
2008 Bald Eagle ($5 gold coin, Silver dollar & clad half-dollar) - celebrates the recovery of the species and removal from the Endangered Species List.
In 1903, the Louisiana Purchase (which doubled the size of the U.S. territory at that time) was commemorated on the 100 year anniversary of the purchase with a $5 Gold Commemorative coin. There were two versions of the coin, one with Thomas Jefferson (who was President in 1803) and the other with William McKinley (who was assassinated in 1901, but had signed the bill appropriating the money for the Commemorative Coin before his death).
Some other examples include:
2003 Flight Centennial Commemorative $10 Gold Coin, also Silver Dollar and Half-dollar coins
2004 Bicentennial of the Lewis & Clark Expedition - $1 Silver coin.
2008 Bald Eagle ($5 gold coin, Silver dollar & clad half-dollar) - celebrates the recovery of the species and removal from the Endangered Species List.
Olympic Games Honored with Commemorative Coins
2002 Olympic Winter Games Commemorative $5 Gold Coin2002 Olympic Winter Games Commemorative Silver Dollar
1996 Centennial Olympic Summer Games - Atlanta
1996 Atlanta games includes:
The Cauldron - Gold $5 Coin
Flag Bearer - Gold $5 Coin
High Jump - Silver Dollar
Rowing - Silver Dollar
Paralympics - Silver Dollar
Tennis - Silver Dollar
Soccer - Half Dollar Coin
Swimming - Half Dollar Coin
1995 Centennial Olympic Games - Atlanta
1996 Atlanta games, coins produced in 1995 includes:
The Stadium - Gold $5 Coin
Torch Runner - Gold $5 Coin
Cycling - Silver DollarTrack & Field - Silver Dollar
Paralympics - Silver Dollar
Gymnastics - Silver Dollar
Baseball - Half Dollar Coin
Basketball - Half Dollar Coin
Special Olympics World Games Silver Dollar
1984 Summer Olympics Los Angeles
1984 L.A. Olympic games, coins produced in 1984 includes:
1984 $5 Gold Coin Eagle/Runners
1984 Silver Dollar Dollar/Coliseum
1983 Silver Dollar Dollar/DiscusThrower Olympics (Rowing) Silver Dollar
Places Honored on Commemorative Coins
1986 Statue of Liberty $5 Gold Coin, also Silver Dollar and Half Dollar CoinInstitutions Honored on Commemorative Coins
2005 Marine Corps 230th Anniversary Silver DollarFuture Commemorative Coin Announcements
2010 Boy Scouts of America 100th Aniversary - Silver Dollar Commemorative Coin- Will help raise funds for the Boy Scouts of America - 350,000 to be produced2011 U.S. Army Commemorative Coin - $5 Gold Coin, Silver dollar and clad Half-dollar - will help raise money for the National Museum of the United States Army at Fort Belvoir, Virginia.
