Commemorative coins serve a special purpose: they mark notable people and events in United States history. Each has a specialized design, and most are only sold to collectors.
Although commemorative coins are considered legal tender, they are often not intended to enter general circulation.
Their cultural, and often monetary, value far exceeds their face value.
History of the U.S. Mint Commemorative Coin Program
The first commemorative coin, the Columbian Exposition half-dollar, was minted in 1892. It marked a world’s fair held in Chicago celebrating the 400th anniversary of Columbus’s voyage to the Americas.
Since then, the U.S. Mint has released various commemorative coins and coin series.
There have been coins celebrating Mark Twain, The Civil Rights Act, the Star Spangled Banner, desegregation, the Olympics, and countless other people, events, and essential entities.
Here are some of the significant commemorative coins every numismatist should know.
Apollo 11
The Apollo 11 50th Anniversary gold and silver coins were released in 2019, which marked the 50th anniversary of the 1969 moon landing, an important event in U.S. history.
The coins came in a five-dollar gold half-eagle, a half-dollar, and two different silver dollars.
The Obverse features the print of a boot on the moon, and the reverse depicts a view of the landing reflected in a space helmet. Notably, Apollo 11 coins are curved.
Today, you can find these coins for about $50–$2,000.
Bald Eagle
The Bald Eagle commemorative coin was authorized in 2008. Its coin surcharges went to the American Eagle Foundation of Tennessee, an organization dedicated to the conservation of eagles across the United States.
The coins came in three varieties: a five-dollar gold coin, a silver dollar, and a half-dollar.
The silver dollar’s Obverse shows an eagle in flight, and its reverse depicts a heraldic eagle. On the half-dollar Obverse, there is a close-up of an eagle’s head against a flowing American flag, and the reverse depicts a portrait of two eagle chicks.
The gold coin from the bald eagle set features a pair of eagles on the Obverse and a heraldic eagle on the reverse. Today, you can find these coins for about $50–$1,000.
Bill of Rights
These 1993 coins (a five-dollar gold coin, a silver dollar, and a half-dollar) commemorated the Bill of Rights added to the Constitution.
Each features a different portrait of James Madison on the Obverse. On the reverse, the half-dollar features a torch, the silver dollar Montpelier, and the gold coin the quote, “Equal laws protecting equal rights are… loyalty and love of the country.”
These coins are worth between $50 and $700 today.
Statue of Liberty
These coins, authorized in 1986, commemorated the centennial of the dedication of Lady Liberty. The half-dollar, dollar, and gold five-dollar coins depict different illustrations of the Statue of Liberty.
The dollar’s reverse features a torch and the famous Emma Lazarus quote: “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses…”
On the reverse, the half-dollar shows an immigrant family, and the gold coin shows an eagle in flight. The coins are worth about $40–$700.
Library of Congress Bicentennial
Struck in 2000, these coins commemorated the anniversary of the Library of Congress. There are two coins: a platinum and gold $10 coin and a silver dollar.
The $10 coins can be found for about $900–$2,000, and the silver dollars are about $35–$500.
World Cup Tournament
These coins celebrated the World Cup tournament held in the United States in 1994. Like many commemorative coins, they were released in five-dollar, dollar, and half-dollar increments.
Ten percent of sales were dedicated to providing scholarships for United States students. The coins can be found for about $25–$700.
Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial
Abraham Lincoln graces the penny, so it’s only fitting that the 2009 Lincoln Bicentennial
One Cent Program marked the 100th anniversary of the Lincoln penny and the bicentennial of Lincoln’s birth. These coins can be worth anywhere from about $7 to around $6,000.
They feature four different reverse designs, each commemorating a part of Lincoln’s life, as he was a person with great achievement, and significant milestone events to remember in U.S. history.
American Buffalo Commemoratives
These 2001 silver dollar coins recreated the famous Buffalo Nickels from the early 1900s.
The Obverse features a portrait of a Native American, and the reverse shows an American bison. The coins are worth around $125 in mint condition.
Baseball Hall of Fame
This 2014 coin program celebrated the 75th anniversary of the Baseball Hall of Fame. The gold five-dollar, dollar, and half-dollar coins were all curved.
The Obverse (concave side) features a baseball mitt, and the reverse (convex side) is a baseball. Today, the coins are worth about $50–$1,000.
In 1997, the U.S. Mint also issued a Jackie Robinson Commemorative Silver Dollar coin to honor Robinson for breaking the color barrier in professional baseball.
Basketball Hall of Fame
These 2020 coins (dollar, half-dollar, and gold five-dollar coins) honored the 60th anniversary of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
The reverse shows a basketball and the obverse three players. The coins are usually worth about $60–$2,000.
Benjamin Franklin Commemorative Coins
This 2006 silver dollar series included two coins — one celebrating Franklin as a founding father and the other celebrating him as a scientist.
The coins usually sell for about $40–$700.
Most Valuable Commemorative Coins
Modern commemorative coins are still readily available, so most have a low dollar value. However, earlier commemoratives tend to be more valuable. Here are a few examples:
- 1848 Coronet Head Gold Quarter Eagle – $14,00–$40,000 in mint condition
- 1936-D 50C Arkansas Silver Commemorative – $37,500–$47,500 in mint condition
- 1925 50C Lexington Silver Commemorative – $50,000–$75,000 in mint condition
- 1915-S Panama-Pacific Round $50 coin – $48,000–$420,000 in mint condition
- 1915-S Panama-Pacific Octagonal $50 coin – $54,000–$360,000 in mint condition
If you’re new to the numismatic world, the good news is that you can start a collection of more recent (and less expensive) commemoratives. And hopefully, their composition metals, and value will grow over time.
Most Rare Commemorative Coins
Generally, it’s important to remember the older the coin, the rarer it is. Here are some of the rarest:
- World’s Columbian Exposition Half Dollar (1892–1893)
- Lewis and Clark Exposition (1904–1905)
- Lafayette Dollar (1900)
- World’s Columbian Exposition Isabella Quarter (1892–1893)
These coins are notably scarce, so consider yourself lucky if you find one.
Other Popular Commemorative Coin Series
Proof and uncirculated commemorative coins have proven popular with collectors for decades. A great gift item and precious collectible souvenir for anyone interested in U.S. Coinage.
Here are a few other popular commemorative pieces from important places and events with significance:
- Centennial Olympics (1995–1996)
- Jamestown 400th Anniversary (2007)
- U.S. Constitution Bicentennial (1987)
- George Washington 250th Anniversary Half Dollar (1982)
- San Francisco Old Mint Commemorative Silver Dollar Proof (2006)
- Black Revolutionary War Patriots Silver Dollar (1998)
- Boys Town Centennial Silver Dollar Coin (2017)
- Civil War Battlefield Silver Dollar (1995)
- National Park Service 100th Anniversary One Dollar Silver Coin (2016)
- Breast Cancer Awareness $5 Commemorative Coin (2018)
- First Flight Centennial Commemorative Coins (2003)
- Thomas Jefferson Commemorative 250th Anniversary Dollar Coin (1993)
- Korean War Memorial Silver Dollar (1991)
- Marine Corps 230th Anniversary Silver Dollar (2005)
- U.S. Marshals Service 225th Anniversary Silver Dollar Coin (2016)
- World War II 50th Anniversary Dollar (1991-1995)
- White House 200th Anniversary Dollar (1992)
Notably, the George Washington coin was the first modern commemorative coin. According to the United States Mint, over seven million have been sold.
More Facts About the U.S. Commemorative Coins –
We Just Covered –
- Commemorative coins are legal tender, and for use in general circulation, but it’s very rare to see one in circulation.
- The 1848 Coronet Head Gold Quarter Eagle is one of the most valuable commemorative coins, valued at over $40,000.
- Another extremely rare commemorative coin is the World’s Columbian Exposition Half Dollar, minted in 1892 and 1893.
But There’s Even More to Commemorative Coins –
- The U.S. Mint has raised more than $500 million since they began the modern-day commemorative coin program in 1982. With the funds, the government funds national monuments, builds museums, and preserves historical sites.
- From 1892 to 1954, the U.S. Mint coined more than 180 gold and silver commemorative coins honoring 53 various events, individuals, and occasions.
- There are a few commemorative coins that are commonly found in circulation. Over 1.6 billion US Bicentennial quarters were struck, making it one of the highest-produced commemorative coins.
- With so many commemorative coin programs over the years, it’s important to understand the three categories. Regular issue coins are typically found in circulation, circulating commemorative coins are only produced for a short time, and non-circulating legal tender commemoratives are collector’s coins, but can be used for exchange if needed.
- The Columbian half-dollar coin struck in 1892 and 1893 was not only the first commemorative coin but also the first U.S. coin to feature a real person.
- As a marketing ploy, Remington Typewriter Company purchased the first Columbian Exposition half dollar for $10,000. After the first coin was discarded with a planchet error, the second coin struck was sold to the typewriter company.
More Resources for Your Rare Coin Collecting Journey –
- Sell coins online with this simple guide.
- Value your coins and uncover what your collection is worth.
- All about the various types of U.S. Coins.
