150th Anniversary Commemorative Coin

Gold and silver coin

2011 marked the 150th anniversary of the establishment of the Medal of Honor by an Act of Congress signed into law by President Abraham Lincoln in December 1861. In 2009, Congress passed legislation Medal of Honor Commemorative Coin Act of 2009 directing the Secretary of the Treasury to mint two commemorative coins honoring this historic event. In 2011, the U.S. Mint issued $5 gold coins consisting of 90% gold and $1 silver coins consisting of up to 90% silver. The Medal of Honor Commemorative five dollar gold coin and silver dollar are legal tender and not in circulation. These coins feature images symbolizing the values embodied in the Medal of Honor – a reminder of having the courage to do the right thing and to think of others before oneself.

The U.S. Mint developed several designs for both coins which were presented to the Commission of Fine Arts and the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee for review as required by law. An example of what the obverse (heads ) and reverse ( tails) side looks like is pictured below.

$5 GOLD COIN DESIGN DEPICTED BELOW

The obverse (heads side): depicts the original Medal of Honor authorized by Congress in 1861 as the Navy’s highest personal decoration. The inscriptions are LIBERTY, 1861 2011, IN GOD WE TRUST and MEDAL OF HONOR.

The reverse (tails side): features Minerva, based on the common central image on both the original Navy and Army Medals of Honor. Minerva, standing with a shield representing the Army and Navy in her right hand and the Union flag in her left hand, is flanked by a field artillary cannon and wheel of the Civil War era. Inscriptions are UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, $5 and E PLURIBUS UNUM. The gold coin designs are emblematic of the heritage and legacy of the original Medal of Honor and the era in which it was first established.

Click on images to enlarge

$5 Gold Coin Front Side

$5 Gold Coin Back Side

$1 SIVER COIN DESIGN DEPICTED BELOW

The obverse (heads side): depicts the three current Army, Navy, and Air Force Medals of Honor, left to right. The ribbon with field of stars in the center is the common feature of all three medals, reflecting the joint nature of modern era warfare and the fact that the Medal of Honor is the only U.S. military medal worn around the neck. Inscriptions are LIBERTY, IN GOD WE TRUST, MEDAL OF HONOR and 1861 – 2011.

The reverse (tails side): depicts a contemporary infantry soldier carrying a wounded soldier to safety under enemy fire, relecting the courage and self-sacrifice of all Medal of Honor recipients. Inscriptions are UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, ONE DOLLAR and E PLURIBUS UNUM. This image conveys the courage, selfless sacrifice and patriotism of Medal of Honor recipients, as well as the critieria established by Congress in 1963 requiring that all Medals of Honor be awarded only for heroic action in combat.

$1 Silver Coin Front Side

$1 Silver Coin Back Side

Medal of Honor Coin Unveiling – Charleston, South Carolina

Unveiling of $5 Gold Coin Reverse

U.S. Mint Officially Unveils Medal of Honor Commemorative Coin Designs

Mr. Andrew Brunhart, Deputy Director of the U.S. Mint, unveils the two coins that will be minted in 2011 commemorating the 150th anniversary of the Medal of Honor with the assistance of four Medal of Honor recipients. The unveiling took place on September 29, 2010 at the Congressional Medal of Honor Society’s Annual Convention in Charleston, South Carolina.

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Equal Opportunity Statement

In accordance with federal law and U.S. Department of the Treasury policy, the Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation is prohibited from discriminating in their programs and services on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, or disability. The Foundation affirms its committment to equal opportunity for all based on these principles.

To file a complaint of discrimination, write to the U.S. Department of Treasury, Director, Office of Civil Rights and Diversity, 1500 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20220, ATTN: 1801 L Street NW, Suite 600. The Department of the Treasury is an equal opportunity provider and employer.