United States Army Commemorative Coins

Celebrating the founding of the nation's oldest and largest military service, the US Mint issued the 2011 United States Army Commemorative Coin Program. Strikes in the series were released for sale to the public on January 31, 2011 and included gold, silver and clad coins each produced in both proof and uncirculated condition.

The United States Army has a history that dates back to before the founding of the United States itself. The Continental Congress established the Army on June 14, 1775 as a means for the states to present a unified force against pending conflicts with Great Britain. Its command was placed in the control of George Washington who would eventually lead the Continental Army to victory over the British and who would one day become the nation's first president.

Since then, the US Army has continued to serve the nation in both times of war and in times of peace with an estimated 30 million individuals having been part of this specific branch of the US Military. Their service is part of the reason for these new strikes.

Congress authorized this series of coins with the passage of the United States Army Commemorative Coin Act of 2008 (Public Law 110-450).

In the Act, the US Mint (through the Treasury of the Secretary) was required to strike coins "in recognition and celebration of the establishment of the United States Army in 1775, to honor the American soldier of both today and yesterday, in wartime and in peace, and to commemorate the traditions, history, and heritage of the United States Army and its role in American society, from the Colonial period to today."

The Act further stipulated that the series was to include $5 gold coins, silver dollars and half-dollar clad coins in both proof and uncirculated condition. Surcharges of $35, $10 and $5, respectively, collected on the coins were to be forwarded to the Army Historical Foundation to help finance the National Museum of the United States Army.

2011 US Army Commemorative $5 Gold Coin

2011 US Army $5 Gold Coins (Proof and Uncirculated) Click to Enlarge

The obverse of the US Army Commemorative $5 Gold Coin depicts a design of the US Army soldier through the ages. Shown figures include (from left to right) Continental, Civil War, modern, World War II and World War I soldiers. The design was completed by United States Mint Artistic Infusion Program (AIP) Master Designer Joel Iskowitz and sculpted by United States Mint Sculptor-Engraver Phebe Hemphill.

Shown on the reverse of the $5 Gold Coin is the US Army emblem including a banner with the inscription THIS WE'LL DEFEND." The design was sculpted by United States Mint Sculptor-Engraver Joseph Menna.

2011 US Army Commemorative Silver Dollar

2011 US Army Silver Dollars (Proof and Uncirculated) Click to Enlarge

Depicted on the obverse of the US Army Commemorative Silver Dollar is a design by AIP Master Designer Richard Masters which was sculpted by United States Mint Sculptor-Engraver Michael Gaudioso. It shows the bust of a modern day male and female soldier standing back to back with a globe seen behind them. It is representative of the 21st century US Army called upon around the world.

The reverse of the silver dollar contains the Great Seal of the United States surrounded by inscriptions indicating the seven core values of the military branch - LOYALTY, DUTY, RESPECT, SELFLESS SERVICE, HONOR, INTEGRITY and PERSONAL COURAGE.
It was designed by AIP Master Designer Susan Gamble and sculpted by United States Mint Sculptor-Engraver Don Everhart.

2011 US Army Commemorative Clad Half-Dollar

2011 US Army Clad Half-Dollar (Proof and Uncirculated) Click to Enlarge

A design representative of the US Army at service in times of peace is shown on the obverse of the US Army Clad Half-Dollar. It depicts one soldier surveying, two building a flood wall and a Redstone Army rocket. The rocket was used in the early days of space exploration. The obverse was designed by AIP Master Designer Donna Weaver and sculpted by United States Mint Sculptor-Engraver Charles L. Vickers.

The reverse recalls the fact that the Army was the first military service established by the United States with the image of a Continental Soldier shown in full uniform with his firearm in his hands. It was designed by AIP Master Designer Thomas Cleveland and sculpted by United States Mint Sculptor-Engraver Joseph Menna.