5-Star Generals Silver Commemorative Coins for 2013 as Act Becomes Law

Silver coin enthusiasts will have another option to add to their collection in 2013 thanks to legislation signed into Public Law 111-262 by President Obama on October 8, 2010.

Known as the 5-Star Generals Commemorative Coin Act, the law authorizes the U.S. Mint to strike commemorative silver dollars that honor five United States Army 5-Star Generals: George Marshall, Douglas MacArthur, Dwight Eisenhower, Henry ‘Hap’ Arnold, and Omar Bradley.

The silver coins will be issued in 2013 to celebrate the 132nd anniversary of the founding of the United States Army Command and General Staff College (CGSC). Located in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, all five of the aforementioned generals either attended or instructed at the college at one point in their careers.

"These men served their country in unforgettable ways," said Congressman Dennis Moore who introduced the legislation (H.R. 1177) calling for the 5-Star General Commemorative Coins in the House back on February 25, 2009. "We can never fully show our gratitude for their service, but we can honor them by continuing to support the Command and General Staff College’s tradition of training the world’s finest military officers."

Surcharges raised by the sale of the coins will be forwarded by the Treasury Secretary to the Command and General Staff College Foundation. The Foundation will use the proceeds to continue its support of the CGSC.

"The Command and General Staff College Foundation, Inc. is dedicated to promoting excellence in the faculty and students of the United States Army Command and General Staff College," states a portion of the legislation which authorizes the coins. "Seeking new ways to educate and remind our citizens regarding the capable and selfless service of our military officers, and to imbue in them a sense of pride in those who bear the burden of military leadership in our Nation’s wars and in times of peace."

"The Foundation is a nongovernmental, member-based, and publicly supported nonprofit organization that is entirely dependent on funds from members, donations, and grants for its functions and supports exclusively the United States Army Command and General Staff College."

5 Star Generals Silver Coin Specifications

Each 5-Star Commemorative Silver Dollar is required to have a design showcasing portraits of the honored generals. Aside from that stipulation, the only other design elements required by the authorizing legislation is to include the typical inscriptions seen on other coinage of the United States: the face value of the coin, the year of ‘2013’, Liberty’, ‘In God We Trust’, ‘United States of America’, and ‘E Pluribus Unum’.

Specifications on the coins are also typical for silver dollar commemoratives. The coins will be struck from 90% silver to a diameter of 1.50 inches and feature a weight of 26.73 grams. A maximum of 500,000 of the coins may be struck to either proof or uncirculated condition.

The U.S. Mint is also authorized to strike the 5-Star General Coins in two other varieties — $5 Gold Coins with a top mintage of 100,000 and Half Dollar Clad Coins with a maximum mintage of 750,000.

Collectors do have several other silver commemorative coins to also look forward to in the upcoming years including the 2011 United States Army Commemorative Coins, the 2011 Medal of Honor Commemorative Coins, the 2012 Infantry Silver Dollar, the 2012 Star Spangled Banner Commemorative Coins, the 2013 Girl Scouts of America Centennial Silver Dollar and the 2014 Civil Rights Civil Dollar.