9/11 Silver Medals Available June 20

9/11 Silver Medals will go on sale June 20 from the United States Mint. Officially known as the "September 11 National Medal,” they are being produced in commemoration of the 10th anniversary of the coordinated terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, in New York, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.

In addition to the launch of the 9/11 silver medals, the Mint will also hold a formal release ceremony in New York near Ground Zero on the same day.

The obverse of the September 11 National Medal shows Lady Liberty holding the Lamp of Remembrance with two beacons of light behind her. 

The United States Mint elaborated on the design, saying "Lady Liberty, the lamp and the light symbolize not only the immeasurable loss on that fateful day, but also the resiliency and triumph of those who persevered."

The obverse’s inscriptions are, "ALWAYS REMEMBER," and "2001 – 2011."

The reverse design has an eagle with up-stretched wings that symbolize "the strength of the survivors, the families and the Nation," according to the Mint. It went on to say that the background of cascading water represents "peace, serenity, healing and the continuity of life."

Below the eagle is the inscription "HONOR" and "HOPE." The medal’s designer was Donna Weaver. The sculptor for the obverse was Phebe Hemphill while the sculptor for the reverse was Joseph Menna.

Sales of the 9/11 Silver Medals will begin at noon ET on June 20. There is a maximum mintage of two million cumulative medals from the mint facilities in Philadelphia and West Point. Buyers will have the choice of a medal from either facility or both, as there are no order limits. A "P" or "W" mint mark on the reverse will indicate the facility that struck the medal.

The 2011 September 11 National Medal’s introductory price will be $59.95 for approximately eight weeks. The price will go up to $66.95 after 5 PM ET on August 18. Those who place their orders before August 18 will receive a commemorative 8"x10" document suitable for framing that will feature the medal’s artwork with the Mint’s official descriptions of the designs. It will also include the signature of the Acting Director of the United States Mint.

The price of the 9/11 silver medals include a $10 surcharge that will raise money for the not-for-profit organization, National September 11 Memorial & Museum. More information about this organization that oversees the design and funding of the memorial and museum at the site of the World Trade Center in New York can be found at www.911memorial.org. According to the website, the 9/11 Memorial is opening on September 11, 2011 and the 9/11 Memorial Museum will open in 2012.

The “National September 11 Memorial & Museum Commemorative Medal Act of 2010,” or Public Law 111-221, authorized the silver medals. The act states that the United States Mint must produce them to the quality of proof coins and each must contain one ounce of silver. The purity is .999 fine, and the specifications are similar to that of the American Eagle Silver coin. The act also indicates that the Mint can not strike them past December 31, 2012.

When available, the 2011 September 11 National Medals may be purchased directly from the United States Mint website at www.usmint.gov or by calling its toll free number 1-800-USA-MINT (872-6468). A shipping and handling fee of $4.95 will be charged for all domestic orders.

Although the United States Mint is best known for its production of circulation and collector coins, it also produces each year a variety of medals to honor people or events. The ones that the Mint sells to the public, however, are usually composed of bronze (90% copper, 10% zinc). Perhaps the most well-known medals produced by the Mint is the Congressional Gold Medal.