Commemorative Star-Spangled Banner Silver Dollars and $5 Gold Coins Available

The United States Mint today, March 5, 2012, began selling bicentennial 2012 Star-Spangled Banner commemorative products. These include uncirculated and proof Star-Spangled Banner Silver Dollars and $5 gold coins and a two-coin proof set.

Congress authorized this commemorative series with the passage of the Star-Spangled Banner Commemorative Coin Act which was signed into law (Public Law 111-232) by President Barack Obama on August 16, 2010. As stated in the Act, the coins are struck "in commemoration of the bicentennial of the writing of the Star-Spangled Banner."

The Star-Spangled Banner is the National Anthem of the United States. The words were written by Francis Scott-Key after witnessing the shelling of Fort McHenry in Baltimore Harbor during the War of 1812. Following the 25-hour bombardment, Scott-Key could still make out the American Flag flying high above the fort indicating it had not fallen, inspiring him to write a poem which officially became the U.S. National Anthem on March 3, 1931.

First published in the Federal Register last month, introductory pricing for the proof silver dollar is $49.95 while the price for the uncirculated silver dollar is listed at $44.95. After 5 PM ET on April 5, 2012, prices will be raised $5 to $54.95 and $49.95, respectively. No household order limits are in place for the strikes, but there is a maximum mintage of 500,00 as established by Congress. That mintage is across all product options including the special two-coin set. Each commemorative dollar is struck from 90% silver which totals 0.733 ounces, giving them a melt value of $27.07 at the current spot price of $35 an ounce. (See their current melt values and that of other U.S. Mint silver coins.)

The two-coin proof set includes a Proof Star-Spangled Banner $5 Gold Coin and a Proof Star-Spangled Banner Silver Dollar. The gold coins are also issued by the U.S. Mint to commemorate the writing of the national anthem. Like other Mint collector coins produced in gold, the proof set and $5 gold coins are sold for a market-based price that can be adjusted weekly depending on market activity.

The current price for the two-coin set is $579.30 with the individual proof coin offered for $529.30 and the uncirculated gold coin for $519.30. A production limit for the two-coin proof set has not been announced. However, the Mint is restrained to a 100,000 mintage of the individual gold coins across all product options. The gold coins are composed of 90% of the yellow metal to a weight of nearly one-quarter ounce.

Coin Designs

Shown on the obverse of the Star-Spangled Banner Silver Dollars is a design by AIP Master Designer Joel Iskowitz which was sculpted by United States Mint Sculptor-Engraver Phebe Hemphill. It depicts Lady Liberty waving the 15-star, 15-stripe Star-Spangled Banner with Fort McHenry in the background. Obverse inscriptions include LIBERTY, IN GOD WE TRUST and 2012.

The reverse of the silver dollars show a waving modern American Flag along with the inscriptions of ONE DOLLAR, E PLURIBUS UNUM and UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. This design was completed by AIP Associate Designer William C. Burgard III and sculpted by United States Mint Sculptor-Engraver Don Everhart.

As for the $5 gold coins, their obverse design portrays a naval battle from the War of 1812 It was designed by Donna Weaver. The reverse design, by Richard Masters, shows the beginning words from the Star-Spangled Banner in Francis Scott Key’s handwriting. The words are against a backdrop of 15 stars and 15 stripes which represents the Star-Spangled Banner flag.

Order Details

Those interested in ordering the Star-Spangled Banner products may do so directly from United States Mint website or via its toll free phone line at 1-800-USA-MINT (872-6468).

Surcharges of $10 per silver dollar and $35 per gold coin will be collected by the Mint. These surcharges will be forwarded to the Maryland War of 1812 Bicentennial Commission to support the bicentennial activities, educational outreach, and preservation and improvements to the War of 1812 sites and related structures.