The 2017 American coins' complete product schedule seems to be a closely guarded secret by the US mint. But as far as we know, apart from the usual coins, there are some interesting commemoratives and new designs to look forward to. This year is doubly special as it is the 225th anniversary of the mint. And the mint definitely has something special up its sleeve to celebrate this milestone.

225th Anniversary American Liberty coin

The U.S. mint was set up in 1792 in Philadelphia by Congress as per the Coinage Act and the Philadelphia mint building was the first federal building constructed under the constitution. For the last 224 years, the mint has lived up to the vision of the founding fathers of an institution facilitatinga well-respected monetary system.

The 225th Anniversary of the setting up of the mint is honored with a special design for the American Liberty coin. The design of the coin is itself unique as for the first time an African-American Liberty adorns the obverse. The Liberty has a crown of stars on her head, similar to the statue of freedom in the Capitol hill dome.TheArtistic Infusion Program designer Justin Kunz created the portrait and the U.S. Mint Sculptor-Engraver Phebe Hemphill sculpted it. Their initials, JK and PH, appear on the design along with surrounding inscriptions of LIBERTY, the years 1792 and 2017, and the motto IN GOD WE TRUST. The reverse has an American Eagle in flight. It was designed byChris T. Costello and sculpted by U.S. Mint Sculptor-Engraver Michael Gaudioso.

20th Anniversary Platinum Eagle coin

The Platinum Eagle in its bullion and proof versions was first released in the year 1997. Though the bullion version retained the original obverse and reverse designs of 1997, the proof version's reverse design kept changing every year. But to honor its 20th Anniversary this year, the Platinum Eagle would once again bear the original designs for both the Proof and the Uncirculated.

The obverse of the Platinum Eagle sports the'Liberty looking into the future' design by John Mercanti and the reverse designed by Thomas D. Rogers Sr. shows an eagle soaring over America with the rising sun in the background.

Lions Club Commemorativecoin

To honor the 100th anniversary of the formation of the Lions club International by Melvin Jones, the US mint has released the Proof and Uncirculated versions of the Lions Club Commemorative Coin.

The obverse of the coin shows a portrait of Melvin Jones, the founder of the club paired with the logo of the Lions Club behind him. The image was designed by United States Mint Artistic Infusion Program (AIP) Designer Joel Iskowitz and sculpted by United States Mint Sculptor-Engraver Joseph Menna. The reverse shows a lion and a lioness with a cub superimposed over a globe. The image was designed by AIP Designer Patricia Lucas-Morris and sculpted by United States Mint Sculptor-Engraver Don Everhart.

Boys town Centennial Commemorative coin

Edward J Flanagan, a Roman Catholic Priest started an orphanage for boys in Omaha, Nebraska in 1917. It was initially called the 'City of Little Men' and later named 'Boy's town'. Boy's town has grown over the years and has headquarters in all major states of the country now.

On the 100th year of Boy's town'sestablishment, the U.S. mint would be releasing the 'Boy's town Centennial commemorative coins'. There would be a $5 gold coin,a silver dollar and a silver half-dollar. The $5 coin will have an obverse design showing the portrait of Father Flanagan in the obverse and a young oak tree growing from an acorn seed in the reverse. The dollar coin will have an obverse of a little girl sitting under an oak tree looking up ata branch and the reverse shows an oak tree providing shelter to a family playing under it. The clad half-dollar obverse shows two brothers walking hand in hand to Father Flanagan's orphanage in 1917. The reverse shows present-day Boy's town youngsters in their graduation robes and ready to face the world. The surcharges from the sale of these coins will be used to fund Boy's town's mission.

Apart from these special coins, there are other 2017 American coins like the American Eagle coins, America the Beautiful quarters (A post on them here), the Native American coins (More here), the Kennedy Half dollars , the Birthday coin set, the Proof sets and so on.Let's hope for a great numismatic experience forthe collectors out there this year too!

Browse through our New releases!

References

  1. http://www.coinnews.net/2016/11/04/us-mint-high-profile-products-for-2017-and-2018/
  2. http://www.coinnews.net/2017/01/12/american-liberty-225th-anniversary-gold-coin-unveiled/
  3. http://www.coinnews.net/2016/03/18/2017-proof-platinum-eagle-designs-for-20th-anniversary/
  4. http://www.coinnews.net/2017/01/24/lions-clubs-international-centennial-silver-dollar-photos/
  5. http://www.coinnews.net/2016/08/24/2017-boys-town-coin-designs-unveiled/

This entry was posted in Commemorative coins on February 13, 2017 by lavanya kannan