Donald J. Trump
45th President
United States of America
2017 - 2021
In 2021, 45th President Donald Trump signed the 1921 Silver Dollar Coin Anniversary Act, reviving the two most popular silver dollars ever produced in U.S. history: the Morgan and Peace Silver Dollars. In 1921, the final Morgan Dollars were minted and the first few Peace Dollars were just being struck. One hundred years later, these two series were brought back and struck from .999 fine silver.
These modern Morgan and Peace Silver Dollars were iconic as they, for the first time ever showcased these coins in perfect Proof 70 Ultra Cameo condition. Prior to the release of these modern Proof Peace Dollars, an example had never even displayed cameo contrast. Additionally, this new series showcased these classic designs in the innovative reverse proof finish for the first time in American history.
Ronald Reagan
40th President
United States of America
1981 - 1989
In 1985, 40th President Ronald Reagan, in an unprecedented act of patriotism, returned silver to the American people after it was removed from circulating coinage in the 1960s. By signing the Liberty Coin Act in 1985, President Ronald Reagan breathed life into the American Silver Eagle series. The Silver Eagle was our nation’s first pure silver coin, and it was to be struck from one full ounce of American mined silver. Since its release over thirty years ago, the American Silver Eagle series has been the standard around the
world for both bullion and numismatic silver.
The obverse of the American Silver Eagle showcases the Walking Liberty design from the most beautiful half dollar in US history. From 1986 to 2021, the reverse showcased John Mercanti’s Heraldic Eagle design. The Heraldic Eagle is a timeless American motif that was first introduced as the Great Seal of the United States in 1782. The American Silver Eagle reverse marks only the third time in U.S. history that the Heraldic Eagle has appeared on an American Silver Dollar. The olive branch in the eagle’s talons represents America’s desire for peace while the arrows symbolize our willingness to protect our country. From the fierce look in the eagle’s eye to the complex detailing of each individual feather, this design is undoubtedly one of the finest representations of an eagle to be struck onto U.S. coinage. Beginning in summer of 2021, John Mercanti’s inspirational heraldic eagle reverse was retired, never to be struck onto an American Silver Eagle again. From 2021 to the present, Emily Damstra’s Landing Eagle design is displayed on the reverse.
John F. Kennedy
35th President
United States of America
1961 - 1963
John F. Kennedy, the 35th President of the United States of America, was tragically assassinated in Dallas, Texas on November 22, 1963. Hours after the assassination, Mint Director Eva Adams began initiating plans to commemorate our fallen President on a U.S. coin. A month later, on December 30th, 1963, Congress authorized the bill that would put the Kennedy Half Dollar into production.
The responsibility of creating the design for the Kennedy Half Dollar was given to Gilroy Roberts and Frank Gasparro, the ninth and tenth Chief Engravers of the U.S. Mint. Roberts and Gasparro drew inspiration from one of their earlier collaborative projects, the John F. Kennedy Presidential Medal. The obverse of the Kennedy Half Dollar, designed by Roberts, displays a reworked bust of Kennedy from the presidential medal. The reverse, designed by Gasparro, showcases an enlarged example of the Presidential Seal that appeared on the presidential medal.
Dwight D. Eisenhower
34th President
United States of America
1953 - 1961
Before he became President in 1953, Dwight D. Eisenhower rose to fame as Supreme Allied Commander of the Allied Forces during World War II, where he oversaw Operation Overlord, which is also known as D Day. His contributions to American society during World War II made him a popular candidate and his campaign slogan was
simply “I Like Ike.”
The Eisenhower Dollar, more popularly known as the Ike Dollar, was the first dollar coin issued by the U.S. Mint since the Peace Dollar was retired in 1935. Shortly after Eisenhower passed in 1969, legislators began talks to bring back the dollar coin featuring President Eisenhower. The Eisenhower Dollar was subsequently struck from 1971 to 1978.
Designed by tenth Chief Engraver of the U.S. Mint, Frank Gasparro, the obverse depicts a bust of President Eisenhower based on a sketch Gasparro made while attending a parade celebrating Allied victory in Europe. The reverse commemorates Eisenhower’s dedication to the space program by depicting a victorious eagle landing on the moon, which is symbolic of the Apollo 11 Moon Landing.
Franklin Roosevelt
32nd President
United States of America
1933 - 1945
In 1933, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt introduced Executive Order 6102 which essentially outlawed the private ownership of gold. This act recalled all circulating gold coins in an attempt to stimulate the economy during the Great Depression. If anyone was caught hoarding over $100 in gold, they could face tough fines. Citizens had to exchange their gold for paper money. Since people were afraid that the paper currency might not hold its value, they spent it quickly, and the economy started moving again.
After President Roosevelt was elected for a landmark third term, he tragically died in office on April 12, 1945. By May 17, the Treasury Secretary announced that Franklin Roosevelt would be honored on the ten-cent piece due to his support of the March of Dimes organization that sought a cure for polio. Chief Engraver of the US Mint John R. Sinnock created the design with an obverse displaying FDR’s profile and a reverse showcasing a torch with sprigs of olive and oak. This design has been used continuously since 1946.
Abraham Lincoln
16th President
United States of America
1861 - 1865
As the 16th President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln is remembered for uniting the nation during the American Civil War.
With its very first issue in 1909, the Lincoln Cent is the longest-running coin design ever struck by the U.S. Mint. The origins of the Lincoln Cent began in 1904, when President Theodore Roosevelt, deeply unsatisfied with the state of America’s coinage, instituted a new wave of designs in an era known as the Renaissance of American Coinage.
Struck from 1909 to 1958, the original reverse of the Lincoln Cent featured two strands of wheat, giving it the nickname of “wheat cent.” The reverse showcasing the Lincoln Memorial was struck from 1959 to 2008. After the Lincoln Bicentennial in 2009 that featured 4 different reverses, Lyndall Bass’s Shield Reverse debuted in 2010 and has been used since.
Thomas Jefferson
3rd President
United States of America
1801 - 1809
Thomas Jefferson was the first American Secretary of State, the Third President of the U.S.A. and one of the masterminds behind the United States monetary system. It was on Thomas Jefferson’s recommendation that the Dollar was used as America’s standard unit of money. Furthermore, Jefferson suggested the Dollar denomination should be decimalized, essentially creating Cents, Dimes, Quarters, and Half Dollars.
First struck in 1938, the Jefferson Nickel was designed by Felix Schlag to honor our Third President. The Jefferson Nickel is still produced to this day, however, its design has changed numerous times over the years. Schlag’s design was struck until 2004, when his reverse design was replaced with numerous depictions to celebrate President Jefferson’s acquisition of the Louisiana Purchase and its impact on Westward Expansion. Beginning in 2006, Schlag’s reverse returned to the Nickle, but the obverse changed to a portrait of Thomas Jefferson designed by Jamie Franki.
Theodore Roosevelt
26th President
United States of America
1901 - 1909
Known as the great numismatic presidents, 26th President of the United States Theodore Roosevelt forever changed how the American people look at coins. President Roosevelt had a grand vision for American numismatics that would help elevate our coinage to the status of fine art sculptures.
His first step in achieving his goal was this famous to Secretary of Treasury, where he blatantly states, “I think the state of our coinage is artistically of atrocious hideousness. Would it be possible, without asking permission of Congress, to employ a man like Saint-Gaudens to give us a coinage which would have some beauty?”
Shortly after, President Roosevelt collaborated with famed sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens to create the most beautiful US coin ever produced: The Saint-Gaudens Gold Double Eagle. The beauty of this coin was so inspiring, that it was the catalyst in starting the Renaissance of American Coinage. During
this short period from 1907 to 1921, each piece of circulating United States coinage was redesigned by the greatest American sculptors of the day. To this day, President Roosevelt is remembered for forever changing the numismatic landscape of our great country.
