In 2019, the United States Mint will produce and sell curved Apollo 11 Commemorative Coins in recognition of the 50th anniversary of the first manned landing on the moon.
Products will include $5 gold coins, silver dollars, clad half-dollars, and 5-ounce $1 silver coins with common obverse (heads) and reverse (tails) designs.
A design competition will decide the coins’ obverse design. As for the reverses, artists for the U.S. Mint created three sets of designs for consideration. All of them are similar since the law authorizing the coins calls for a representation of the 1969 "Buzz Aldrin on the Moon" photograph that shows just the visor and part of the helmet.
The submitted candidate designs include elements like the American flag, the lunar lander, a solar wind collector, and astronaut Neil Armstrong — all of which are reflected in Aldrin’s mirrored visor from the famous photo. The artwork was reviewed by the Commission of Fine Arts (CFA) on June 15 and by the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC) on June 21. Stakeholders from NASA also actively participated throughout the process. The third set of designs, shown topmost, won the most support.
CCAC did suggest changes to them that include spelling out the name of the denominations and, for the 5-ounce piece, placing its weight and fineness on the edge. The U.S. Mint actually has the option to exclude the weight and fineness completely as they are not required by law. The CFA also recommended spelling out the denominations for all four coins. In addition, they wanted verification from NASA on the perspective of the lunar lander.
The authorizing law for the four commemorates does communicate a desire, "to the extent possible," for the designs to flow over the edge of the coins. A U.S. Mint official said that they were "looking at that right now."
In related news, the CCAC and CFA selected members to jury the competition for the coins’ obverse design. Edward D. Dunson, Jr., Liza Gilbert, and Frederick J. Lindstrom will represent the CFA. Jury members from the CCAC include Erick Jansen, Thomas J. Uram, and Jeanne Stevens-Sollman.
Image of the first and second sets of designs follow.
They all look great to me.
I have started saving for the 7 coins they should come out with they will go great with the baseball set. I like these designs.
The question remains……can the average collector buy them from the mint or have to suffer the cost from major dealers who buy up the supply in 3 minutes?
Something I’m looking forward to. But Tim has a point.
What ever became of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Commemorative Coins? At least two years ago the coins were in line to pass the two chambers and get signed by the President to become law.
The coins are intentionally distorted to give a “feeling” that you are viewing the reflection from Buzz Aldrin’s helmet. Unfortunately, a coin is two small to give the proper impression. I am trying hard to remain a loyal fan of the U.S. Mint, but their recent designs, especially Lady Liberty, are not inspiring. I’ll stay on the sidelines until they come up with a real artistic design.