Marking the first full year in a new collector series, the United States Mint released today the 2019 American Innovation $1 Coin Proof Set for $20.95.
Found within the set are four proof quality dollars honoring American innovation and pioneering from Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Georgia. Proof coins are the U.S. Mint’s highest quality finish, featuring sharp reliefs and frosted foregrounds against mirror-like backgrounds. Those for the set are also produced at the Mint’s facility in San Francisco and carry an ‘S’ mint mark whereas coins for circulation come from the Denver or Philadelphia Mints.
In a quick overview, the American Innovation series debuted last year with one $1 coin design. It served as an introduction to the program which will offer four different reverse (tails) designs every year from 2019 through 2032.
Series coins will showcase a reverse emblematic of a significant innovation, an innovator or group of innovators from each of the 50 states, District of Columbia, and U.S. territories.
As for their order of release, the authorizing law mandates that they shall follow a timeline of when each state ratified the Constitution of the United States or was admitted to the Union. Following that, the coins shall honor the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the United States Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
This year’s program coins showcase reverse designs honoring innovations or innovators in:
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Delaware with a depiction of astronomer Annie Jump Cannon, who developed a system for classifying the stars that is still used today. Inscriptions include "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA," "ANNIE JUMP CANNON," "CLASSIFYING THE STARS," and "DELAWARE." Donna Weaver designed the image and Joseph Menna sculpted it.
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Pennsylvania with an image recognizing the creation of a vaccine to prevent polio. Inscriptions include "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA," "POLIO VACCINE," "1953," and "PENNSYLVANIA." Richard Masters designed the image and Joseph Menna sculpted it.
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New Jersey with imagery symbolizing the development of a light bulb with a filament that could last 1,200 hours. Inscriptions include "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" and "NEW JERSEY." Paul C. Balan designed the image and Phebe Hemphill sculpted it.
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Georgia with a depiction recognizing the first agricultural experimental garden in America, the Trustees’ Garden, established in the 1730s. Inscriptions include "TRUSTEES’ GARDEN," "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" and "GEORGIA." Emily Damstra designed the image and Michael Gaudioso sculpted it.
Designed by Justin Kunz and sculpted by Phebe Hemphill, all series coins share a common obverse (heads side) depicting a representation of the Statue of Liberty, a privy mark of a stylized gear, and inscriptions "IN GOD WE TRUST" and "$1."
Dollar coins also share edges that are incused with their year of issue, a mint mark, and "E PLURIBUS UNUM."
Ordering
The 2019 American Innovation $1 Coin Proof Set is available directly from the U.S. Mint via its online store for American Innovation products, or by calling 1-800-USA-MINT (872-6468). Hearing- and speech-impaired customers with TTY equipment may order at 1-888-321-MINT.
All four coins ship together in a protective lens and are accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity.
Got 2. But again no mintage limit.
Just what US coin collectors need, another series of non circulating dollar coins. With the Presidential Dollar series fading away, and many proofs available for less than $2, the ATB quarters grinding on endlessly and multiple special finish coins released each year the market is flooded with product. For example, I recently purchased the Standing Liberty and Kennedy Half gold coins for melt. Coin collecting continues in a decade long shakeout with most modern coins falling to near melt or face.
i think : the Mint should make innovation dollar in box of 250 coins , like all Presidential and Native Dollar Coins! 2nd most collectors are Seniors like my father and his friends, 14 years are too long for them , My suggestion ; release each state by 1 month or Bi-month . So these group of people able to collect every states !, Make them Happy and Joyfully . 3rd ; if these coin make for collector only , they should stop making BUSINESS STRIKE ! Many my local customer confuse these coins . they ask me is it… Read more »
Fyi, just received mine today and will be sending it back and receiving a replacement. Check the statue of liberty side of coin for scratches and marks that look like bag marks. Neat looking coins though, and I agree a mintage limit would be ideal as such they are doing with the reverse proof editions.
They call these coins!!! They look more like ugly bus tokens!!! NO THANKS!!! LOL……???