The 2001 Capitol Visitor Center Commemorative Coins were one of two commemorative coins series issued by the US Mint that year. The strikes were released on February 28, 2001 and consisted of a total of six unique coins.

These six unique coins consisted of proof and uncirculated versions of the three coins shown below:

• 2001 Capitol Visitor Center $5 Gold Coin
• 2001 Capitol Visitor Center Silver Dollar
• 2001 Capitol Visitor Center Half Dollar Clad Coin

Congress authorized the series with the passage of the United States Capitol Visitor Center Commemorative Coin Act of 1999 (Public Law 106-126). That law set the maximum mintage of the gold coins at 100,000, the silver dollars at 500,000 and the half dollars at 750,000.

The design on the obverse of the $5 gold commemorative coin shows a single Corinthian column, the same type as found on the Capitol building. The reverse shows an image of the original Capitol building’s structure. Both were designed by former U.S. Mint Chief Sculptor/Engraver Elizabeth Jones.

For the silver dollar obverse, shows the original structure superimposed over the modern structure of the Capitol. It was designed by Marika Somogyi. On the reverse, a bald eagle cloaked in a banner is shown as designed by US Mint sculptor/engraver John Mercanti.

The half dollar commemorative shows the original structure with an outline of the present day building. It was designed by Dean McMullen. For the reverse, a combination of designs by Alexander Shagin and Marcel Jovine is shown with 16 stars shown to represent the number of states in the Union when the 6th Congress was called into session – the first to meet in the new building.

Surcharges collected on the sale of these coins was forwarded to the Capitol Preservation Fund for the purpose of aiding in the construction, maintenance, and preservation of a new Capitol Visitor Center.