Released as the first silver commemorative coin from the US Mint in 2010 was the 2010 American Veterans Disabled for Life Silver Dollar. The Mint released the strikes on February 25th of that year in both proof and uncirculated condition.
Congress authorized the coins with the passage of American Veterans Disabled for Life Commemorative Coin Act (Public Law 110-277). According to the text of the legislation, its purpose was to "require the Secretary of the Treasury to mint coins in commemoration of veterans who became disabled for life while serving in the Armed Forces of the United States." This includes those veterans who live today bearing the scars of their service, those who died after having lived with those scars and those who died as a result of injuries received while serving.
Only a total of 350,000 of the 2010 American Veterans Disabled for Life Silver Dollar were authorized struck across all product options.
For the obverse design of the 2010 America Veterans Disabled for Life Silver Dollar, the chosen image shows the legs and boots of three American Veterans. One of those veterans is clearly shown using a pair of crutches. It was designed and sculpted by United States Mint Sculptor-Engraver Don Everhart. Surrounding the image are the inscriptions of THEY STOOD UP FOR US, IN GOD WE TRUST, 2010 and LIBERTY.
The reverse of the coin depicts a forget-me-not flower at the base of a wreath of oak branches. Inside the wreath is the inscriptions of Take This Moment to Honor Our Disabled Defenders of Freedom. Surrounding the design are the inscriptions of UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and One Dollar. It was designed by United States Mint Artistic Infusion Program Master Designer Thomas Cleveland and sculpted by United States Mint Sculptor-Engraver Joseph Menna.
Surcharges collected on the sale of these strikes were forwarded to the Disabled Veterans’ LIFE Memorial Foundation to support the construction of a memorial in Washington, D.C., authorized by Congress in 2000.
Also released by the United States Mint in the same year as this strike was the Boy Scouts of America Centennial Silver Dollar.
