Issued as one of two silver dollar commemoratives in 2011 is the 2011 Medal of Honor Silver Dollar. It is released by the US Mint to commemorate 150 years since the creation of the medal in 1861 as well as to honor those brave individuals who have received it.

Congress created the medal during the American Civil War to serve as the nation’s highest award for valor given to a member of the United States military for actions of gallantry while engaged in actions against an enemy force. Presented by the President of the United States in the name of Congress, less than 3,500 individuals have received the medal since its creation.

These 2011 Medal of Honor Silver Dollars were authorized with the passage and signing into law of the Medal of Honor Commemorative Coin Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-91). Up to 500,000 of the silver dollars will be minted under the Act which also includes an allowance for up to 100,000 Medal of Honor $5 Gold Coins.

The obverse of the 2011 Medal of Honor Silver Dollar was designed by Sculptor-Engraver Jim Licaretz and shows the three current Army, Navy and Air Force Medals of Honor, left to right. Surrounding the medals are the inscriptions of LIBERTY, IN GOD WE TRUST, MEDAL OF HONOR and 1861–2011.

For the reverse of the coin, an image of a modern day infantry soldier carrying a wounded soldier to safety while under enemy fire is shown. It was designed by AIP Master Designer Richard Masters and sculpted by Sculptor-Engraver Phebe Hemphill and also includes the inscriptions of UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, ONE DOLLAR and E PLURIBUS UNUM.

Surcharges of $10 per silver dollar sold will be forwarded to the Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation to help finance the educational, scholarship and outreach programs of the Foundation.

The US Mint will also be releasing the US Army Commemorative Coin series during the same year as these strikes.