The United States Mint has unveiled information about and design candidates for the high-relief 2019 American Liberty Gold Coin and Silver Medal.
Look forward to a larger medal next year. It will be unique — a first in modern history for the U.S. Mint, struck in 2.5 ounces of .999 silver to a diameter of about 2 inches. Prior series medals were minted using American Silver Eagle planchets. They have one ounce of .999 fine silver and a diameter of 1.598 inches.
The gold coin will be in an ounce of 24-karat gold with a diameter 1.2 inches.
Designs for the $100 gold piece and silver medal will be shared and in high relief, showcasing modern interpretations of liberty on the obverse and a bald eagle on the reverse. Unlike the gold coin, the silver medal will not bear a denomination, weight and other legally required coin mottoes.
Based on CCAC recommendations, the U.S. Mint’s latest portfolio came from passed-over-designs that had previously been submitted for the 2015- and 2017-dated American Liberty coins and medals. These revived designs were reviewed by the Commission of Fine Arts (CFA) on Sept. 20 and by the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC) on Sept. 27.
Both panels liked the same obverse design but they recommended different designs for the reverse.
CCAC Selections
The CCAC selected obverse #10 along with reverse #10. The obverse design features Liberty, with thirteen rays of light, symbolizing the free and creative spirit of America’s people, emanating along a headdress.
Reverse #10 presents a close-up view of an eagle.
CFA Selections
The CFA also liked obverse #10 but they preferred design #6 for the reverse, noting: "the radial pattern of the eagle’s wing would pair well with the headdress on the obverse."
Reverse #6 depicts an eagle as it prepares to land. This design was the CCAC’s second top vote-getter, losing some support over concerns that the eagle’s feathers were not properly depicted.
Below are U.S. Mint images and descriptions of the proposed gold coin and medal designs. The Treasury Secretary is tasked with selecting the final designs. Those will be revised with an updated inscription for the date.
Obverse Design Candidate Images and Descriptions
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HR-O-01 depicts a profile of Liberty.
HR-O-02 presents Liberty looking confidently to the future, while holding an olive branch and a torch.
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HR-O-03 shows Liberty in profile, accompanied by symbols of prosperity (grapes), strength (oak leaves), and peace (an olive branch). Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness are represented by three flickers of flame. The artist included skyscrapers as a 21st century symbol of a free, modern society’s success.
HR-O-04 presents Liberty dressed in armor, with additional elements inspired by Thomas Crawford’s "Statue of Freedom," which stands upon the dome of the U.S. Capitol. A shawl hangs over her shoulder, while she holds a sword, wreath, and shield.
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HR-O-05 depicts Liberty holding a torch and an oak branch. In the background, the rising sun symbolizes the beginning of a new era.
HR-O-06 depicts a close-up view of Liberty.
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HR-O-07 features Liberty wearing a Phrygian cap and a gown adorned with stars. She holds the American flag in her left hand.
HR-O-08 shows Liberty releasing a dove, freeing the symbolic bird to spread peace. In her left hand she holds her torch.
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HR-O-09 depicts a close-up view of Liberty as she looks toward the future.
HR-O-10 features Liberty, with thirteen rays of light, symbolizing the free and creative spirit of America’s people, emanating along a headdress.
Reverse Design Candidate Images and Descriptions
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HR-R-01 depicts an eagle clutching an olive branch and a bundle of arrows.
HR-R-02 features an eagle carrying an olive branch and an oak branch.
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HR-R-03 depicts a close-up view of an eagle with three types of oak leaves representing the east, middle, and west of the United States.
HR-R-04 depicts a profile view of an eagle.
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HR-R-05 places the viewer below an eagle in flight, catching a glimpse of the olive branch it clutches.
HR-R-06 depicts an eagle as it prepares to land.
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HR-R-07 shows a close-up view of an eagle, emphasizing its powerful form.
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HR-R-08 and HR-R-09 feature and eagle in flight, while rays of light rise from behind a mountain range. HR-R-08 features rays appearing as thirteen stripes, complementing the thirteen stars displayed.
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HR-R-10 presents a close-up view of an eagle.
Funny design for the obverse, fuguly mashup jumbled malange of PC goodness & too much stuff- Looks like they ‘tried’ to copy the $3 Gold type somewhat- no Home run, more like another bomb… IMHO……. pa$$$$$
Just what we need: the Bride of Frankenstein on a gold coin.
Why the difference ( $75 and $100 ) on the reverses? The “value” put on the gold coins has been all over the place.
Might buy if HR-O-3-C with a HR-R-01 or 2 or 9 were used but that appears unlikely.
The Eagle reverses all look great….I wish I could say the same thing for the obverses.
Hey, US Mint, here’s an idea…..why not produce a series of UHR coins or medals which feature just the American Eagle on obverse and reverse. You have more than enough amazing and terrific Eagle designs in your warchest of design proposals to choose great Eagle obverses and reverses for a full series.
Get back to us once you have the details worked out on this, US Mint.
The Eagle reverses do look good.
I like the oak leaves.
Definitely different.
All the obverses are very sad but the HR-R-02-C reverse may be the nicest eagle design I’ve ever seen…………..