At noon EST today, Dec. 14, the United States Mint released products for collectors containing 2018 American Innovation dollars.
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Their designs are the first from a multi-year coin series honoring innovation and innovators from each of the 50 states, the District of Columbia and the five U. S. territories — Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Northern Mariana Islands.
The obverse (heads side) design depicting the Statue of Liberty will be shared across all 57 coins in the series. Justin Kunz created the image and Phebe Hemphill sculpted it for use on coinage.
Upcoming dollar reverses (tails side) will be unique to the innovation or innovators honored from each location. This year’s dollar introduces the series with a reverse paying homage to President George Washington whose signature is on the first-ever U.S. patent issued on July 31, 1790. In addition to Washington’s signature, there are stylized gears representing industry and innovation, and a privy mark-like collage showing an eagle atop tools within a shield. Donna Weaver crafted the image and Renata Gordon sculpted it.
Edges of $1 coins are incused with their year of minting, a mint mark, and "E PLURIBUS UNUM."
Available products include an individual proof as well as rolls and bags of uncirculated dollars. Uncirculated coins visually look most like those found in circulation. Proof coins feature sharp reliefs against mirror-like backgrounds.
Here is a table listing the five product options and their prices:
| PRODUCT OPTION | PRICE |
| 25-Coin Roll (P) — Uncirculated | $32.95 |
| 25-Coin Roll (D )– Uncirculated | $32.95 |
| 100-Coin Bag (P) — Uncirculated | $111.95 |
| 100-Coin Bag (D) — Uncirculated | $111.95 |
| 1-Coin (S) — Proof | $6.95 |
A ‘P’ indicates coins produced at the U.S. Mint’s Philadelphia facility, a ‘D’ represents those produced at the facility in Denver, and an ‘S’ shows those made at the U.S. Mint’s San Francisco facility.
Program Length and Ordering
The United States Mint American Innovation™ $1 Coin Program will run from 2018 through 2032. Beginning in 2019, four new $1 coins with unique reverse designs will be released each year.
Order 2018 American Innovation dollars directly from the U.S. Mint via this product page, or call 1-800-USA-MINT (872-6468). The products have no mintage or household order limits.
Dollar coins have not been released into circulation since 2011. The U.S. Mint produces them in collector finishes solely for its numismatic products.
Can or will this coin be included in the annual mint set?
The Mint has said they will Not be included in 2019…
Utterly unnecessary with many millions of previously minted dollars in storage. And this year at least uncirculated specimens can only be obtained in rolls or bags, or from dealers at even greater premiums. A three coin P-D-S set would at least have been interesting. This is just a way to make money for the mint. And look too at the late date that they are being released. If orders are few and mintage is halted at the end of the month artificial rarities may have been created for a coin that never should have existed. What a mess.
Good points Richard! More garbage coins from the mint! Interesting point about artificial rarities. Unfortunately, and even though they are a very late release and the mint can not produce them past the mint date on the coin, the mint has probably already produced enough of these atrocities to continue sales well into the new year. The mint is too stupid and greedy to create an artificial rarity on purpose, except when they do. I can’t wait to see what the mint deems as an “intentional rarity” in 2019. Probably another failed attempt to get on the good side of… Read more »
Blame Congress for the series and for the late date. They approved the minting in late July and the mint had to scramble to design and issue a coin in 2018.
I will purchase one just out of curiosity.
What an ugly coin. George Washington deserves better. The date and mint mark need ti be on the surface of the coin. The obverse, with the Statue of liberty is too sparce, could have used the legend The United States of America. The reverse is much too busy. It’s like they had a lot to say and cramed it all together. I don’t care how rare or how short the supply is. I will not be buying any of these so called Dollars. I will focus my collecting on the wonderful mint products of the past, some of which are… Read more »
The obverse looks so ’empty’. E PLURIBUS UNUM should have been put in the upper right of Liberty.
The U.S. Mint and their marketing team seem extremely arrogant. They seem to think that the theme will sell the coin, not the design; i.e. Breast Cancer Awareness, WWI Commemorative, etc. No where in their product description do they mention or show what, or if, this innovation dollar coin will be package in, whether it be a capsule and, or case. Consumers are left to guess if this product will be packaged in a clam shell case, or a box, or if anything at all. Their attitude that anything not mentioned in a product offering should be assumed or be… Read more »
Showing “$1” instead of “One Dollar” is the biggest turn off in this design. It is the cheesiest looking shortcut on any coin. It makes it look like an arcade token. Are any numismatists actually involved in US coin design any more?
Thinking 1coin proof holder per coin is crazy. Shipping will double cost per coin. Seems like the mint wants my whole paycheck