Seven new products launched today as part of the United States Mint’s 2019 American Legion 100th Anniversary Commemorative Coin Program.
Options include $5 gold coins, silver dollars and clad half-dollars in proof and uncirculated collector finishes and a three-coin proof set holding one of each denomination. All are issued under the American Legion 100th Anniversary Commemorative Coin Act (Public Law 115-65) to recognize the American Legion’s centennial.
The Legion (www.legion.org) was founded March 15, 1919, in Paris, France, out of concern for the welfare of soldiers and the communities they returned to in the United States after World War I. Charted by Congress later that year as a patriotic organization for veterans, the Legion quickly grew into one of the largest veteran’s service organization in the United States.
American Legion Coin Designs and Specifications
Final designs for the commemorative coins were selected from 63 candidates after consulting with the Adjutant of The American Legion, the Commission of Fine Arts (CFA), and the Citizens Commemorative Coin Advisory Committee (CCAC).
Appearing on the $5 gold coin obverse (heads side) is an image marking the inception of the American Legion and its mission to serve America and its war veterans. It includes an outer geometric rim design from the American Legion emblem, the Eiffel Tower, and V for victory. Inscriptions read "IN GOD WE TRUST," "LIBERTY," "1919," and "2019." Chris Costello designed the image and Phebe Hemphill sculpted it.
On the reverse (tails side), we find a soaring eagle, symbolizing the United States. The American Legion emblem is above the eagle. Inscriptions read "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA," "$5," and "E PLURIBUS UNUM." Paul C. Balan designed the reverse and Joseph Menna sculpted it.
For the silver dollar obverse, an American Legion emblem adorned by oak leaves and a lily is shown. Inscriptions include "LIBERTY," "IN GOD WE TRUST," and "2019" with Paul C. Balan designing and Renata Gordon sculpting.
The silver dollars’ reverse represents the founding of the American Legion in Paris in 1919 with crossed American and American Legion flags. A fleur-de-lis is above with the inscription "100 Years of Service." Additional inscriptions read "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA," "1919," "2019," "$1," and "E PLURIBUS UNUM." Patricia Lucas-Morris designed the reverse and Michael Gaudioso sculpted it.
Found on clad half dollar obverses is a design depicting two children standing and reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. The little girl is shown wearing what is said to be her grandfather’s old American Legion hat. Inscriptions include "LIBERTY," "2019," "IN GOD WE TRUST," and "I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG…" Richard Masters designed the obverse and Phebe Hemphill sculpted it.
Each reverse design shows an American Flag flying in the air with continuing pledge of allegiance inscriptions: "…OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA." Other inscriptions include "E PLURIBUS UNUM and "HALF DOLLAR." Richard Masters also designed the reverse. Joseph Menna sculpted it.
Six Different American Legion Commemorative Coins
| $5 Gold | Silver Dollar | 50c | |
| Finish | Proof and Uncirculated | Proof and Uncirculated | Proof and Uncirculated |
| Mintage Maximums | 50,000 | 400,000 | 750,000 |
| Composition | 90% Gold, 6% Silver, Balance Copper |
99.9% Silver | 8.33% Nickel, Balance Copper |
| Weight | 8.359 Grams | 26.73 Grams | 11.34 Grams |
| Diameter | 0.850 Inches | 1.500 Inches | 1.205 Inches |
| Edge | Reeded | Reeded | Reeded |
| Mint and Mint Mark | West Point – W | Philadelphia – P | San Francisco – S (Proof) Denver – D (Uncirculated) |
Commemorative Coin Pricing, Mintages and Limits
Pricing of the American Legion products are presented in the chart below:
| Introductory Price | Regular Prices** | Mintage Limit | Product Limit | Household Order Limit | |
| 2019-W Proof $5 Gold Coin | $418.75* | * | 50,000 | None | 1 |
| 2019-W Uncirculated $5 Gold Coin | $408.75* | 1 | |||
| 2019-P Proof Silver Dollar | $54.95 | $59.95 | 400,000 | None | |
| 2019-P Uncirculated Silver Dollar | $51.95 | $56.95 | None | ||
| 2019-S Proof Clad Half Dollar | $27.95 | $32.95 | 750,000 | None | |
| 2019-D Uncirculated Clad Half Dollar | $25.95 | $30.95 | None | ||
| Three-Coin Proof Set | N/A | $489.25 | N/A | 7,500 | 1 |
*Gold coin prices are set according to the Mint’s pricing matrix. They can change weekly based on market fluctuations. **Regular pricing goes into effect on April 15, 2019 at 3 p.m. EST.
Ordering and Surcharges
American Legion 100th Anniversary Coins are available from the U.S. Mint’s online store for commemorative products, or by calling 1-800-USA-MINT (872-6468).
Surcharges of $35 for each gold coin, $10 per silver dollar and $5 for each clad half-dollar are included in the prices. These surcharges, provided the coins turn a profit, will be paid to the American Legion to support the Legion’s programs for veterans, members of the Armed Forces, and other purposes specified by the authorizing legislation.
I have to admit, I thought the Three-Coin Set would have Sold Out.
why? nothing unique about the 3 coin set as far as i can tell. not sure why they are limiting to 7500, i dont see the collector novelty. just packaging, but if you get them slabbed, that gets lost
Two (2) months later…..May 19…..and it’s still not sold out !!! Priced too high and too many military coins.
FYI–> No chance of any sell out on this item EVER… USM makes too many military commems in general & this is a rehash mostly of US Marsh*ll designs. The price is also so far out of whack from spot/reality that there is no chance of a non collector buying on spec. Last, the minage # are just CRAZY 50,000 gold so a 7,500 UNIT limit is only illusory…Silver $1 400,000 & @ price @ more than 3x face, why wold it be a hot seller???????? Sorry I’m jaded an ex mintaholic now freed!
On 2nd thought it may sell out @ 7,5oo when limits lifted, why & buy WHO is a big ? No Flipper object here!!
With intro pricing for the dollar at $39 above spot price which is insane for a modern coin. Once the intro pricing is dropped it goes to basically $60 or $45 above spot. They won’t be rare so no numismatic value to them and too outrageously priced to own just for the bullion. As a veteran I am glad the American Legion is getting recognized but can’t see myself owning these coins. The half dollar design is the standard US Mint horrible and at $26 for thirty cents worth of metal – they must think we are idiots. I will… Read more »
Neat, but I’m still pretty disappointed the mint isn’t going to produce a commemorative this year for the 150th Anniversary of the driving of the Golden Spike at Promontory, completing the first transcontinental railroad. They did do Apollo’s 50th, though.
The half dollar in this offering is not meant for circulation, so why not make them silver. The blanks are readly available (same as used in silver proof set). I beleive congress has mandated that all commemorative half dollars be clad composition. I am sure that if half dollar commemoratives were made in silver, they would sell better!!! The last commemorative silver half dollar was the 1993 James Madison, a very beautiful coin. Instead of buying this newly issued clad junk, I would suggest that you younger collectors invest in one of those. At least the Madison half dollar will… Read more »
Chuck –
I agree totally with both of your suggestions. We need silver commemorative half dollars. And I am tired at trying to look at the edge of a coin in a sealed holder to check on the date & Mint mark!
NumisdudeTX
I am sick of that too. There is plenty of room on the sacagawea dollar and on the innovation dollars. If there isn’t, why not just over lap the date onto the image and make it bold enough to read it
Yes…edge inscriptions are ridiculous
I bought the 2 half dollars since I’m working on completing a full set of the modern commemorative half dollars. I like the new dollars, but I’ll have to wait a little while to get them. I think they did a good job on these.
does anyone have an opinion on the finish of the Rocketship 2019 D Kennedy? Only NGC & ANACS have labeled the coin “proof like”. Pcgs doesn’t seem to even be offering a holder for this coin…will the upcoming 2019 Kennedy’s in uncirculated sets and in rolls qualify as proof like? Coin Vault seems to be about the only source for this issue and HSN has them by ANACs…
Just a follow-up to my earlier post regarding the finish on the rocketship Kennedy, the press releases have only described it as ” an uncirculated 2019D Kennedy”. Another source said it was a “special” coin…?