2020-S Reverse Proof Maryland American Innovation Dollar Released

Today, Dec. 30, the United States Mint released their 2020-S Reverse Proof Maryland American Innovation Dollar for $11.50.

Produced for collectors as a part of the U.S. Mint’s American Innovation™ $1 Coin Program, the dollar’s reverse (tails side) depicts the Hubble Space Telescope which has strong ties to the state of Maryland.

Finishes: Uncirculated vs. Proof vs. Reverse Proof

Its design may look familiar as earlier this month uncirculated Maryland dollars launched in rolls and bags and a proof Massachusetts dollar was part of a four-coin proof set issued in October.

Uncirculated coins look most like those found in circulation, although they are generally sharper with more brilliance as extra care and steps are taken in their production.

Proof coins are more unique, showcasing the highest quality with frosted design elements that contrast against mirror-like backgrounds. An inverted proof, a reverse proof is a numismatic appearance described by the U.S. Mint as having a frosted background and a brilliant, mirror-like finish.

Designs on Maryland American Innovation Dollar

The dollar’s reverse shows the Hubble Space Telescope orbiting earth surrounded by a field of stars. Launched in 1990, Hubble’s management is overseen by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s Goddard Space Flight Center and the Space Telescope Science Institute, both located in Maryland.

The image is the work of United States Mint artist Joseph Menna. He also completed its sculpting for coins. Inscriptions around the design include "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA," "THE HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE," and "MARYLAND."

All coins from the program bear the same obverse (heads side) design which shows a dramatic representation of the Statue of Liberty. The likeness was completed by U.S. Mint artist Justin Kunz and sculpted by Phebe Hemphill. Obverse inscriptions include "$1" and "IN GOD WE TRUST."

Edge-incused inscriptions read "2020," "E PLURIBUS UNUM," and an "S" mint mark for the San Francisco Mint to denote where the coin was made.

Coin Specifications

Ordering and Limits

The 2020-S Reverse Proof Maryland $1 Coin is available directly from the U.S. Mint’s online catalog dedicated to American Innovation products.

Mintage for this product is set at 50,000 with an initial household order limit of five.

About the Innovation $1 Coin Program

The U.S. Mint’s series of American Innovation dollars reaches its eighth design with this Maryland coin. The series debuted in 2018 and is scheduled to run through 2032 with designs 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.

Four different Innovation dollars will be issued annually until the series is completed. (See all four 2020 dollar designs.) A single 2018 coin introduced to the series, paying homage to President George Washington who issued the first U.S. patent.

The complete program line-up to date is as follows:

• 2018 Washington Signature
• 2019 Delaware – Classifying the stars
• 2019 Pennsylvania – Polio vaccine
• 2019 New Jersey – Light bulb
• 2019 Georgia – Trustees’ Garden
• 2020 Connecticut – Gerber variable scale
• 2020 Massachusetts – Telephone
• 2020 Maryland – Hubble Space Telescope (this coin)

The final 2020-dated Innovation dollar represents South Carolina with a Septima Clark design. The U.S. Mint will release rolls and bags of the dollar on Jan. 19 and the reverse proof version on Feb. 1.