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| Slot: |
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| Origin/Country: |
United States |
| Design Description: |
MODERN COMMEMORATIVES |
| Item Description: |
S$1 1990 W EISENHOWER CENTENNIAL |
| Grade: |
NGC MS 69 |
| Research: |
View Coin |
Owner Comments
Eisenhower Centennial Dollar
Public Law 100 – 467 - 100th Congress - This Act may be cited as the "Dwight David Eisenhower Commemorative Coin Act of 1988". To require the Secretary of the Treasury to mint and issue one-dollar coins in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the birth of Dwight David Eisenhower. The design of the coin shall have the likeness of Dwight David Eisenhower on the obverse side of such coin; and have an illustration of the home of Dwight David Eisenhower located in the Gettysburg National Historic Site on the reverse side of such coin.
• The "Secretary" shall mint and issue one-dollar coins in commemoration of the one hundredth anniversary of
the birth of Dwight David Eisenhower.
• The Secretary shall issue not more than 4,000,000 coins and shall contain 90 percent silver and 10 percent
copper.
• The silver coins authorized under this title may be issued in uncirculated and proof qualities, except that not
more than one facility of the United States Mint may be used to strike each such quality
Approved October 3, 1988. (The Secretary may begin selling the coins on January 1, 1990. The
Secretary may not mint coins after December 31, 1990.)
Background
Only a single commemorative coin was issued for 1990, representing a lull in the multiple coins seen for past and future years. The 1990 Eisenhower Silver Dollar was issued to mark the centennial of the birth of Dwight D. Eisenhower on October 14, 1890. He is honored as both a five-star General and the 34th President of the United States.
Released on January 16, 1990, this coin was authorized to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the birth of Dwight D. Eisenhower.
Characteristics
The obverse design of the coin features profiles of Dwight D. Eisenhower as a Five-Star General and President.
The reverse of the coin features the Eisenhower Gettysburg National Historical Site.
Surcharges from the sale of the coins was used to reduce the public debt.
The 1990 Eisenhower Silver Dollar had a maximum authorized mintage of 4,000,000 coins across the available options.
The US Mint's final mintage for the coins was 1,144,461 proof coins and 241,669 uncirculated coins.
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| Slot: |
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| Origin/Country: |
United States |
| Design Description: |
MODERN COMMEMORATIVES |
| Item Description: |
S$1 1990 P EISENHOWER CENTENNIAL |
| Grade: |
NGC PF 69 ULTRA CAMEO |
| Research: |
View Coin |
Owner Comments
Eisenhower Centennial Dollar
Public Law 100 – 467 - 100th Congress - This Act may be cited as the "Dwight David Eisenhower Commemorative Coin Act of 1988". To require the Secretary of the Treasury to mint and issue one-dollar coins in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the birth of Dwight David Eisenhower. The design of the coin shall have the likeness of Dwight David Eisenhower on the obverse side of such coin; and have an illustration of the home of Dwight David Eisenhower located in the Gettysburg National Historic Site on the reverse side of such coin.
• The "Secretary" shall mint and issue one-dollar coins in commemoration of the one hundredth anniversary of
the birth of Dwight David Eisenhower.
• The Secretary shall issue not more than 4,000,000 coins and shall contain 90 percent silver and 10 percent
copper.
• The silver coins authorized under this title may be issued in uncirculated and proof qualities, except that not
more than one facility of the United States Mint may be used to strike each such quality.
Approved October 3, 1988. (The Secretary may begin selling the coins on January 1, 1990. The
Secretary may not mint coins after December 31, 1990.)
Background
Only a single commemorative coin was issued for 1990, representing a lull in the multiple coins seen for past and future years. The 1990 Eisenhower Silver Dollar was issued to mark the centennial of the birth of Dwight D. Eisenhower on October 14, 1890. He is honored as both a five-star General and the 34th President of the United States.
Released on January 16, 1990, this coin was authorized to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the birth of Dwight D. Eisenhower.
Characteristics
The obverse design of the coin features profiles of Dwight D. Eisenhower as a Five-Star General and President.
The reverse of the coin features the Eisenhower Gettysburg National Historical Site.
Surcharges from the sale of the coins was used to reduce the public debt.
The 1990 Eisenhower Silver Dollar had a maximum authorized mintage of 4,000,000 coins across the available options.
The US Mint's final mintage for the coins was 1,144,461 proof coins and 241,669 uncirculated coins.
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| Slot: |
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| Origin/Country: |
United States |
| Design Description: |
MODERN COMMEMORATIVES |
| Item Description: |
S$1 1991 P KOREAN WAR |
| Grade: |
NGC PF 69 ULTRA CAMEO |
| Research: |
View Coin |
Owner Comments
Korean War Memorial Dollar
Public Law 101-495 101st Congress - This Act may be cited as the "Korean War Veterans Memorial
Thirty-Eighth Anniversary Commemorative Coin Act". To require the Secretary of the Treasury to mint a Silver
Dollar Coin in commemoration of the thirty-eighth anniversary of the ending of the Korean War and in honor of
those who served. The design of the coins minted in accordance with this section shall be symbolic of the
Korean War Veterans' heroic service.
• The Congress finds that:
On June 25,1950, the Republic of Korea was invaded by the North Korean Army,
United States forces in a United Nations action defended South Korea and repelled the attackers,
further aggression by the Chinese Communists was also repelled,
an armistice was signed on July 27,1953,
American combat deaths totaled 33,629, and more than 8,000 remains are still unaccounted for,
an additional several thousand nonbattle deaths occurred on or around the Korean
peninsula,
103,284 Americans were wounded, with many disabled and handicapped,
this war, waged under the United Nations aegis, halted communist aggression in Northeast Asia,
preserved the human rights of 40 million people, and restored the territorial integrity of the Republic
of Korea,
the desire to memorialize American gratitude to the courageous men and women who served has
led to the Korean War Veterans Memorial authorization,
this memorial must be built by private donations, and
the moneys must be raised by the thirty-eighth anniversary of the ending of the war.
• Sense of the Congress. It is the sense of the Congress:
that the thirty-eighth anniversary of the ending of the Korean War should not go unrecognized,
that the United States should recognize this anniversary and the veterans of the Korean War by
minting and issuing a silver dollar coin; and
that issuance of this coin will enable the Korean War Veterans Memorial to be built in the Nation's
capital on schedule, with all donations to be deposited in the United States Treasury Memorial
Fund.
• The Secretary shall mint and issue not more than 1,000,000 One-Dollar Silver Coins to commemorate
the thirty-eighth anniversary of the ending of the Korean War and shall be composed of 90 percent silver
and 10 percent copper.
• The silver coins authorized under this title may be issued in uncirculated and proof qualities, except that
not more than one facility of the United States Mint may be used to strike each such quality
Approved October 31, 1990 (The Secretary may issue the coins minted under this Act beginning on
January 1,1991. Coins may not be minted under this Act after December 31,1991.)
Background
Released on May 6, 1991, this silver dollar commemorated the thirty-eighth anniversary of the ending of the Korean War and in honor of those who served.
Characteristics
The obverse design of the coin features a military figure charging up a hill. There are naval ships in the foreground, an F-86 aircraft flying overhead, and eight stars.
The reverse of the coin features a design of a map of Korea divided at the 38th Parallel and a bust of the American bald eagle.
Recipient Organization: Korean War Veterans Memorial Fund
Surcharges collected from coin sales were to be deposited into the Korean War Veterans Memorial Fund and be used to:
• Establish and erect the Korean War Veterans Memorial in the Nation's capital to honor those who served.
• Provide maintenance and perpetual care for the memorial and to establish interpretive centers and
disseminate information.
Any excess funds were to be donated to the National Park Service for maintenance of memorials under its jurisdiction and authorized by Congress during the 20th century relating to the commemoration of military conflicts in which the United States was involved.
President George H. W. Bush conducted the groundbreaking for the Memorial on June 14, 1992, Flag Day. The companies and organizations involved in the construction are listed on the memorial as: the Faith Construction company, the R. J. Crowley company, the Cold Spring Granite Company, the Tallix Art Foundry and the Baltimore District of the US Army Corps of Engineers.... The memorial was dedicated on July 27, 1995, the 42nd anniversary of the armistice that ended the war, by President Bill Clinton and Kim Young Sam, President of the Republic of Korea, to the men and women who served during the conflict. Management of the memorial was turned over to the National Park Service, under its National Mall and Memorial Parks group. As with all National Park Service historic areas, the memorial was administratively listed on the National Register of Historic Places on the day of its dedication.
Troop statistics
Engraved on granite blocks near the water pool at the east end of the monument are the casualty statistics for the soldiers who fought in the war.
• Dead — United States: 54,246,[6] United Nations: 628,833
• Wounded — United States: 103,284, United Nations: 1,064,453.
• Captured — United States: 7,140, United Nations: 92,970.
• Missing — United States: 8,177,[7] United Nations: 470,267.
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| Slot: |
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| Origin/Country: |
United States |
| Design Description: |
MODERN COMMEMORATIVES |
| Item Description: |
S$1 1991 D KOREAN WAR |
| Grade: |
NGC MS 69 |
| Research: |
View Coin |
Owner Comments
Korean War Memorial Dollar
Public Law 101-495 101st Congress - This Act may be cited as the "Korean War Veterans Memorial
Thirty-Eighth Anniversary Commemorative Coin Act". To require the Secretary of the Treasury to mint a Silver
Dollar Coin in commemoration of the thirty-eighth anniversary of the ending of the Korean War and in honor of
those who served. The design of the coins minted in accordance with this section shall be symbolic of the
Korean War Veterans' heroic service.
• The Congress finds that:
On June 25,1950, the Republic of Korea was invaded by the North Korean Army,
United States forces in a United Nations action defended South Korea and repelled the attackers,
further aggression by the Chinese Communists was also repelled,
an armistice was signed on July 27,1953,
American combat deaths totaled 33,629, and more than 8,000 remains are still unaccounted for,
an additional several thousand nonbattle deaths occurred on or around the Korean peninsula,
103,284 Americans were wounded, with many disabled and handicapped,
this war, waged under the United Nations aegis, halted communist aggression in Northeast Asia,
preserved the human rights of 40 million people, and restored the territorial integrity of the Republic
of Korea,
the desire to memorialize American gratitude to the courageous men and women who served has led to
the Korean War Veterans Memorial authorization,
this memorial must be built by private donations, and
the moneys must be raised by the thirty-eighth anniversary of the ending of the war.
• Sense of the Congress. It is the sense of the Congress:
that the thirty-eighth anniversary of the ending of the Korean War should not go unrecognized,
that the United States should recognize this anniversary and the veterans of the Korean War by
minting and issuing a silver dollar coin; and
that issuance of this coin will enable the Korean War Veterans Memorial to be built in the Nation's capital
on schedule, with all donations to be deposited in the United States Treasury Memorial Fund.
• The Secretary shall mint and issue not more than 1,000,000 One-Dollar Silver Coins to commemorate the
thirty-eighth anniversary of the ending of the Korean War and shall be composed of 90 percent silver and 10
percent copper.
• The silver coins authorized under this title may be issued in uncirculated and proof qualities, except that not
more than one facility of the United States Mint may be used to strike each such quality.
Approved October 31, 1990 (The Secretary may issue the coins minted under this Act beginning on
January 1,1991. Coins may not be minted under this Act after December 31,1991.)
Background
Released on May 6, 1991, this silver dollar commemorated the thirty-eighth anniversary of the ending of the Korean War and in honor of those who served.
Characteristics
The obverse design of the coin features a military figure charging up a hill. There are naval ships in the foreground, an F-86 aircraft flying overhead, and eight stars.
The reverse of the coin features a design of a map of Korea divided at the 38th Parallel and a bust of the American bald eagle.
Recipient Organization: Korean War Veterans Memorial Fund
Surcharges collected from coin sales were to be deposited into the Korean War Veterans Memorial Fund and be used to:
• Establish and erect the Korean War Veterans Memorial in the Nation's capital to honor those who served.
• Provide maintenance and perpetual care for the memorial and to establish interpretive centers and
disseminate information.
Any excess funds were to be donated to the National Park Service for maintenance of memorials under its jurisdiction and authorized by Congress during the 20th century relating to the commemoration of military conflicts in which the United States was involved.
President George H. W. Bush conducted the groundbreaking for the Memorial on June 14, 1992, Flag Day. The companies and organizations involved in the construction are listed on the memorial as: the Faith Construction company, the R. J. Crowley company, the Cold Spring Granite Company, the Tallix Art Foundry and the Baltimore District of the US Army Corps of Engineers.... The memorial was dedicated on July 27, 1995, the 42nd anniversary of the armistice that ended the war, by President Bill Clinton and Kim Young Sam, President of the Republic of Korea, to the men and women who served during the conflict. Management of the memorial was turned over to the National Park Service, under its National Mall and Memorial Parks group. As with all National Park Service historic areas, the memorial was administratively listed on the National Register of Historic Places on the day of its dedication.
Troop statistics
Engraved on granite blocks near the water pool at the east end of the monument are the casualty statistics for the soldiers who fought in the war.
• Dead — United States: 54,246,[6] United Nations: 628,833
• Wounded — United States: 103,284, United Nations: 1,064,453.
• Captured — United States: 7,140, United Nations: 92,970.
• Missing — United States: 8,177,[7] United Nations: 470,267.
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| Slot: |
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| Origin/Country: |
United States |
| Design Description: |
MODERN COMMEMORATIVES |
| Item Description: |
S$1 1991 D USO ANNIVERSARY |
| Grade: |
NGC MS 69 |
| Research: |
View Coin |
Owner Comments
USO (United Service Organizations) Dollar
Public Law 101-404 101st Congress - This Act may be cited as the "United Services Organization's 50th Anniversary Commemorative Coin Act". To require the Secretary of the Treasury to mint coins in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the United Services Organization. The design of the coins shall be emblematic of the services provided by the USO to military service personnel and families.
• The Secretary shall mint and issue not more than 1,000,000 One Dollar silver coins, and shall be composed of 90
percent silver and 10 percent copper.
• The silver coins authorized under this title may be issued in uncirculated and proof qualities, except that not more
than one facility of the United States Mint may be used to strike each such quality of the coins
Approved October 2, 1990.
(The Secretary may issue the coins minted under this Act during the 1-year period beginning at the end of the 6-month period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act)
Background
Released on June 8, 1991, this dollar commemorated the 50th anniversary of the United Services Organization (USO).
Characteristics
The obverse design of the coin features an image of the USO pennant and the words 50th Anniversary.
The reverse of the coin features a design of an eagle perched upon a globe with a USO banner in its beak and the USO's anniversary theme: "Fifty Years of Service to Service People" and 11 stars.
Recipient Organization: USO
Fifty percent of the surcharges collected from coin sales were to be distributed to the USO to be used to fund programs including airport centers, fleet centers, family and community centers, and celebrity entertainment. The remaining fifty percent of the proceeds from the coin sale surcharges were to be returned to the Federal Treasury for the purposes of reducing the national debt
The United Service Organizations Inc. (USO Show) is a nonprofit organization that provides programs, services and live entertainment to United States troops and their families. Since 1941, it has worked in partnership with the Department of Defense (DOD), relying heavily on private contributions and on funds, goods, and services from various corporate and individual donors. Although congressionally chartered, it is not a government agency. The USO operates 160 centers worldwide.
During World War II, the USO became the G.I.'s "home away from home" and began a tradition of entertaining the troops that continues today. Involvement in the USO was one of the many ways in which the nation had come together to support the war effort, with nearly 1.5 million Americans having volunteered their services in some way. After it was disbanded in 1947, it was revived in 1950 for the Korean War, after which it also provided peacetime services. During the Vietnam War, USOs were sometimes located in combat zones.
The organization became particularly famous for its live performances called Camp Shows, through which the entertainment industry helped boost the morale of its servicemen and women. Hollywood in general was eager to show its patriotism, and many famous celebrities joined the ranks of USO entertainers. They entertained in military bases at home and overseas, sometimes placing their own lives in danger, by traveling or performing under hazardous conditions.
Mission and goals
The USO was founded in 1941 in response to a request from President Franklin D. Roosevelt to provide morale and recreation services to U.S. uniformed military personnel. Roosevelt was elected as its honorary chairman. This request brought together six civilian organizations: the Salvation Army, Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA), Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA), National Catholic Community Service, National Travelers Aid Association and the National Jewish Welfare Board. They were brought together under one umbrella to support U.S. troops. Roosevelt said he wanted "these private organizations to handle the on-leave recreation of the men in the armed forces." According to historian Emily Yellin, "The government was to build the buildings and the USO was to raise private funds to carry out its main mission: boosting the morale of the military."
USO promotional literature stated its goals:
"The story of USO camp shows belongs to the American people, for it was their contribution that made it possible. It is an important part in the life of your sons, your brothers, your husbands, and your sweethearts."
Honoring Bob Hope
In 1996, the U.S. Congress honored Bob Hope by declaring him the "first and only honorary veteran of the U.S. armed forces." According to Hope biographer William Faith, his reputation has become ingrained in the "American consciousness" because he had flown millions of miles to entertain G.I.s during both wartime and peace. His contribution to the USO began in 1941 and ended with Operation Desert Shield in 1991, spending 48 Christmases overseas with American service personnel. He was always treated as "an asset to the U.S. Government with his willingness to entertain whenever they needed him." After WWII was declared over, the USO had sent out an "impassioned bulletin" asking entertainers not to abandon the GIs now that the war was over. Hope was among the first to say yes. The Military Order of the Purple Heart notes that "his contributions to the USO are well known: they are legend."
His final Christmas show was during Operation Desert Shield in 1990. The show was not easy, notes Faith. "There were so many restrictions. Hope's jokes were monitored by the State Department to avoid offending the Saudis... and the media was restricted from covering the shows... Because in Saudi Arabia national custom prescribes that women must be veiled in public, Ann Jillian, Marie Osmond, and the Pointer Sisters were left off Hope's Christmas Eve show."
In 2009, Stephen Colbert performing his last episode of weeklong taping in Iraq for his The Colbert Report show, carried a golf club on stage and dedicated it to Bob Hope's service for the USO.
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| Slot: |
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| Origin/Country: |
United States |
| Design Description: |
MODERN COMMEMORATIVES |
| Item Description: |
S$1 1991 S USO ANNIVERSARY |
| Grade: |
NGC PF 69 ULTRA CAMEO |
| Research: |
View Coin |
Owner Comments
USO (United Service Organizations) Dollar
Public Law 101-404 101st Congress - This Act may be cited as the "United Services Organization's 50th Anniversary Commemorative Coin Act". To require the Secretary of the Treasury to mint coins in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the United Services Organization. The design of the coins shall be emblematic of the services provided by the USO to military service personnel and families.
• The Secretary shall mint and issue not more than 1,000,000 One Dollar silver coins, and shall be composed of 90
percent silver and 10 percent copper.
• The silver coins authorized under this title may be issued in uncirculated and proof qualities, except that not more
than one facility of the United States Mint may be used to strike each such quality of the coins
Approved October 2, 1990.
(The Secretary may issue the coins minted under this Act during the 1-year period beginning at the end of the 6-month period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act)
Background
Released on June 8, 1991, this dollar commemorated the 50th anniversary of the United Services Organization (USO).
Characteristics
The obverse design of the coin features an image of the USO pennant and the words 50th Anniversary.
The reverse of the coin features a design of an eagle perched upon a globe with a USO banner in its beak and the USO's anniversary theme: "Fifty Years of Service to Service People" and 11 stars.
Recipient Organization: USO
Fifty percent of the surcharges collected from coin sales were to be distributed to the USO to be used to fund programs including airport centers, fleet centers, family and community centers, and celebrity entertainment. The remaining fifty percent of the proceeds from the coin sale surcharges were to be returned to the Federal Treasury for the purposes of reducing the national debt
The United Service Organizations Inc. (USO Show) is a nonprofit organization that provides programs, services and live entertainment to United States troops and their families. Since 1941, it has worked in partnership with the Department of Defense (DOD), relying heavily on private contributions and on funds, goods, and services from various corporate and individual donors. Although congressionally chartered, it is not a government agency. The USO operates 160 centers worldwide.
During World War II, the USO became the G.I.'s "home away from home" and began a tradition of entertaining the troops that continues today. Involvement in the USO was one of the many ways in which the nation had come together to support the war effort, with nearly 1.5 million Americans having volunteered their services in some way. After it was disbanded in 1947, it was revived in 1950 for the Korean War, after which it also provided peacetime services. During the Vietnam War, USOs were sometimes located in combat zones.
The organization became particularly famous for its live performances called Camp Shows, through which the entertainment industry helped boost the morale of its servicemen and women. Hollywood in general was eager to show its patriotism, and many famous celebrities joined the ranks of USO entertainers. They entertained in military bases at home and overseas, sometimes placing their own lives in danger, by traveling or performing under hazardous conditions.
Mission and goals
The USO was founded in 1941 in response to a request from President Franklin D. Roosevelt to provide morale and recreation services to U.S. uniformed military personnel. Roosevelt was elected as its honorary chairman. This request brought together six civilian organizations: the Salvation Army, Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA), Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA), National Catholic Community Service, National Travelers Aid Association and the National Jewish Welfare Board. They were brought together under one umbrella to support U.S. troops. Roosevelt said he wanted "these private organizations to handle the on-leave recreation of the men in the armed forces." According to historian Emily Yellin, "The government was to build the buildings and the USO was to raise private funds to carry out its main mission: boosting the morale of the military."
USO promotional literature stated its goals:
"The story of USO camp shows belongs to the American people, for it was their contribution that made it possible. It is an important part in the life of your sons, your brothers, your husbands, and your sweethearts."
Honoring Bob Hope
In 1996, the U.S. Congress honored Bob Hope by declaring him the "first and only honorary veteran of the U.S. armed forces." According to Hope biographer William Faith, his reputation has become ingrained in the "American consciousness" because he had flown millions of miles to entertain G.I.s during both wartime and peace. His contribution to the USO began in 1941 and ended with Operation Desert Shield in 1991, spending 48 Christmases overseas with American service personnel. He was always treated as "an asset to the U.S. Government with his willingness to entertain whenever they needed him." After WWII was declared over, the USO had sent out an "impassioned bulletin" asking entertainers not to abandon the GIs now that the war was over. Hope was among the first to say yes. The Military Order of the Purple Heart notes that "his contributions to the USO are well known: they are legend."
His final Christmas show was during Operation Desert Shield in 1990. The show was not easy, notes Faith. "There were so many restrictions. Hope's jokes were monitored by the State Department to avoid offending the Saudis... and the media was restricted from covering the shows... Because in Saudi Arabia national custom prescribes that women must be veiled in public, Ann Jillian, Marie Osmond, and the Pointer Sisters were left off Hope's Christmas Eve show."
In 2009, Stephen Colbert performing his last episode of weeklong taping in Iraq for his The Colbert Report show, carried a golf club on stage and dedicated it to Bob Hope's service for the USO.
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| Slot: |
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| Origin/Country: |
United States |
| Design Description: |
MODERN COMMEMORATIVES |
| Item Description: |
S$1 1991-1995 W World War II Anniversary |
| Grade: |
NGC PF 69 ULTRA CAMEO |
| Research: |
View Coin |
Owner Comments
(1991-1995) World War II 50th Anniversary Coins
Public Law 102-414 102d Congress - This Act may be cited as the "World War II 50th Anniversary Commemorative Coins Act". To require the Secretary of the Treasury to mint coins in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the United States' involvement in World War II. The design of the coins shall be symbolic of the participation of the United States in World War II. In addition, the design of the gold coin shall be emblematic of the Allied victory in World War II, and the silver coin shall be emblematic of the Battle of Normandy.
• Denominations. —the secretary shall mint and issue the following coins:
Five Dollar Gold Coins
♦ Not more than 300,000 Five Dollar Gold coins and be composed of 90 percent gold and 10 percent alloy
One Dollar Silver Coins
♦ Not more than 1,000,000 One Dollar Silver coins and shall contain 90 percent silver and 10 percent
copper
Half dollar Clad Coins
♦ Not more than 2,000,000 Half Dollar Clad coins and shall contain an alloy of 75 percent copper and 25
percent nickel.
• The coins authorized under this title may be issued in uncirculated and proof qualities and only 1 facility of the
United States Mint may be used to strike any particular combination of denomination and quality for the coins
minted under this Act.
Approved October 14, 1992
(The coins minted under this title may be issued beginning January 1993. Coins may not be minted under this title after December 31,1993.)
Background
Released on May 28, 1993, this coin was authorized in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the United States’ involvement in World War II.
Characteristics
The obverse design of the coin features an American serviceman with rifle raised celebrating victory.
The reverse of the coin features "V" for victory at the center of the coin, with the Morse code cryptic for the letter "V" superimposed over the victory symbol and laurel leaves.
Recipient Organization: The Battle of Normandy Foundation and the World War II Memorial
Surcharges from coin sales were primarily to be dedicated to:
• Endow and dedicate, on the 50th Anniversary of D-Day, a United States D-Day and Battle of Normandy
Memorial in Normandy, France and to encourage and support visits to the memorial by United States citizens,
and especially students.
• Expenses incurred in establishing a memorial on Federal land in the District of Columbia or its environs to
honor members of the Armed Forces of the United States who served in World War II and to commemorate
the participation of the United States in that war.
World War II (WWII or WW2), also known as the Second World War, was a global war. It is generally considered to have lasted from 1939 to 1945, although some conflicts in Asia that are commonly viewed as becoming part of the world war had been going on earlier than that. It involved the vast majority of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis. It was the most widespread war in history, with more than 100 million people, from more than 30 different countries, serving in military units. In a state of "total war", the major participants threw their entire economic, industrial, and scientific capabilities behind the war effort, erasing the distinction between civilian and military resources. Marked by mass deaths of civilians, including the Holocaust and the only use of nuclear weapons in warfare, it resulted in an estimated 50 million to 85 million fatalities. These made World War II the deadliest conflict in human history.
The Empire of Japan aimed to dominate East Asia and was already at war with the Republic of China in 1937, but the world war is generally said to have begun on 1 September 1939 with the invasion of Poland by Germany and subsequent declarations of war on Germany by France and the United Kingdom. From late 1939 to early 1941, in a series of campaigns and treaties, Germany formed the Axis alliance with Italy, conquering or subduing much of continental Europe. Following the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact, Germany and the Soviet Union partitioned and annexed territories between themselves of their European neighbors, including Poland and the Baltic states. The United Kingdom and the other members of the British Commonwealth were the only major Allied forces continuing the fight against the Axis, with battles taking place in North Africa as well as the long-running Battle of the Atlantic. In June 1941, the European Axis launched an invasion of the Soviet Union, giving a start to the largest land theatre of war in history, which tied down the major part of the Axis' military forces for the rest of the war. In December 1941, Japan joined the Axis, attacked the United States and European territories in the Pacific Ocean, and quickly conquered much of the Western Pacific.
The Axis advance was stopped in 1942. Japan lost a critical battle at Midway, near Hawaii, and never regained its earlier momentum. Germany was defeated in North Africa and, decisively, at Stalingrad in Russia. In 1943, with a series of German defeats in Eastern Europe, the Allied invasion of Italy which brought about that nation's surrender and American victories in the Pacific, the Axis lost the initiative and undertook strategic retreat on all fronts. In 1944, the Western Allies invaded France, while the Soviet Union regained all of its territorial losses and invaded Germany and its allies. During 1944 and 1945 the United States defeated the Japanese Navy and captured key Western Pacific islands.
The war in Europe ended with an invasion of Germany by the Western Allies and the Soviet Union culminating in the capture of Berlin by Soviet and Polish troops and the subsequent German unconditional surrender on 8 May 1945. Following the Potsdam Declaration by the Allies on 26 July 1945, the United States dropped atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki on 6 August and 9 August respectively. With an invasion of the Japanese archipelago (known as Operation Downfall) imminent, and the Soviet Union having declared war on Japan by invading Manchuria, Japan surrendered on 15 August 1945, ending the war in Asia and cementing the total victory of the Allies over the Axis.
World War II altered the political alignment and social structure of the world. The United Nations (UN) was established to foster international co-operation and prevent future conflicts. The great powers that were the victors of the war—the United States, the Soviet Union, China, the United Kingdom, and France—became the permanent members of the United Nations Security Council. The Soviet Union and the United States emerged as rival superpowers, setting the stage for the Cold War, which lasted for the next 46 years. Meanwhile, the influence of European great powers started to decline, while the decolonization of Asia and Africa began. Most countries whose industries had been damaged moved towards economic recovery. Political integration, especially in Europe, emerged as an effort to stabilize postwar relations and cooperate more effectively in the Cold War.
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| Origin/Country: |
United States |
| Design Description: |
MODERN COMMEMORATIVES |
| Item Description: |
50C 1991-1995 P World War II Anniversary |
| Grade: |
NGC PF 69 ULTRA CAMEO |
| Research: |
View Coin |
Owner Comments
(1991-1995) World War II 50th Anniversary Coins
Public Law 102-414 102d Congress - This Act may be cited as the "World War II 50th Anniversary Commemorative Coins Act". To require the Secretary of the Treasury to mint coins in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the United States' involvement in World War II. The design of the coins shall be symbolic of the participation of the United States in World War II. In addition, the design of the gold coin shall be emblematic of the Allied victory in World War II, and the silver coin shall be emblematic of the Battle of Normandy.
• Denominations. —the secretary shall mint and issue the following coins:
Five Dollar Gold Coins
♦ Not more than 300,000 Five Dollar Gold coins and be composed of 90 percent gold and 10 percent alloy
One Dollar Silver Coins
♦ Not more than 1,000,000 One Dollar Silver coins and shall contain 90 percent silver and 10 percent
copper
Half dollar Clad Coins
♦ Not more than 2,000,000 Half Dollar Clad coins and shall contain an alloy of 75 percent copper and 25
percent nickel.
• The coins authorized under this title may be issued in uncirculated and proof qualities and only 1 facility of the
United States Mint may be used to strike any particular combination of denomination and quality for the coins
minted under this Act.
Approved October 14, 1992
(The coins minted under this title may be issued beginning January 1993. Coins may not be minted under this title after December 31,1993.)
Background
Released on May 28, 1993, this coin was authorized in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the United States’ involvement in World War II.
Characteristics
The obverse design of the coin features an American serviceman with rifle raised celebrating victory.
The reverse of the coin features "V" for victory at the center of the coin, with the Morse code cryptic for the letter "V" superimposed over the victory symbol and laurel leaves.
Recipient Organization: The Battle of Normandy Foundation and the World War II Memorial
Surcharges from coin sales were primarily to be dedicated to:
• Endow and dedicate, on the 50th Anniversary of D-Day, a United States D-Day and Battle of Normandy
Memorial in Normandy, France and to encourage and support visits to the memorial by United States citizens,
and especially students.
• Expenses incurred in establishing a memorial on Federal land in the District of Columbia or its environs to
honor members of the Armed Forces of the United States who served in World War II and to commemorate
the participation of the United States in that war.
World War II (WWII or WW2), also known as the Second World War, was a global war. It is generally considered to have lasted from 1939 to 1945, although some conflicts in Asia that are commonly viewed as becoming part of the world war had been going on earlier than that. It involved the vast majority of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis. It was the most widespread war in history, with more than 100 million people, from more than 30 different countries, serving in military units. In a state of "total war", the major participants threw their entire economic, industrial, and scientific capabilities behind the war effort, erasing the distinction between civilian and military resources. Marked by mass deaths of civilians, including the Holocaust and the only use of nuclear weapons in warfare, it resulted in an estimated 50 million to 85 million fatalities. These made World War II the deadliest conflict in human history.
The Empire of Japan aimed to dominate East Asia and was already at war with the Republic of China in 1937, but the world war is generally said to have begun on 1 September 1939 with the invasion of Poland by Germany and subsequent declarations of war on Germany by France and the United Kingdom. From late 1939 to early 1941, in a series of campaigns and treaties, Germany formed the Axis alliance with Italy, conquering or subduing much of continental Europe. Following the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact, Germany and the Soviet Union partitioned and annexed territories between themselves of their European neighbors, including Poland and the Baltic states. The United Kingdom and the other members of the British Commonwealth were the only major Allied forces continuing the fight against the Axis, with battles taking place in North Africa as well as the long-running Battle of the Atlantic. In June 1941, the European Axis launched an invasion of the Soviet Union, giving a start to the largest land theatre of war in history, which tied down the major part of the Axis' military forces for the rest of the war. In December 1941, Japan joined the Axis, attacked the United States and European territories in the Pacific Ocean, and quickly conquered much of the Western Pacific.
The Axis advance was stopped in 1942. Japan lost a critical battle at Midway, near Hawaii, and never regained its earlier momentum. Germany was defeated in North Africa and, decisively, at Stalingrad in Russia. In 1943, with a series of German defeats in Eastern Europe, the Allied invasion of Italy which brought about that nation's surrender and American victories in the Pacific, the Axis lost the initiative and undertook strategic retreat on all fronts. In 1944, the Western Allies invaded France, while the Soviet Union regained all of its territorial losses and invaded Germany and its allies. During 1944 and 1945 the United States defeated the Japanese Navy and captured key Western Pacific islands.
The war in Europe ended with an invasion of Germany by the Western Allies and the Soviet Union culminating in the capture of Berlin by Soviet and Polish troops and the subsequent German unconditional surrender on 8 May 1945. Following the Potsdam Declaration by the Allies on 26 July 1945, the United States dropped atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki on 6 August and 9 August respectively. With an invasion of the Japanese archipelago (known as Operation Downfall) imminent, and the Soviet Union having declared war on Japan by invading Manchuria, Japan surrendered on 15 August 1945, ending the war in Asia and cementing the total victory of the Allies over the Axis.
World War II altered the political alignment and social structure of the world. The United Nations (UN) was established to foster international co-operation and prevent future conflicts. The great powers that were the victors of the war—the United States, the Soviet Union, China, the United Kingdom, and France—became the permanent members of the United Nations Security Council. The Soviet Union and the United States emerged as rival superpowers, setting the stage for the Cold War, which lasted for the next 46 years. Meanwhile, the influence of European great powers started to decline, while the decolonization of Asia and Africa began. Most countries whose industries had been damaged moved towards economic recovery. Political integration, especially in Europe, emerged as an effort to stabilize postwar relations and cooperate more effectively in the Cold War.
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| Slot: |
|
| Origin/Country: |
United States |
| Design Description: |
MODERN COMMEMORATIVES |
| Item Description: |
S$1 1991-1995 D WORLD WAR II ANNIVERSARY |
| Grade: |
NGC MS 70 |
| Research: |
View Coin |
Owner Comments
World War II (WWII or WW2), also known as the Second World War, was a global war. It is generally considered to have lasted from 1939 to 1945, although some conflicts in Asia that are commonly viewed as becoming part of the world war had been going on earlier than that. It involved the vast majority of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis. It was the most widespread war in history, with more than 100 million people, from more than 30 different countries, serving in military units. In a state of "total war", the major participants threw their entire economic, industrial, and scientific capabilities behind the war effort, erasing the distinction between civilian and military resources. Marked by mass deaths of civilians, including the Holocaust and the only use of nuclear weapons in warfare, it resulted in an estimated 50 million to 85 million fatalities. These made World War II the deadliest conflict in human history.
The Empire of Japan aimed to dominate East Asia and was already at war with the Republic of China in 1937, but the world war is generally said to have begun on 1 September 1939 with the invasion of Poland by Germany and subsequent declarations of war on Germany by France and the United Kingdom. From late 1939 to early 1941, in a series of campaigns and treaties, Germany formed the Axis alliance with Italy, conquering or subduing much of continental Europe. Following the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact, Germany and the Soviet Union partitioned and annexed territories between themselves of their European neighbors, including Poland and the Baltic states. The United Kingdom and the other members of the British Commonwealth were the only major Allied forces continuing the fight against the Axis, with battles taking place in North Africa as well as the long-running Battle of the Atlantic. In June 1941, the European Axis launched an invasion of the Soviet Union, giving a start to the largest land theatre of war in history, which tied down the major part of the Axis' military forces for the rest of the war. In December 1941, Japan joined the Axis, attacked the United States and European territories in the Pacific Ocean, and quickly conquered much of the Western Pacific.
The Axis advance was stopped in 1942. Japan lost a critical battle at Midway, near Hawaii, and never regained its earlier momentum. Germany was defeated in North Africa and, decisively, at Stalingrad in Russia. In 1943, with a series of German defeats in Eastern Europe, the Allied invasion of Italy which brought about that nation's surrender and American victories in the Pacific, the Axis lost the initiative and undertook strategic retreat on all fronts. In 1944, the Western Allies invaded France, while the Soviet Union regained all of its territorial losses and invaded Germany and its allies. During 1944 and 1945 the United States defeated the Japanese Navy and captured key Western Pacific islands.
The war in Europe ended with an invasion of Germany by the Western Allies and the Soviet Union culminating in the capture of Berlin by Soviet and Polish troops and the subsequent German unconditional surrender on 8 May 1945. Following the Potsdam Declaration by the Allies on 26 July 1945, the United States dropped atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki on 6 August and 9 August respectively. With an invasion of the Japanese archipelago (known as Operation Downfall) imminent, and the Soviet Union having declared war on Japan by invading Manchuria, Japan surrendered on 15 August 1945, ending the war in Asia and cementing the total victory of the Allies over the Axis.
World War II altered the political alignment and social structure of the world. The United Nations (UN) was established to foster international co-operation and prevent future conflicts. The great powers that were the victors of the war—the United States, the Soviet Union, China, the United Kingdom, and France—became the permanent members of the United Nations Security Council. The Soviet Union and the United States emerged as rival superpowers, setting the stage for the Cold War, which lasted for the next 46 years. Meanwhile, the influence of European great powers started to decline, while the decolonization of Asia and Africa began. Most countries whose industries had been damaged moved towards economic recovery. Political integration, especially in Europe, emerged as an effort to stabilize postwar relations and cooperate more effectively in the Cold War.
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| Slot: |
|
| Origin/Country: |
United States |
| Design Description: |
MODERN COMMEMORATIVES |
| Item Description: |
50C 1991-1995 P World War II Anniversary |
| Grade: |
NGC MS 69 |
| Research: |
View Coin |
Owner Comments
World War II (WWII or WW2), also known as the Second World War, was a global war. It is generally considered to have lasted from 1939 to 1945, although some conflicts in Asia that are commonly viewed as becoming part of the world war had been going on earlier than that. It involved the vast majority of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis. It was the most widespread war in history, with more than 100 million people, from more than 30 different countries, serving in military units. In a state of "total war", the major participants threw their entire economic, industrial, and scientific capabilities behind the war effort, erasing the distinction between civilian and military resources. Marked by mass deaths of civilians, including the Holocaust and the only use of nuclear weapons in warfare, it resulted in an estimated 50 million to 85 million fatalities. These made World War II the deadliest conflict in human history.
The Empire of Japan aimed to dominate East Asia and was already at war with the Republic of China in 1937, but the world war is generally said to have begun on 1 September 1939 with the invasion of Poland by Germany and subsequent declarations of war on Germany by France and the United Kingdom. From late 1939 to early 1941, in a series of campaigns and treaties, Germany formed the Axis alliance with Italy, conquering or subduing much of continental Europe. Following the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact, Germany and the Soviet Union partitioned and annexed territories between themselves of their European neighbors, including Poland and the Baltic states. The United Kingdom and the other members of the British Commonwealth were the only major Allied forces continuing the fight against the Axis, with battles taking place in North Africa as well as the long-running Battle of the Atlantic. In June 1941, the European Axis launched an invasion of the Soviet Union, giving a start to the largest land theatre of war in history, which tied down the major part of the Axis' military forces for the rest of the war. In December 1941, Japan joined the Axis, attacked the United States and European territories in the Pacific Ocean, and quickly conquered much of the Western Pacific.
The Axis advance was stopped in 1942. Japan lost a critical battle at Midway, near Hawaii, and never regained its earlier momentum. Germany was defeated in North Africa and, decisively, at Stalingrad in Russia. In 1943, with a series of German defeats in Eastern Europe, the Allied invasion of Italy which brought about that nation's surrender and American victories in the Pacific, the Axis lost the initiative and undertook strategic retreat on all fronts. In 1944, the Western Allies invaded France, while the Soviet Union regained all of its territorial losses and invaded Germany and its allies. During 1944 and 1945 the United States defeated the Japanese Navy and captured key Western Pacific islands.
The war in Europe ended with an invasion of Germany by the Western Allies and the Soviet Union culminating in the capture of Berlin by Soviet and Polish troops and the subsequent German unconditional surrender on 8 May 1945. Following the Potsdam Declaration by the Allies on 26 July 1945, the United States dropped atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki on 6 August and 9 August respectively. With an invasion of the Japanese archipelago (known as Operation Downfall) imminent, and the Soviet Union having declared war on Japan by invading Manchuria, Japan surrendered on 15 August 1945, ending the war in Asia and cementing the total victory of the Allies over the Axis.
World War II altered the political alignment and social structure of the world. The United Nations (UN) was established to foster international co-operation and prevent future conflicts. The great powers that were the victors of the war—the United States, the Soviet Union, China, the United Kingdom, and France—became the permanent members of the United Nations Security Council. The Soviet Union and the United States emerged as rival superpowers, setting the stage for the Cold War, which lasted for the next 46 years. Meanwhile, the influence of European great powers started to decline, while the decolonization of Asia and Africa began. Most countries whose industries had been damaged moved towards economic recovery. Political integration, especially in Europe, emerged as an effort to stabilize postwar relations and cooperate more effectively in the Cold War.
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| Slot: |
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| Origin/Country: |
United States |
| Design Description: |
MODERN COMMEMORATIVES |
| Item Description: |
S$1 1994 P Prisoner of War Museum |
| Grade: |
NGC PF 69 ULTRA CAMEO |
| Research: |
View Coin |
Owner Comments
The National Prisoner of War Museum is dedicated to the men and women of this country who suffered captivity so that others may remain free. Their story is one of sacrifice and courage; their legacy, the gift of liberty.
The museum was officially opened and dedicated on April 9, 1999. The concept of a museum to honor all prisoners of war in American History goes back to the legislation passed by Congress in 1970 that made Andersonville a unit of the National Park Service. The law that created the National Historic Site specified that the park is preserved to tell the Andersonville story, the story of all Civil War POW camps (north and south) and the story of all POWs in American History. In the 1980's the park staff developed a partnership with the American Ex-Prisoners of War that led to a small temporary POW museum on the park grounds.
A visit to the National P.O.W. Museum can be an emotional experience. The architecture of the building, works of art, displays, and video presentations all work together to tell the story of the prisoner of war experience.
The museum is not divided by wars. Exhibits include prisoners of war from all wars together in one setting. Prisoners of war have faced the same hardships since the American Revolution. The story being told is not that of a single war, but that of all prisoners of war.
Half of the funds to establish the museum came from donations. The majority of these funds came from the sale of the Prisoner of War Commemorative Coin.
One of the few civil things about the Civil War were its gentlemanly prisoner exchanges; POWs of each side would be swapped for the other. That ended when the North realized that it was restocking the South's dwindling supply of soldiers, and led to the creation of giant POW camps in the North and South.
The worst was at Andersonville, Georgia. It was little more than an open field, surrounded by 15-foot-high walls made of tree trunks. Nearly 30 percent of its 45,000 Union prisoners died in only 14 months.
The Andersonville prison eventually became a National Historic Site, and its infamy made it a natural spot for the National POW Museum, which opened in 1998.
Visitors enter through a dark room, and suddenly hear the wail of sirens. Crazy-swirling spotlights appear, revealing dozens of rifle muzzles poking out of the walls, directly at you. You've been captured!
Sad music plays softly throughout the galleries. Plate steel display cases convey an institutional starkness, and POWs don't have many possessions to exhibit anyway. We saw sandals made of straw, socks knitted from string, a suit made of tent canvas. Some prisoners from the War of 1812 had the time to make a fully-rigged sailing ship model out of beef, mutton, and pork bones -- but the general impression is that most American POWs have had little time for hobbies or access to meat.
The museum's most elaborate presentation is about Americans captured in the Vietnam War. Peering through a slot in a wall reveals a dark chamber containing the dummy of a grim, barefoot POW sitting on a thin straw mat, manacled to a concrete slab. The sound of sickly coughing fills the cell, along with harsh commands barked over a loudspeaker ("On your feet! No talking!"), and the droning monotone of a prisoner reading antiwar statements at a staged North Vietnamese press conference. Next to the cell stands a life-size bamboo "tiger cage" (built for the museum by the U.S. military).
More recent artifacts in the museum include the flight suit worn by a woman Army surgeon who was shot down during the Gulf War, and a display titled "The First 21st Century American POWs," whose six members included a single mom, a Filipino- and a Mexican-American, and two soldiers over 30. Diversity, yay!
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| Slot: |
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| Origin/Country: |
United States |
| Design Description: |
MODERN COMMEMORATIVES |
| Item Description: |
S$1 1994 P Vietnam Veterans Memorial |
| Grade: |
NGC PF 69 ULTRA CAMEO |
| Research: |
View Coin |
Owner Comments
The Vietnam Veterans Memorial is a national memorial in Washington, D.C. It honors U.S. service members of the U.S. armed forces who fought in the Vietnam War, service members who died in service in Vietnam/South East Asia, and those service members who were unaccounted for (Missing In Action) during the War.
Its construction and related issues have been the source of controversies, some of which have resulted in additions to the memorial complex. The memorial currently consists of three separate parts: the Three Soldiers statue, the Vietnam Women's Memorial, and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall, which is the best-known part of the memorial.
The main part of the memorial, which was completed in 1982, is in Constitution Gardens adjacent to the National Mall, just northeast of the Lincoln Memorial. The memorial is maintained by the U.S. National Park Service, and receives around 3 million visitors each year. The Memorial Wall was designed by American architect Maya Lin. The typesetting of the original 58,195 names on the wall was performed by Datalantic in Atlanta, Georgia. In 2007, it was ranked tenth on the "List of America's Favorite Architecture" by the American Institute of Architects.
Memorial Wall
The Memorial Wall, designed by Maya Lin, is made up of two gabbro walls 246 feet 9 inches (75 m) long.[3][4] The walls are sunk into the ground, with the earth behind them. At the highest tip (the apex where they meet), they are 10.1 feet (3 m) high, and they taper to a height of eight inches (20 cm) at their extremities. Stone for the wall came from Bangalore, Karnataka, India, and was deliberately chosen because of its reflective quality. Stone cutting and fabrication was done in Barre, Vermont. Stones were then shipped to Memphis, Tennessee where the names were etched. The etching was completed using a photoemulsion and sandblasting process. The negatives used in the process are in storage at the Smithsonian Institution. When a visitor looks upon the wall, his or her reflection can be seen simultaneously with the engraved names, which is meant to symbolically bring the past and present together. One wall points toward the Washington Monument, the other in the direction of the Lincoln Memorial, meeting at an angle of 125° 12'. Each wall has 72 panels, 70 listing names (numbered 1E through 70E and 70W through 1W) and 2 very small blank panels at the extremities. There is a pathway along the base of the Wall, where visitors may walk, read the names, make a pencil rubbing of a particular name, or pray.
One panel of 'The Wall', displaying some of the names of fallen U.S. service members from the Vietnam War.
Inscribed on the walls with the Optima typeface are the names of servicemen who were either confirmed to be KIA (Killed in Action) or remained classified as MIA (Missing in Action) when the walls were constructed in 1982. They are listed in chronological order, starting at the apex on panel 1E in 1959 (although it was later discovered that the first casualties were military advisers who were killed by artillery fire in 1957), moving day by day to the end of the eastern wall at panel 70E, which ends on May 25, 1968, starting again at panel 70W at the end of the western wall which completes the list for May 25, 1968, and returning to the apex at panel 1W in 1975. Symbolically, this is described as a "wound that is closed and healing." Information about rank, unit, and decorations are not given. The wall listed 58,191 names when it was completed in 1983; as of May 2011, there are 58,272 names, including 8 women. Approximately 1,200 of these are listed as missing (MIAs, POWs, and others), denoted with a cross; the confirmed dead are marked with a diamond. If the missing return alive, the cross is circumscribed by a circle (although this has never occurred as of March 2009); if their death is confirmed, a diamond is superimposed over the cross. According to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, "there is no definitive answer to exactly how many, but there could be as many as 38 names of personnel who survived, but through clerical errors, were added to the list of fatalities provided by the Department of Defense." Directories are located on nearby podiums so that visitors may locate specific names.
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| Slot: |
|
| Origin/Country: |
United States |
| Design Description: |
MODERN COMMEMORATIVES |
| Item Description: |
S$1 1994 P Women Veterans Memorial |
| Grade: |
NGC PF 69 ULTRA CAMEO |
| Research: |
View Coin |
Owner Comments
The Women in Military Service for America Memorial is located at the Ceremonial Entrance to Arlington National Cemetery and honors all women who have served in the United States Armed Forces. New York architects Marion Weiss and Michael Manfredi, husband and wife, designed the memorial. Planning for the memorial began as early as 1985, with the groundbreaking occurring 10 years later on June 22, 1995. The Memorial was dedicated on October 18, 1997, and officially opened to the public on October 20, 1997.
The Women in Military Service for America Memorial serves as a gateway to Arlington National Cemetery. The Visitors Center is located here and is a resource for maps and guidebooks. The memorial has indoor exhibits that showcase the roles women have played in America's military history. There are film presentations, a 196-seat theater, and a Hall of Honor which provides recognition to women who died in service, were prisoners of war or were recipients of awards for service and bravery.
The Women in Military Service for America Memorial is located at the end of Memorial Drive directly across Memorial Bridge from the Lincoln Memorial. The memorial is easily accessible from the Arlington Cemetery Metro stop.
President Ronald Reagan signed legislation authorizing the Women's Memorial in Washington, D.C., into law on Nov. 6, 1986. The Memorial is at the historic grand entrance and hemicycle at the gateway to Arlington National Cemetery. It stands in lasting recognition of all women who have served, are serving and will serve in our nation's defense.
The Register
The individual stories of servicewomen past and present are contained in the Register which is appropriately located along the historic axis of the Mall. This historic line is visible outside the Memorial with grey cobblestones running East and West along Memorial Drive. Inside the Education Center, this historic axis is visible in polished black granite from behind the Great Niche through the Register Room.
Quotations
Quotations etched into an arch of glass tablets represents a collective journal of women's voices. The journal's pages are spread open on the upper terrace. Like a floating horizon above the space below, the women's voices are etched in glass. The tablets are inscribed with quotations by and about women who served--a story for everyone to read.
History
An estimated 6,000 witnessed the Memorial's groundbreaking ceremonies on June 22, 1995. Construction began in March 1996. The Memorial was dedicated on Oct. 18, 1997 by Vice President and Mrs. Al Gore; distinguished guests; retired Air Force Brig. Gen. Wilma L. Vaught and President of the WIMSA Memorial Foundation; and thousands of active-duty servicewomen, women veterans and their families and friends.
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| Slot: |
|
| Origin/Country: |
United States |
| Design Description: |
MODERN COMMEMORATIVES |
| Item Description: |
S$1 1994 W VIETNAM VETERANS MEMORIAL |
| Grade: |
NGC MS 69 |
| Research: |
View Coin |
Owner Comments
The Vietnam Veterans Memorial is a national memorial in Washington, D.C. It honors U.S. service members of the U.S. armed forces who fought in the Vietnam War, service members who died in service in Vietnam/South East Asia, and those service members who were unaccounted for (Missing In Action) during the War.
Its construction and related issues have been the source of controversies, some of which have resulted in additions to the memorial complex. The memorial currently consists of three separate parts: the Three Soldiers statue, the Vietnam Women's Memorial, and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall, which is the best-known part of the memorial.
The main part of the memorial, which was completed in 1982, is in Constitution Gardens adjacent to the National Mall, just northeast of the Lincoln Memorial. The memorial is maintained by the U.S. National Park Service, and receives around 3 million visitors each year. The Memorial Wall was designed by American architect Maya Lin. The typesetting of the original 58,195 names on the wall was performed by Datalantic in Atlanta, Georgia. In 2007, it was ranked tenth on the "List of America's Favorite Architecture" by the American Institute of Architects.
Memorial Wall
The Memorial Wall, designed by Maya Lin, is made up of two gabbro walls 246 feet 9 inches (75 m) long.[3][4] The walls are sunk into the ground, with the earth behind them. At the highest tip (the apex where they meet), they are 10.1 feet (3 m) high, and they taper to a height of eight inches (20 cm) at their extremities. Stone for the wall came from Bangalore, Karnataka, India, and was deliberately chosen because of its reflective quality. Stone cutting and fabrication was done in Barre, Vermont. Stones were then shipped to Memphis, Tennessee where the names were etched. The etching was completed using a photoemulsion and sandblasting process. The negatives used in the process are in storage at the Smithsonian Institution. When a visitor looks upon the wall, his or her reflection can be seen simultaneously with the engraved names, which is meant to symbolically bring the past and present together. One wall points toward the Washington Monument, the other in the direction of the Lincoln Memorial, meeting at an angle of 125° 12'. Each wall has 72 panels, 70 listing names (numbered 1E through 70E and 70W through 1W) and 2 very small blank panels at the extremities. There is a pathway along the base of the Wall, where visitors may walk, read the names, make a pencil rubbing of a particular name, or pray.
One panel of 'The Wall', displaying some of the names of fallen U.S. service members from the Vietnam War.
Inscribed on the walls with the Optima typeface are the names of servicemen who were either confirmed to be KIA (Killed in Action) or remained classified as MIA (Missing in Action) when the walls were constructed in 1982. They are listed in chronological order, starting at the apex on panel 1E in 1959 (although it was later discovered that the first casualties were military advisers who were killed by artillery fire in 1957), moving day by day to the end of the eastern wall at panel 70E, which ends on May 25, 1968, starting again at panel 70W at the end of the western wall which completes the list for May 25, 1968, and returning to the apex at panel 1W in 1975. Symbolically, this is described as a "wound that is closed and healing." Information about rank, unit, and decorations are not given. The wall listed 58,191 names when it was completed in 1983; as of May 2011, there are 58,272 names, including 8 women. Approximately 1,200 of these are listed as missing (MIAs, POWs, and others), denoted with a cross; the confirmed dead are marked with a diamond. If the missing return alive, the cross is circumscribed by a circle (although this has never occurred as of March 2009); if their death is confirmed, a diamond is superimposed over the cross. According to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, "there is no definitive answer to exactly how many, but there could be as many as 38 names of personnel who survived, but through clerical errors, were added to the list of fatalities provided by the Department of Defense." Directories are located on nearby podiums so that visitors may locate specific names.
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| Slot: |
|
| Origin/Country: |
United States |
| Design Description: |
MODERN COMMEMORATIVES |
| Item Description: |
S$1 1994 W WOMEN VETERANS MEMORIAL |
| Grade: |
NGC MS 69 |
| Research: |
View Coin |
Owner Comments
The Women in Military Service for America Memorial is located at the Ceremonial Entrance to Arlington National Cemetery and honors all women who have served in the United States Armed Forces. New York architects Marion Weiss and Michael Manfredi, husband and wife, designed the memorial. Planning for the memorial began as early as 1985, with the groundbreaking occurring 10 years later on June 22, 1995. The Memorial was dedicated on October 18, 1997, and officially opened to the public on October 20, 1997.
The Women in Military Service for America Memorial serves as a gateway to Arlington National Cemetery. The Visitors Center is located here and is a resource for maps and guidebooks. The memorial has indoor exhibits that showcase the roles women have played in America's military history. There are film presentations, a 196-seat theater, and a Hall of Honor which provides recognition to women who died in service, were prisoners of war or were recipients of awards for service and bravery.
The Women in Military Service for America Memorial is located at the end of Memorial Drive directly across Memorial Bridge from the Lincoln Memorial. The memorial is easily accessible from the Arlington Cemetery Metro stop.
President Ronald Reagan signed legislation authorizing the Women's Memorial in Washington, D.C., into law on Nov. 6, 1986. The Memorial is at the historic grand entrance and hemicycle at the gateway to Arlington National Cemetery. It stands in lasting recognition of all women who have served, are serving and will serve in our nation's defense.
The Register
The individual stories of servicewomen past and present are contained in the Register which is appropriately located along the historic axis of the Mall. This historic line is visible outside the Memorial with grey cobblestones running East and West along Memorial Drive. Inside the Education Center, this historic axis is visible in polished black granite from behind the Great Niche through the Register Room.
Quotations
Quotations etched into an arch of glass tablets represents a collective journal of women's voices. The journal's pages are spread open on the upper terrace. Like a floating horizon above the space below, the women's voices are etched in glass. The tablets are inscribed with quotations by and about women who served--a story for everyone to read.
History
An estimated 6,000 witnessed the Memorial's groundbreaking ceremonies on June 22, 1995. Construction began in March 1996. The Memorial was dedicated on Oct. 18, 1997 by Vice President and Mrs. Al Gore; distinguished guests; retired Air Force Brig. Gen. Wilma L. Vaught and President of the WIMSA Memorial Foundation; and thousands of active-duty servicewomen, women veterans and their families and friends.
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