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.