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United States Army Commemorative Coin Act of 2008
Public Law 110–450 110th Congress - To require the Secretary of the Treasury to mint coins in recognition and celebration of the establishment of the United States Army in 1775, to honor the American soldier of both today and yesterday, in wartime and in peace, and to commemorate the traditions, history, and heritage of the United States Army and its role in American society, from the colonial period to today. The design of the coins minted under this Act shall be emblematic of the traditions, history, and heritage of the United States Army, and its role in American society from the colonial period to today.
• The Congress finds that
the United States Army, founded in 1775, has served this country well for over 230 years;
the United States Army has played a decisive role in protecting and defending freedom
throughout the history of the United States, from the Colonial period to today, in wartime and in
peace, and has consistently answered the call to serve the American people at home and abroad
since the Revolutionary War;
the sacrifice of the American soldier, of all ranks, since the earliest days of the Republic has been
immense and is deserving of the unique recognition bestowed by commemorative coinage;
the Army, the Nation’s oldest and largest military service, is the only service branch that currently
does not have a comprehensive national museum celebrating, preserving, and displaying its
heritage and honoring its veterans;
the National Museum of the United States Army will be:
♦ the Army’s only service-wide, national museum honoring all soldiers, of all ranks, in all
branches since 1775; and
♦ located at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, across the Potomac River from the Nation’s Capitol, a 10-
minute drive from Mount Vernon, the home of the Army’s first Commander-in-Chief, and
astride the Civil War’s decisive Washington-Richmond corridor;
the Army Historical Foundation (hereafter in this Act referred to as the ‘‘Foundation’’), founded in
1983
♦ is dedicated to preserving the history and heritage of the American soldier; and
♦ seeks to educate future Americans to fully appreciate the sacrifices that generations of
American soldiers have made to safeguard the freedoms of this Nation;
the completion and opening to the public of the National Museum of the United States Army will
immeasurably help in fulfilling that mission;
the Foundation is a nongovernmental, member-based, and publicly supported nonprofit
organization that is dependent on funds from members, donations, and grants for support;
the Foundation uses such support to help create the National Museum of the United States Army,
refurbish historical Army buildings, acquire and conserve Army historical art and artifacts, support
Army history educational programs, for research, and publication of historical materials on the
American soldier, and to provide support and counsel to private and governmental organizations
committed to the same goals as the Foundation;
in 2000, the Secretary of the Army designated the Foundation as its primary partner in the building
of the National Museum of the United States Army; and
the Foundation is actively engaged in executing a major capital campaign to support the National
Museum of the United States Army.
• Coin Specifications.
Denominations. In recognition and celebration of the founding of the United States Army in 1775,
and notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary of the Treasury shall mint and issue
the following coins:
♦ $5 Gold Coins. Not more than 100,000 $5 coins and contain 90 percent gold and 10 percent
alloy. The Gold five-dollar proof is minted at West Point; the Gold five-dollar uncirculated is
minted at Philadelphia.
♦ $1 Silver Coins. Not more than 500,000 $1 coins and shall contain 90 percent silver and 10
percent copper. The silver dollar proof is minted at Philadelphia; the silver dollar uncirculated is
minted at San Francisco.
♦ Half Dollar Clad Coins. Not more than 750,000 half dollar coins contain an alloy of 75 percent
copper and 25 percent nickel. The silver dollar proof is minted at San Francisco; the silver
dollar uncirculated is minted at Denver.
• Coins minted under this Act shall be issued in uncirculated and proof qualities. For each of the 3 coins
minted under this Act, at least 1 facility of the United States Mint shall be used to strike proof quality
coins, while at least 1 other such facility shall be used to strike the uncirculated quality coins.
Approved: December 1, 2008.(The Secretary may issue coins minted under this Act only during the 1-year period beginning on January 1, 2011.)
Background
United States Army Commemorative Coin Program
Founded in 1775, the United States Army has served this country well for 236 years. It has played a decisive role in protecting and defending freedom throughout our history and has consistently answered the call to serve the American people at home and abroad since the Revolutionary War. More than 30 million American men and women have served in the U.S. Army since its founding.
The Secretary of the Treasury is authorized to mint and issue $5 gold, $1 silver and half-dollar clad coins in recognition and celebration of the founding of the U.S. Army. As authorized, the United States Mint will produce gold, silver and clad coins in both proof and uncirculated qualities. The designs are emblematic of the traditions, history and heritage of the U.S. Army and its role in American society from the Colonial period to today.
Characteristics
Five Dollar Gold Coin
Obverse: This design represents the U.S. Army's war service from the Revolutionary War through today, symbolizing its continuity of strength and readiness. The design features, from left to right, Continental, Civil War, modern, World War II and World War I soldiers.
Reverse: This design is based on the official U.S. Army emblem and represents the unbroken history of loyalty and commitment to defend the Nation.
$1 Dollar Silver Coin
Obverse: This design depicts the busts of a male and female soldier, symbolizing worldwide deployment of the 21st century U.S. Army.
Reverse: This design symbolizes the seven core values of the U.S. Army. The design features an image of the Great Seal of the United States, worn on Army dress and service uniforms since the early 1800's.
Clad Half Dollar Coin
Obverse: This design represents significant contributions of the U.S. Army during peacetime and features a U.S. Army soldier surveying, two servicemen building a flood wall and a Redstone Army rocket used during early space exploration.
Reverse: This design symbolizes the U.S. Army as the first military service to defend the country and its key role in the Nation's internal development. It features an enlisted Continental soldier armed with a musket and 13 stars representing the original Colonies.
Recipient Organization: Army Historical Foundation
All surcharges received by the Secretary from the sale of coins issued under this Act shall be promptly paid by the Secretary to the Foundation to help finance the National Museum of the United States Army.