| The U.S. Mint has been authorized by the U.S. | | | | represents the gift that was given to the U.S. by |
| Congress to produce a variety of United States | | | | France and has become a symbol of freedom |
| Commemorative Coins over the years. These | | | | and democracy. |
| coins are produced to commemorate (celebrate | | | | There are many examples of events that have |
| and/or honor) people, places, events or institutions | | | | been memorialized on U.S. Commemorative Coins. |
| and are usually divided into Old (1892-1981) and | | | | In 2007, a Silver Commemorative Dollar was |
| Modern (1982-present) coins. | | | | issued to remember the Little Rock Central High |
| There have been many people that have been | | | | School, where the desegregation movement |
| memorialized on U.S. Commemorative Coins. In | | | | began. The Wright Brother's First Flight and the |
| recent years, famous people like Benjamin | | | | Bicentennial of the Lewis & Clark Expedition |
| Franklin, Chief Justice John Marshall, Thomas | | | | were also honored. |
| Edison and Leif Erickson have been honored. In | | | | The Olympic Games have been honored many |
| 1992, Christopher Columbus was commemorated | | | | times including the most recent Olympics held in |
| on a Commemorative Gold Coin ($5) as well as a | | | | the U.S., the 2002 Olympic Winter Games (Salt |
| Silver Dollar and half dollar. Older examples of | | | | Lake City, Utah). The Centennial Olympics were |
| people commemorated include Queen Isabella of | | | | honored in 1995 and 1996 with at least 16 |
| Spain, Daniel Boone and Ulysses S. Grant. | | | | different Commemorative Coins. The Olympic |
| Examples of places that were honored include the | | | | Games were produced on U.S. Commemorative |
| White House with the 200th Anniversary Dollar | | | | Coins in 1992 (France and Spain), 1988 (Seoul, |
| issued in 1992, the West Point Bicentennial Coin | | | | Korea), and 1983 and 1984 to honor the Olympic |
| (2002) and the Smithsonian 150th Anniversary in | | | | Games held in Los Angeles. |
| 1996 with a Commemorative $5 Gold coin. | | | | All four of the following; the Bill of Rights, Civil |
| The Korean War Memorial Silver Dollar was | | | | War Battlefield, World War II and the Constitution |
| produced as a Mint Commemorative Coin in 1991 | | | | Bicentennial were memorialized with |
| and the Vietnam War Memorial Silver Dollar was | | | | commemorative five dollar gold coins and Silver |
| produced in 1994 for the 10th Anniversary of the | | | | Dollars (all but the Constitution Bicentennial were |
| Memorial, but it could be argued that both | | | | also issued in half dollar Commemorative coins as |
| Memorials honor the men that fought and died in | | | | well). |
| these wars as much if not more than the | | | | And finally, institutions have been memorialized on |
| memorials themselves. | | | | U.S. Commemorative Coins including the U.S. |
| Same is true for the Statue of Liberty that was | | | | Marine Corps (230th Anniversary) with a |
| honored with three Coins in 1986, a $5 Gold Coin, | | | | Commemorative Silver Dollar and in 2000, the |
| a Silver Dollar coin and half dollar. The Statue of | | | | Library of Congress. |
| Liberty is a place to be honored, but also it | | | | |