After Congress limited the number of commemorative programs to just two per year, the United States commemoratives in general started running more smoothly despite sales dropping from previous years. Collectors still found themselves burnt out on commemoratives and this sentiment would continue throughout the decade and into the new millennium. However, a design that took years to get on a commemorative would revive interest in the program in 2001.
(2000) Library of Congress Bicentennial
The start of the new century would start with a bang in the commemorative coin program as the 2000 Library of Congress Bicentennial series would not only feature a silver dollar in Uncirculated and Proof finishes but also the U.S. Mint’s first and only ringed bimetallic coin. The $10 coin is comprised of a .900 gold ring and a quarter ounce center of .9995 fine platinum. The Mint produced an Uncirculated and Proof version of the coin with the Uncirculated only having a mintage of 7,261.
(2001) American Buffalo
Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell from Colorado, after years and years of campaigning for the design, was finally able to get Congress to approve the rebirth of James Earle Fraser’s Indian Head/Buffalo nickel. The Mint offered the silver dollar adaptation, and it sold out completely. The entire mintage, including the Uncirculated silver dollar from Denver (227,131) and the Proof silver dollar from Philadelphia (27,869), was sold in record time.
In addition, the Mint offered a 2-coin set that featured one each of the silver dollars and a Coin & Currency Set that featured the Uncirculated silver dollar, face reprint of the 1899 $5 Indian Chief Silver Certificate, the 1987 Chief Red Cloud 10c stamp, and a 2001 Bison 21c stamp. The American Buffalo commemorative proved to the Mint that the popularity of the coin had more to do with how the coin looked than the meaning or theme behind it.
(2006) Benjamin Franklin Tercentenary
One of the commemorative programs featured in 2006 was in honor of the 300th anniversary of the birth of Benjamin Franklin. Most famous for being a Founding Father of the United States, Franklin appears on two different silver dollar commemoratives celebrating two different eras of his life. The first was named the “Scientists” in honor of his contributions as a scientist, inventor, and writer. The second was named “Founding Father” and highlighted his key figure status in the American Revolution. Each version of the silver dollar was struck in Proof and Uncirculated condition.
A Coin & Chronicles set was also offered featuring the Uncirculated “Scientist” silver dollar, four themed 39c postage stamps, Poor Richard’s Almanack replica, and an intaglio print. A 2006 American Legacy Set (minted 2005-2008) also featured the Proof “Founding Father” silver dollar in addition to the Proof San Francisco Old Mint commemorative silver dollar. The set included a Proof cent, nickel, dime, quarter, half dollar, and Sacagawea dollar as well.
(2014) National Baseball Hall of Fame
In 2014, the National Baseball Hall of Fame, located in Cooperstown, New York, celebrated its 75th anniversary. To celebrate America’s favorite pastime, the Mint released a commemorative series that featured a clad half dollar, silver dollar, and a $5 gold coin. Each denomination had a Proof and Uncirculated version. All the coins were concave which was a first for the Mint. The silver dollars combined sold nearly 400,000 coins, which was its limit distribution. The half dollars sold 391,454 combined, making it the most sold half dollar commemorative coin since the 1994 World Cup issue.
In addition to the individual coins, a Young Collectors Set featuring the Uncirculated half dollar was produced.
(2019) Apollo 11 50th Anniversary
The 50th anniversary of Apollo 11 and the moon landing would bring about a commemorative series in 2019 comprised of seven different coins. All the coins would be concave on the obverse and convex on the reverse, making it the very first series to introduce the technology to every coin in the series. Featured are the clad half dollar in Uncirculated and Proof, the silver dollar in Uncirculated and Proof, a 5oz silver dollar in Proof, and a $5 gold coin in Uncirculated and Proof. The 5oz silver dollar was also the first to be added to a commemorative coin program and the first to be curved and to be Proof.
All the coins feature the same design of a boot print on the moon’s surface on the obverse. The reverse depicts the visor and helmet of Buzz Aldrin’s space suit. In the distance reflected in the helmet, you can see Neil Armstrong, an American flag, and The Eagle, which is the Lunar Module.
Also available from the Mint was a 2-coin half dollar set comprised of an Apollo 11 commemorative and a specially struck Kennedy half dollar with an Enhanced Reverse Proof finish. President John F. Kennedy played a significant role in the Apollo space program and therefore was included in the series.
Other Commemorative Programs
Several commemoratives were issued in the 2000s and continue to be. Those not mentioned above are as follows: (2000) Leif Ericson Millennium, (2001) U.S. Capitol Visitor Center, (2002) Salt Lake City Olympic Games, (2002) West Point Bicentennial, (2003) First Flight Centennial, (2004) Thomas Alva Edison, (2004) Lewis and Clark Bicentennial, (2005) Chief Justice John Marshall, (2005) Marine Corps 230th Anniversary, (2006) San Francisco Old Mint Centennial, (2007) Jamestown 400th Anniversary, (2007) Little Rock Central High School Desegregation, (2008) Bald Eagle Recovery and National Emblem, (2009) Louis Braille Bicentennial, (2009) Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial, (2010) American Veterans Disabled for Life, (2010) Boy Scouts of America Centennial, (2011) Medal of Honor, (2011) U.S. Army, (2012) Infantry Soldier, (2012) Star-Spangled Banner, (2013) Girl Scouts of the U.S.A. Centennial, (2013) 5-Star Generals, (2014) Civil Rights Acts of 1964, (2015) U.S. Marshals Service 225th Anniversary, (2015) March of Dimes 75th Anniversary, (2016) Mark Twain, (2016) National Park Service 100th Anniversary, (2017) Lions Club International Century of Service, (2017) Boys Town Centennial, (2018) World War I Centennial, (2018) Breast Cancer Awareness, (2019) American Legion 100th Anniversary, (2020) Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame 60th Anniversary, (2020) Women’s Suffrage Centennial, (2021) Christa McAuliffe, (2021) National Law Enforcement Memorial and Museum, (2022) National Purple Heart Hall of Honor, (2022) Negro Leagues Baseball, (2024) Greatest Generation, (2024) Harriet Tubman Bicentennial, and the most current, (2025) U.S. Marine Corps 250th Anniversary.
Source: NGC Coin; The Official 2025 Red Book
