The US Mint has unveiled the final designs for the 2018 World War I Centennial silver dollar coin. The unveiling took place during the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) Annual Meeting and Exposition at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C.
Final Design for 2018 WWI Centennial Silver Dollar coin Obverse
Utah Based artist and sculptor LeRoy Transfield was revealed as the winner of a public design competition to decide the designs for the coin, in accordance with The World War I American Veterans Centennial Commemorative Coin Act (Public Law 113–212).
The obverse design, titled “Soldier’s Charge” depicts an almost stone-like soldier gripping a rifle. Barbed wire twines in the lower right-hand side of the design. Inscriptions are “LIBERTY”, “1918”, “2018” and “IN GOD WE TRUST.”
Final Design for 2018 WWI Centennial Silver Dollar coin Reverse
The wire design element continues onto the reverse design, titled “Poppies in the Wire” which features abstract poppies mixed in with barbed wire. Inscriptions include “ONE DOLLAR”, “E PLURIBUS UNUM” and “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA”.
Present at the unveiling ceremony was the Chief of the US Mint's Office of Corporate Communications, Thomas Johnson , who had the following remarks on the designs and the importance of the upcoming new coin release :
“Our team at the U.S. Mint is proud to have the honor of crafting the coin that will commemorate the contributions and the history made by American men and women—of all walks of life—who bravely stepped forward 100 years ago to defend the interests of the nation and that of her allies”
The coin is scheduled for release during 2018 and will be struck from .900 Fineness silver, with an authorised mintage of no more than 350 000 coins combined for both proof and uncirculated strikes.
The coin was sculpted by now retired US Mint sculptor-engraver Don Everhart.
As has become custom over the past several years, a surcharge of $10 will be added to the price of each commemorative coin, which the US Mint is authorised to pay to the United States Foundation for the Commemoration of the World Wars to assist the World War I Centennial Commission in commemorating the centenary of World War I.