US Mint Releases 2018 WWI Centennial Silver Dollar and Medals


The United States Mint has opened the sales of both the 2018 World War I Centennial Silver dollar coin, as well at the companion silver medal sets that accompany the coin's release this year.

USA 2018 WWI Centennial Silver Dollar Coin Reverse

USA 2018 WWI Centennial Silver Dollar Coin Reverse

The 2018 World War I commemorative Silver dollar coin was designed by Utah Based artist LeRoy Transfield and the sculpted by former US Mint Chief Engraver Don Everhart. The coin is intended to commemorate the centennial of America’s involvement in World War I and honor the more than 4 million American men and women who served, both their country and the cause of freedom around the world in all branches of service during “the great war”.

The coin's obverse design is entitled “Soldier's Charge” and depicts a very stoic image of a soldier gripping a rifle. Twisted twines of barbed wire transect the lower right-hand side of the design. Inscriptions read “LIBERTY” and “IN GOD WE TRUST” with the dates “1918” and “2018” appearing to the lower left of the coin.

USA 2018 WWI Centennial Silver Dollar Coin Reverse

USA 2018 WWI Centennial Silver Dollar Coin Reverse

The reverse in turn in entitled “Poppies in the Wire” and which continues the barbed wire design that started ion the obverse. This time though it is in the background and contrasted by an array of wild Flanders poppies mixed in the foreground. The reverse legend reads : “ONE DOLLAR”, “E PLURIBUS UNUM” and “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.” The coin bears the “P” mint mark for the Philadelphia mint.

The Coin is available to order in both proof and uncirculated versions, with a maximum mintage of 350 000 coins across all product options. The Mint is releasing the coin at an introductory price of $51.95 for the proof version and $48.95 for the uncirculated coin. Both the proof and uncirculated versions will be shipped in a black velvet lined, US Mint branded, clam shell-style presentation box with accompanying certificate of authenticity.

The introductory price will last until February 20, 2018, at 3 p.m. ET, after which the regular price of $56.95 for the proof coin and $53.95 for the uncirculated version will take effect. There is no order limit on this coin.

USA 2018 WWI Centennial Silver Dollar Coin in Box

USA 2018 WWI Centennial Silver Dollar Coin in Box

The price of each coin includes a $10 surcharge, which is authorised by law to be paid to the

United States Foundation for the Commemoration of the World Wars. The funds raised from the surcharge is set to facilitate the construction of a new National World War I Memorial in Washington, D.C. The Memorial, which was authorised by Congress in 2014, will be located at Pershing Park, on Pennsylvania Avenue NW and 14th Street NW, a block from the White House.

In addition to the silver Dollar coins, the mint is also releasing five companion medal sets. Each set contains two pieces. The 2018 World War I Centennial Silver Dollar coin as well as a specially designed silver medal, representative of each of the five branches of the US Military that were involved in World War I. Both The coin and medal are struck from .900 fineness silver and measure 1.5 inches or 38.1 mm each.

USA WWI Centennial Army Silver Medal Obverse

USA WWI Centennial Army Silver Medal Obverse

The first medal honours the US Army, and will be minted at the West Point Mint, it depicts a soldier cutting through German barbed wire, while a second soldier aims a rifle amid a shattered landscape of broken trees and cratered earth. While a shell explodes in the distance. The reverse features the United States Army emblem, which was also in use during World War I, with the inscriptions “OVER THERE!”, “CENTENNIAL OF WORLD WAR I”, “2018” and “UNITED STATES ARMY.”

USA WWI Centennial Navy Silver Medal Obverse

USA WWI Centennial Navy Silver Medal Obverse

The second medal is dedicated to the US Navy during WWI. It depicts a U.S. Navy destroyer on escort duty after deploying a depth charge in defence of a convoy. Above the destroyer, kite balloons provide Navy personnel a platform to spot submarines and other dangers. The inscription of “OVER THERE!” appears at the bottom of the design. The reverse features an Officer’s Cap Device* used in World War I. Inscriptions are “UNITED STATES NAVY”, “2018,” and “CENTENNIAL OF WORLD WAR I”. This piece will be struck at the Philadelphia Mint.

USA WWI Centennial Air Service Silver Medal Obverse

USA WWI Centennial Air Service Silver Medal Obverse

Then we move on to the newly formed US Air Service, what would later become the modern Air Force. The Denver Mint has been chosen to produce this medal. The obverse depicts the iconic SPAD XIII, a World War I fighter flown by many Americans and valued for its speed, strength, and firepower, viewed from both the top and side. The inscription “SPAD XIII” identifies the aircraft. The reverse design features the Military Aviator Insignia with the inscriptions “CENTENNIAL OF WORLD WAR I”, “2018”, “OVER THERE!”, “AIR SERVICE,” and “AMERICAN EXPEDITIONARY FORCES”.

USA WWI Centennial Marines  Silver Medal Obverse

USA WWI Centennial Marines Silver Medal Obverse

From there we find the Marine Corps silver medal, set to be minted by the San Francisco Mint. The obverse depicts the aftermath of the Battle of Belleau Wood. One Marine stands guard as the other kneels to pay respect to the fallen. The inscription quotes a report to the American Expeditionary Forces: “WOODS NOW U.S. MARINE CORPS ENTIRELY.” The reverse features the World War I-era version of the Eagle, Globe, and Anchor emblem with the inscriptions “CENTENNIAL OF WORLD WAR I”, “2018”, “OVER THERE!” and “BATTLE OF BELLEAU WOOD”.

USA WWI Centennial Coast Guard Silver Medal Obverse

USA WWI Centennial Coast Guard Silver Medal Obverse

Then finally the fifth medal is intended to commemorate the US Coast Guard. The obverse depicts a lifeboat from the Coast Guard Cutter USCGC Seneca heading out in heavy seas toward the torpedoed steamship Wellington. The reverse features the World War I-era Coast Guard emblem, with the inscriptions “CENTENNIAL OF WORLD WAR I”, “2018”, and “OVER THERE!”. This silver medal will hail from the Philadelphia Mint.

USA WWI Centennial Marines Silver Medal Companion Set

USA WWI Centennial Marines Silver Medal Companion Set

Each set is available to order directly from the US Mint at a price of $99.95 each with no order limit imposed. There is however a product limit of 100 000 sets across all five options. The exact distribution of this quota is to be determined by public demand. Unlike the silver dollar coin though, the companion sets will only be available to order between noon on January 17, 2018, and 3 p.m. on February 20, unless the limit is reached prior to that date. Delivery of the companion sets is expected to take place in late May of 2018.

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.