Recently, on December 14, 2011, the United States Mint released the coin designs for next year's second gold and silver commemorative coins. The Mint will release the 2012 Star-Spangled Banner Commemorative Coins in the denomination of a $5 gold coin and a $1 denominated silver dollar.
In 1814, an amateur poet named Francis Scott Key wrote a poem entitled, "Defence of Fort McHenry", after watching the bombardment of the Fort by the British during the war of 1812. The lyrics for the national anthem of the United States of America come from that poem. On March 3, 1931, by order of congressional resolution,"The Star-Spangled Banner" became the official national anthem.
Authorized by Congress under the Star-Spangled Banner Commemorative Coin Act, these commemorative coins are to feature designs "emblematic of the War of 1812, and particularly the Battle for Baltimore that form the basis for the Star Spangled-Banner."
Star-Spangled Banner Silver Dollar Design
2012 Star-Spangled-Banner Commemorative Silver Coin
The obverse side of this commemorative silver dollar will feature the familiar Lady Liberty in the foreground. She waves a flag with 15 Stars & Stripes embroidered upon it. The theme of this image, "The Battle of Baltimore at Fort McHenry", is depicted by the image of Fort McHenry in the background. Near the upper right of the image is inscribed the word, LIBERTY, while the words IN GOD WE TRUST sit at the bottom left corner. The date 2012 is in the bottom right.
The reverse image depicts a modern American Flag, which is indicative of the reverse side theme of,"The Star Spangled-Banner". The denomination, ONE DOLLAR is inscribed at the top. At the bottom are the words E PLURIBUS UNUM, and UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. This coin was designed by Joel Iskowitz, and sculpted by Phebe Hemphill.
Star Spangled-Banner $5 Gold Design
2012 Star-Spangled Banner $5 Commemorative Gold Coin
The foreground of the 2012 $5 Gold Commemorative Coin depicts an American sailing ship. In the foreground sits a wounded British ship. The theme for the obverse side of the coin is"The Battles at Sea During the War of 1812". The words, IN GOD WE TRUST, LIBERTY, and the date 1812-2012 are inscribed on the left.
The first five words from the famous Star Spangled-Banner,"O say can you see" are placed in a handwritten font on the reverse side of the gold commemorative coin. The stripes of the American flag are set in the background and offset these familiar words. This coin was designed by Richard Masters, and sculpted by Joseph Menna.
Star-Spangled Banner Coin Design Specs and Mintage
A maximum of 500,000 Star Spangled-Banner Silver Dollar Commemorative Coins are allowed to be struck by the United States Mint. A limit of 100,000 coins has been set for the $5 gold commemorative coin. These coins will be struck in both proof and uncirculated condition.
$35 per gold coin, and $10 per silver dollar coin will be given to the Maryland War of 1812 Bicentennial Commission. These proceeds are given to support its involvement in activities surrounding the War of 1812.
This will be the second coin released by the United States Mint in 2012 following the 2012 Infantry Soldier Silver Dollar, and $5 gold commemorative coin.