Well it’s not a feature film, but it’s nice to see a little love going to the grunts. It took six years, but the National Infantry Foundation finally sealed the deal for the creation of a silver dollar for the infantry.
“The Mint produces only two such commemorative coins each year, so we had to wait our turn; 2012 is our year,” said retired Col. Greg Camp, the National Infantry Foundation’s vice president and chief development officer.
The 2012 Infantry Soldier Silver Dollar was approved for purchase Feb. 16 and presented to 174 new infantrymen at a Feb. 17 graduation ceremony at Fort Benning, Ga.
Congress authorized the U.S. Mint to strike up to 350,000 of the commemorative coins, but they can only be purchased this year. The coins will be offered in proof and uncirculated quantities and will cost between $44.95 and $54.95.
It’s a little pricey, but $10 from every coin sold will help support the National Infantry Museum and Soldier Center.
Individuals can purchase the coin online at www.usmint.gov/catalog by clicking on the “Commemoratives” tab. Or, pick one up at the Soldier Store inside Benning’s National Infantry Museum.
{ 21 comments… read them below or add one }
Cool coin.
Sweet, even though I think they should have used an M16 rather than the M4. Just one guys opinion.
And maybe a rucksack instead of the little daysack, but they’d have to make the coin bigger.
Time for those of us in the Infantry to step up and pay for our museum. Ordered two proofs and two uncirculated coins to get the ball rolling. Challenge!
niiiiice!!!
Tks for the story.
U.S. Army conventional ground-pounders, never get enough credit.
M4 is the modern rifle, if it were me I’d put a M1 Garand on it. Still a nice looking coin. Im thinking about picking one up myself.
I Like the LSU colors in the picture.
I saw this on the mint site, as a coin collector, I usually buy coins just for myself and for gifts to mark occasions such as births. I will pick one up for the ground pounders I know. They should of included a link to find (dot Govs were okay in rules if I remeber right) – http://catalog.usmint.gov/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10001&catalogId=10001&identifier=4010
I don’t know about waiting your turn though, maybe for the National Infantry Foundation to get a some money. Last year’s 2011 Medal of Honor Commemorative Coin Program coins were striking along with the 2011 United States Army Commemorative Coin Program. I didn’t care for the obverse of the 2010 American Veterans Disabled for Life Silver Dollar. Thought they could of done more. The mint has regularly put out military themed products. Though I don’t collect medals they have put out Navajo Code Talkers Bronze, Nisei Soldiers of World War II Bronze, Tuskegee Airmen Bronze, United States Army Bicentennial Bronze, U.S. Navy Bicentennial Bronze, U.S. Marine Corps Bicentennial Bronze, U.S. Coast Guard Bicentennial Bronze, Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) Bronze and others.
Now only if they had one for my boat or even the “41 for freedom.”
The helmet looks a bit weird, and they aren’t carrying enough gear and plate carriers and such, but it’s very nice. Will make a beautiful collector’s item.
Now if only we could get a signal corps coin! :D
For you non numismatists, the mint-mark of W means they are striking these at the West Point mint.
Been there. Beautiful place. I mean West Point, not the mint though the ski slope is right next to it.
Too bad we’ll never see one with Joe wearing a steel pot w/camo cover, carrying an M16A1 in jungle boots…that’ll never happen…
Is this an actual coin that will be circulated or another one of those asinine collectors mint coins they sell on TV for five times face value?
I hope it’s at least not going to be worth 20 Liberian Dollars…
bbb
It is an actual, real coin, with a ONE DOLLAR face value. They are not the kind of coin that will be circulated. The face value is nowhere near the actual value. The composition is 90% silver, with silver going for @ $35 an oz. That coin you’re looking at is a bit under 1oz. Beware TV adds, no one gives you a coin for less than the cost of what silver or gold is trading for. Usually they are cheap CLAD medal with a thin coat of gold or silver added that is less than a droppers full. Three pounds of horse doo, covered by 10 cents of silver, is still horse doo.
Personally I think actually circulating a coin that meant to actually be used has a lot more value as a tribute to those it celebrates than a coin designed for collectors…
I’d rather be honored with a coin intended for use then a coin intended for purchase by collectors for the sake of collecting.
And I don’t get why people would want to collect anything but the cool old coins that are either rare or worth more than the face value (inadvertently) like the double eagle.
Understand what you mean by an actually circulating coin being a better tribute. Then again when was the last time you got an Eisenhower dollar. Mint just suspend minting and issuing circulating Presidential $1 Coins. No one use them or the Native American ones. Then you combine with silver or gold, and price of the coin becomes an issue.
There are a lot of reasons to collect the new non-circulating type. Number one on anyone list is to turn a profit. The 1986 Proof Silver Eagle coin is a good example. Originally bought for $21 it is now worth at least @ $35 in silver content alone. Probably would get at least double that if I was to sell it now.
The reason I buy it is because it is one of the most beautiful coins ever. The last American Eagle one ounce gold proof coin I bought cost just under $1,400 American duckets. Now the cost of a troy ounce of gold is around $1,770. Wish I bought more now.
Where’s his reflective belt!?!
that weapon isnt even at the low ready
I’m with Ryan.
Seriously though, gonna buy a couple of these for my brothers.