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Coin, Money & Stamp Categories

United States Commemorative Coins

Coin, Money & Stamp Categories


The first official United States commemorative coin was issued in 1892 for the Columbian Expo. Until 1939, Congress authorized commemorative coin series for just over 50 occasions. At that point, Congress expressed concerns over the specific coins being issued, noting that many of them were of insufficient national interest to justify minting.

Three exceptions to this policy occurred before the program was shuttered: the Iowa Centennial half dollar, the Booker T. Washington Memorial half dollar, and the George Washington Carver/Booker T. Washington half dollar. After the commemorative coin program ended, production of all actively minted commemorative coins was halted.

Commemorative coin series resumed in 1982 for George Washington's 250th birthday. At that time, the Mint began to produce an average of two new commemorative coin series per year with the exception of Olympic years. Commemorative coins continue to be issued by the United States Mint today, with some of the proceeds helping to maintain museums, national landmarks, and Olympic sport programs.


Quick Facts

  • In 1995 and 1996, the Mint produced a series of Centennial Olympics commemorative coins for each major sport that was featured. Most of these were minted as dollar coins, but several general Olympic coins were created as $5 gold coins
  • Some collectors consider the 1848 gold quarter eagle to be the first United States commemorative issue. Some copies were stamped CAL because they were minted with early gold from the California gold rush
  • One of the chief complaints that led to the closing of the commemorative program in 1939 was the mishandling of print runs. The Oregon Trail coin, first issued in 1926, was subsequently minted eight years across a 14 year period

Recommended Items at Auction

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IS 1904 Lewis & Clark Gold Commem Dollar TOP POP! 1 ms68 SEGS
Feb 15, 1:30 PM EST
IS 1904 Lewis & Clark Gold Commem Dollar TOP POP! 1 ms68 SEGS
by Key Date Coins
Est: $45,000- $90,000
$3,00023 Bids
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2001-P PROOF & D-UNC American Buffalo Commem 2-Coin Silver Dollar Set in OGP w/ COA
Feb 15, 7:00 PM EST
2001-P PROOF & D-UNC American Buffalo Commem 2-Coin Silver Dollar Set in OGP w/ COA
by Big Dog Auctions
Est: $0- $0
$16515 Bids
IS 1905 Lewis & Clark Gold Commem Dollar Near Top Pop! 1 ms67 SEGS
Feb 15, 1:30 PM EST
IS 1905 Lewis & Clark Gold Commem Dollar Near Top Pop! 1 ms67 SEGS
by Key Date Coins
Est: $18,750- $37,500
$3,50014 Bids
IS 1904 Lewis & Clark Gold Commem Dollar 1 ms66+ SEGS
Feb 14, 1:30 PM EST
IS 1904 Lewis & Clark Gold Commem Dollar 1 ms66+ SEGS
by Key Date Coins
Est: $3,406- $6,812
$1,7009 Bids
IS 1905 Lewis & Clark Gold Commem Dollar 1 ms66 SEGS
Feb 14, 1:30 PM EST
IS 1905 Lewis & Clark Gold Commem Dollar 1 ms66 SEGS
by Key Date Coins
Est: $2,500- $5,000
$1,8009 Bids
IS 1905 Lewis & Clark Gold Commem Dollar Near Top Pop! 1 ms66+ SEGS
Feb 14, 1:30 PM EST
IS 1905 Lewis & Clark Gold Commem Dollar Near Top Pop! 1 ms66+ SEGS
by Key Date Coins
Est: $8,250- $16,500
$1,8009 Bids
IS 1903 Jefferson Louisiana Purchase Gold Commem Dollar Near Top Pop! 1 ms67 SEGS
Feb 15, 1:30 PM EST
IS 1903 Jefferson Louisiana Purchase Gold Commem Dollar Near Top Pop! 1 ms67 SEGS
by Key Date Coins
Est: $1,300- $2,600
$1,3009 Bids
IS 1922 Grant Gold Commem Dollar Near Top Pop! 1 ms67+ SEGS
Feb 14, 1:30 PM EST
IS 1922 Grant Gold Commem Dollar Near Top Pop! 1 ms67+ SEGS
by Key Date Coins
Est: $5,718- $11,437
$1,6008 Bids
IS 1922 Grant Gold Commem Dollar TOP POP! 1 ms68 SEGS
Feb 14, 1:30 PM EST
IS 1922 Grant Gold Commem Dollar TOP POP! 1 ms68 SEGS
by Key Date Coins
Est: $18,000- $36,000
$1,6008 Bids
IS 1926 Sesqui Gold Commem Near Top Pop! $2 1/2 ms66+ SEGS
Feb 14, 1:30 PM EST
IS 1926 Sesqui Gold Commem Near Top Pop! $2 1/2 ms66+ SEGS
by Key Date Coins
Est: $45,000- $90,000
$1,5007 Bids
IS 1926 Sesqui Gold Commem TOP POP! $2 1/2 ms67 SEGS
Feb 14, 1:30 PM EST
IS 1926 Sesqui Gold Commem TOP POP! $2 1/2 ms67 SEGS
by Key Date Coins
Est: $45,000- $90,000
$1,5007 Bids
IS 1922 Grant w/Star Gold Commem Dollar TOP POP! 1 ms68+ SEGS
Feb 14, 1:30 PM EST
IS 1922 Grant w/Star Gold Commem Dollar TOP POP! 1 ms68+ SEGS
by Key Date Coins
Est: $6,812- $13,625
$2,0007 Bids
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Franklin Delano Roosevelt Commemorative Portfolio First Day of Issue
Feb 15, 5:00 PM EST
Franklin Delano Roosevelt Commemorative Portfolio First Day of Issue
by Richard L. Edwards Auctioneer
Est: $1- $5,000
$116 Bids
IS 1903 Jefferson Louisiana Purchase Gold Commem Dollar Near Top Pop! 1 ms67+ SEGS
Feb 14, 1:30 PM EST
IS 1903 Jefferson Louisiana Purchase Gold Commem Dollar Near Top Pop! 1 ms67+ SEGS
by Key Date Coins
Est: $6,912- $13,825
$1,2006 Bids
IS 1903 McKinley Louisiana Purchase Gold Commem Dollar Near Top Pop! 1 ms67 SEGS
Feb 14, 1:30 PM EST
IS 1903 McKinley Louisiana Purchase Gold Commem Dollar Near Top Pop! 1 ms67 SEGS
by Key Date Coins
Est: $1,250- $2,500
$1,1006 Bids
IS 1904 Lewis & Clark Gold Commem Dollar 1 ms65+ SEGS
Feb 14, 1:30 PM EST
IS 1904 Lewis & Clark Gold Commem Dollar 1 ms65+ SEGS
by Key Date Coins
Est: $2,000- $4,000
$1,1006 Bids
IS 1915-s Panama Pacific Gold Commem Dollar Near Top Pop! 1 ms67 SEGS
Feb 14, 1:30 PM EST
IS 1915-s Panama Pacific Gold Commem Dollar Near Top Pop! 1 ms67 SEGS
by Key Date Coins
Est: $3,000- $6,000
$1,1006 Bids
IS 1905 Lewis & Clark Gold Commem Dollar 1 ms65 SEGS
Feb 15, 1:30 PM EST
IS 1905 Lewis & Clark Gold Commem Dollar 1 ms65 SEGS
by Key Date Coins
Est: $2,125- $4,250
$1,2006 Bids
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Pearl Harbor Commem Coin & Stamp Collection w/ COA
Feb 15, 7:00 PM EST
Pearl Harbor Commem Coin & Stamp Collection w/ COA
by Big Dog Auctions
Est: $0- $0
$75 Bids
IS 1916 McKinley Gold Commem Dollar Near Top Pop! 1 ms67+ SEGS
Feb 14, 1:30 PM EST
IS 1916 McKinley Gold Commem Dollar Near Top Pop! 1 ms67+ SEGS
by Key Date Coins
Est: $8,343- $16,687
$8005 Bids
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2005-P PROOF Marine Corps 230th Anniv. Commem Silver Dollar in OGP w/ COA
Feb 15, 7:00 PM EST
2005-P PROOF Marine Corps 230th Anniv. Commem Silver Dollar in OGP w/ COA
by Big Dog Auctions
Est: $0- $0
$54 Bids
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1995-S PROOF Civil War Battlefield Commem 2-Coin Set in OGP w/ COA
Feb 15, 7:00 PM EST
1995-S PROOF Civil War Battlefield Commem 2-Coin Set in OGP w/ COA
by Big Dog Auctions
Est: $0- $0
$104 Bids
IS 1915-s Panama Pacific Gold Commem Dollar Near Top Pop! 1 ms66+ SEGS
Feb 14, 1:30 PM EST
IS 1915-s Panama Pacific Gold Commem Dollar Near Top Pop! 1 ms66+ SEGS
by Key Date Coins
Est: $1,512- $3,025
$8004 Bids
IS 1917 McKinley Gold Commem Dollar Near Top Pop! 1 ms67 SEGS
Feb 14, 1:30 PM EST
IS 1917 McKinley Gold Commem Dollar Near Top Pop! 1 ms67 SEGS
by Key Date Coins
Est: $1,125- $2,250
$8004 Bids

Sellers Who Sell United States Commemorative Coins


Key Date Coins

Key Date Coins

Matthew Bullock Auctioneers

Matthew Bullock Auctioneers

Richard L. Edwards Auctioneer

Richard L. Edwards Auctioneer