U.S. High Relief & Commemorative Gold Coins

About U.S. Mint Modern Commemorative Coins

Since 1982, the United States Mint has been issuing modern gold commemorative coins to honor and celebrate important people, events, or institutions in American history. These coins are made of gold and are legal tender, meaning they can be used as regular currency in the United States. Each gold commemorative coin typically features a unique design that reflects the person, event, or institution being commemorated.

The U.S. Mint issues gold commemorative coins in denominations ranging from $5 to $100. The weight, fineness, and face value of each coin are determined by Congress when authorizing the coin program. Some popular U.S. Mint gold commemorative coins include the 1986 Statue of Liberty $5 coin, the 1995 Civil War Battlefield $5 coin, and the 2019 Apollo 11 50th Anniversary $5 coin.

While coin enthusiasts and investors often collect commemorative gold coins, their value is not solely based on their gold content but also on their rarity, condition, and historical significance. If you are shopping for commemorative gold coins to add to your collection, consider browsing some of our other popular coins for collectors before you check out.

History Of The Modern U.S. Mint Commemorative Coins

The first modern gold commemorative coin the United States Mint issued was the 1984 Olympic Games $10 gold coin. Congress authorized the coin to celebrate the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, California.

The 1984 Olympic Games' $10 gold coin was designed by Robert Graham, a sculptor, and professor at the University of California, and featured a depiction of the Greek goddess Nike on the obverse and a design of the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on the reverse. The coin was struck at the West Point Mint in New York and was available in proof and uncirculated finishes.
The 1984 Olympic Games gold commemorative coin program succeeded, with over 400,000 coins sold.

It paved the way for future gold memorial coin programs, including the Statue of Liberty program in 1986 and the Civil War Battlefield program in 1995. Since then, the United States Mint has issued gold commemorative coins to commemorate significant events, people, and institutions in American history.

If you're interested in other U.S. Mint coins aside from their commemorative series, consider options popular with both collectors and investors alike, such as the 1/10th oz fractional Gold Eagle coin.

Popular U.S. Mint Gold Commemoratives

The United States Mint has issued many gold commemoratives throughout its history, many of which have been quite popular among collectors. Here are a few examples:

• 1903 Louisiana Purchase Exposition Gold Dollars - These coins were issued to commemorate the Louisiana Purchase Exposition held in St. Louis in 1904. The coins feature a portrait of Thomas Jefferson on one side and a rendition of the Louisiana Purchase on the other. They were minted in uncirculated and proof versions and are highly sought after by collectors.
• 1915-S Panama-Pacific International Exposition Gold Coins - These coins were issued to commemorate the Panama-Pacific International Exposition held in San Francisco in 1915. The coins were minted in several denominations, including $1, $2.50, $50, and $100, and featured various designs, including a portrait of an eagle, the goddess Minerva, and the Roman god Neptune. The $50 and $100 coins are scarce and valuable.
• 1984 Olympic Gold Coins - These coins were issued to commemorate the 1984 Summer Olympics held in Los Angeles. The coins were minted in several denominations, including $10, $25, and $50, and featured designs representing various Olympic sports. The $10 coin is top-rated among collectors, as it was the first U.S. gold coin to feature the Olympic rings.
• 2016 Centennial Gold Coins - These coins were issued to commemorate the 100th anniversary of three iconic U.S. coin designs: the Mercury dime, the Standing Liberty quarter, and the Walking Liberty half dollar. The coins were minted in gold and are highly coveted by collectors due to their beautiful designs and historical significance.