1997 National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Commemorative Silver Dollars

The 1997 National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Commemorative Silver Dollars were issued by the United States Mint in 1997 to commemorate the sacrifice of law enforcement officers and their families in preserving public safety.

The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial was dedicated in Washington D.C. on October 15, 1991 to honor the 14,000 officers slain in the United States in the line of duty. At a ceremony unveiling the designs to be featured on the coin honoring the memorial and those it represents, US Mint Director Philip N. Diehl had these comments:

"This site has proven to be a particularly moving memorial to the men and women who have sacrificed their lives to ensure the safety of their fellow citizens," said Mint Director Diehl. "The National Law Enforcement Memorial Silver Dollar marks our commitment to preserving the memory, and supporting the mission, of those honored here." 

These commemorative silver coins were sold by the US Mint with a surcharge of $10 per strike. That surcharge was forwarded to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Maintenance Fund which maintains the memorial as well as a scholarship for the family of those slain in the line of duty.

Silver Dollar Information

The United States Mint was authorized and directed to strike the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Silver Dollars by the United States
Commemorative Coin Act of 1996 (Public Law 104-329). That law also authorized several other commemorative coins issued by the US Mint.

U.S. Mint Sculptor/Engraver Alfred Maletsky designed the depiction of a photo by Larry Ruggeri that is shown on the obverse of the coin. That photo showed United States Park Police officers Robert Chelsey and Kelcy Stefansson as they make a rubbing of a fellow officer’s name. Also shown are the inscriptions of NATIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS MEMORIAL, LIBERTY, IN GOD WE TRUST and 1997.

Maletsky also designed the reverse of the coin which shows a shield, representing all law enforcement, with a rose laying across it reminding all of the sacrifices that were made. It also includes the inscriptions of UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, ONE DOLLAR, TO SERVE AND PROTECT, E PLURIBUS UNUM and the mintmark of ‘P’ for the US Mint’s facility in Philadelphia.

The United States Mint also issued a Botanic Garden Silver Dollar and a Jackie Robinson Silver Dollar in 1997.

1997 National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Silver Dollar Coin Specifications