2012 Infantry Soldier Silver Dollar Commemorative Coins

The 2012 Infantry Soldier Silver Dollar Commemorative Coins are struck by the United States Mint as one of two commemorative programs issued for the year. These strikes had a debut release date of February 16, 2012. They honor the infantry of the U.S. Army and acknowledge the establishment of the National Infantry Museum and Soldier Center.

US Mint images of the proof and uncirculated 2012 Infantry Soldier Silver Dollar Commemorative Coins

The silver dollars are minted in both proof and uncirculated qualities for coin collectors with three products featuring them available from the United States Mint. The products include the proof coin with an introductory price of $49.95, the uncirculated coin starting at $44.95 and the Defenders of Freedom Set with a price of $51.95. The US Mint pricing schedule has the prices for the two commemorative coins each rising $5 after 5 p.m. (ET) on March 19, 2012.

The Defenders of Freedom Set is an attractive numismatic product from the Mint as it includes a proof Infantry Soldier Silver Dollar and replica infantry dog tag on a miniature chain all within an attractive folder. The Defenders of Freedom Set has a production limit of 50,000.

2012 Infantry Soldier Silver Dollar Defenders of Freedom Set

The price point of the set is not expected to go higher, and will likely reach a sell-out — especially if it is still available when the other coin prices rise.

Also scheduled to be struck during 2012 are the Star Spangled Banner Silver Dollar Commemorative Coins.

Silver Dollar Information

The Infantry Soldier Silver Dollar was authorized by the National Infantry Museum and Soldier Center Commemorative Coin Act (Public Law 110-357). This Act was signed into law by President George W. Bush on October 8, 2008. Designs for the coins were unveiled by the United States Mint on October 27, 2011 at Fort Benning’s historic Doughboy Stadium.

Their design requirements included the inscriptions of 2012, LIBERTY, IN GOD WE TRUST and E PLURIBUS UNUM. Along with those inscriptions the designs had to be "emblematic of the courage, pride, sacrifice, sense of duty, and history of the United States Infantry," according to the authorizing Act. As such, the obverse or "heads side" design features a modern Infantry soldier on rocky ground charging forward and beckoning the troops to follow, symbolizing the "Follow Me" motto of the Infantry. The reverse design shows the crossed rifles insignia which is the branch insignia of the U.S. Infantry.

The United States Mint revealed the designs for the 2012 Infantry Soldier Silver Dollar Commemorative Coins on October 27, 2011.

Each of the commemorative coins is struck from 90% silver to a diameter of 1.5 inches with the standard silver dollar commemorative weight of 26.73 grams. Each also features the legal tender face value of $1.

According to the authorizing Act, the United States Mint will not produce more than 350,000 of the Infantry Soldier Silver Dollar Commemorative Coins. While not required, the Act emphasizes the feelings of Congress at the time of the passage of the Act that these coins be struck at the U.S. Mint’s facility in West Point to the greatest extent possible. This turned to reality as each are and bear the denoting "W" mint mark.

A surcharge of $10 per silver dollar is collected by the US Mint and forwarded to the National Infantry Foundation for the purpose of establishing an endowment for the maintenance of the National Infantry Museum and Soldier Center following its completion.

2012 Infantry Soldier Silver Dollar Coin Specifications