1995 Civil War Battlefield Preservation Commemorative Silver Dollar

The 1995 Civil War Battlefield Preservation Commemorative Silver Dollar was released by the United States Mint to honor the 100th anniversary of the preservation of Civil War battlefields throughout the United States.

That preservation specifically started by the federal government with the creation of the Gettysburg National Military Park on February 11, 1895. On that date, President Grover Cleveland signed the legislation sponsored by Congressman Dan Sickles (a general in the Battle of Gettysburg) which directed the War Department to create the military park. Its goal was to preserve the sites associated with the American Civil War Battle of Gettysburg.

Many other Civil War Battlefield sites have since been added to the protection of the federal government, but their creation can all be traced back to the establishment of the Gettysburg National Military Park in 1895.

Silver Dollar Information

Each 1995 Civil War Battlefield Preservation Commemorative Silver Dollar was authorized as part of the Civil War Battlefield Commemorative Coin Act of 1992. That Act was signed into law by President George Bush on October 5, 1992. Also authorized by the Act were $5 Gold Coins and Half Dollar Clad Coins.

"This legislation provides a nonfederal funding mechanism to enhance the protection of Civil War battlefields," stated President George Bush about signing the legislation authorizing the Civil War Battlefield Preservation Coins. "The minting of these coins will cost the taxpayers nothing. The monies raised will make a major contribution to the preservation of our Civil War heritage. The greatest beneficiaries of this bill will be the future generations of Americans who will be able to relive more of the history of the Civil War era."

The obverse of the Civil War Battlefield Preservation Silver Dollar shows one soldier offering a canteen of water to a wounded solder of the opposing force. It is the work of Don Troiani and also includes the inscriptions of LIBERTY, IN GOD WE TRUST, 1995 and the mintmark.

On the reverse, designed by John Mercanti, Gettysburg’s landscape is shown along with a quote from Joshua Chamberlain, who fought in the battle : IN GREAT DEEDS SOMETHING ABIDES. ON GREAT FIELDS SOMETHING STAYS. FORMS CHANGE AND PASS, BODIES DISAPPEAR, BUT SPIRITS LINGER TO CONSECRATE GROUND FOR THE VISIONPLACE OF SOULS – JOSHUA CHAMBERLAIN. Included as well are the inscriptions of UNITED STATES OF AMERICAN, E PLURIBUS UNUM and ONE DOLLAR.

The Proof Civil War Silver Dollars were struck at the US Mint’s facility in San Francisco. The Uncirculated Silver Dollars were struck at the US Mint‘s facility in Philadelphia.

Surcharges raised by the sale of these strikes was to be paid to the Foundation for the preservation of historically significant Civil War battlefields

1995 Civil War Battlefields Preservation Silver Dollar Coin Specifications