1998 Black Revolutionary War Patriots Commemorative Silver Dollars

The 1998 Black Revolutionary War Patriots Commemorative Silver Dollars were released by the United States Mint to honor the contributions of African American individuals to the creation of the United States of America.

The commemorative silver coins were also struck to identify a single individual who played a significant role in the Revolutionary War, Crispus Attucks. Crispus was believed to be of African American and Native American descent and was also believed to be the first man killed at the Boston Massacre of 1770 which was a factor leading to the Revolutionary War.

Many are probably unaware of the fact that over 5,000 African Americans participated in the American Revolutionary War or even that the 1st Rhode Island Regiment was made up entirely of 250 African Americans. Their contributions to the War effort cannot be underestimated.

"The Black Revolutionary War Patriots Silver Dollar focuses on Crispus Attucks’ sacrifice and the commitment of all Black American Patriots," said U.S. Mint Director Philip N. Diehl. "It is particularly fitting that we recall their contribution during Black History Month, giving Americans the opportunity to learn about the role that Black Patriots played in our revolutionary struggle."

Silver Dollar Information

The Black Revolutionary War Patriots Commemorative Silver Dollars were authorized as part of the larger United States Commemorative Coin Act of 1996 (Public Law 104-329). Under the law, a maximum of 500,000 of the coins were to be struck across all product options from the US Mint.

One the obverse, a portrait of the Black Revolutionary War Patriot Crispus Attucks is shown, as designed by John Mercanti. Also shown are the inscriptions of CRISPUS ATTUCKS, 1723-1770, LIBERTY, IN GOD WE TRUST, 1998 and the US Mint’s facility in San Francisco’s mintmark of ‘S’.

The reverse shows an image of the proposed Black Patriots Memorial to be featured on the National Mall of Washington, D.C. The design was completed by Ed Dwight and also shows the inscriptions of UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, E PLURIBUS UNUM and ONE DOLLAR.

Surcharges placed on the sale of each of these coins was to be used for the establishment of an endowment to support the construction of a Black Revolutionary War Patriots Memorial.

The United States Mint also issued a Robert F. Kennedy Commemorative Silver Dollar in 1998.

1998 Black Revolutionary War Patriots Silver Dollar Coin Specifications