2012 Star Spangled Banner Silver Dollar Commemorative Coins

2012 Star Spangled Banner Silver Dollar Commemorative Coins are produced as part of a larger series that also include $5 gold pieces. Release dates for each came on March 5, 2012. The coins are struck to mark the bicentennial of the writing of the Star-Spangled Banner poem by Francis Scott Key which went on to become the United States national anthem.

2012 Star Spangled Banner Silver Dollar Commemorative Coins

Key wrote the original poem after witnessing the 25-hour British bombardment of Fort McHenry, in Baltimore, Maryland, during the War of 1812. After the battle, Key noted that the flag was still raised above the Fort signaling that it had not fallen.

Each silver dollar and $5 gold coin is produced in collector qualities of proof and uncirculated. Counting the $1’s, $5’s and a Two-Coin Proof Set which includes a proof silver dollar and a proof $5, a total of five unique products are available to order directly from the U.S. Mint at www.usmint.gov.

Introductory prices are in effect for each of the numismatic offerings until 5 PM ET on April 5, 2012. Afterward, the commemorative coins and set will climb by $5 each. The debut price for the proof silver dollar is $49.95 while the uncirculated dollar starts at $44.95. The $5 gold pieces and the Two-Coin Proof Set can have their prices adjusted up to once a weekly based on precious metal prices and the U.S. Mint’s pricing policy for numismatic gold products. Prices for the proof and uncirculated $5 gold coins debuted on March 5 at $529.30 and $519.30, respectively. The proof set opened at $579.30.

2012 Star-Spangled Banner Two-Coin Proof Set

As a side note, the U.S. Mint also released commemorative 2012 Infantry Soldier Silver Dollars earlier in the year.

Silver Dollar & $5 Gold Coin Information

These Star Spangled Banner Silver Dollars were authorized as part of the Star-Spangled Banner Commemorative Coin Act (Public Law 111-232). This Act was signed into law by President Barack Obama on August 16, 2010. The final coin designs were released by the Mint on December 14, 2011.

The U.S. Mint may strike up to 500,000 of the Star Spangled Banner Silver Dollars and up to a maximum of 100,000 $5 gold pieces. In addition to the standard inscriptions like the face value, E PLURIBUS UNUM, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and IN GOD WE TRUST, the coins had to contain designs that were "emblematic of the War of 1812 and particularly the Battle for Baltimore that formed the basis for the Star-Spangled Banner," according to the authorizing Act.

As such, the obverse of each silver dollar depicts Lady Liberty waving the 15-star, 15-stripe Star-Spangled Banner flag with Fort McHenry in the background. The reverse designs show a waving modern American flag.

The United States Mint revealed the designs for the 2012 Star Spangled Banner Silver Dollar Commemorative Coins on December 14, 2011.

These silver dollars are produced to the standard specifications of modern commemorative coins, including a diameter of 1.5 inches, a composition of 90% silver and a weight of 26.73 grams.

A surcharge of $10 per silver dollar and $35 per gold coin is collected by the U.S. Mint and forwarded to the Maryland War of 1812 Bicentennial Commission to support its activities pertaining to the sites and structures relating to the War of 1812.

US Mint images of the proof and uncirculated 2012 Star Spangled Banner $5 Gold Commemorative Coins

As for the $5 gold commemorative coins and their designs, the obverse of each depicts a naval battle scene from the War of 1812. Specifically, there is an American sailing ship in the foreground and a damaged and fleeing British ship in the background. The reverse design displays first words of the Star-Spangled Banner anthem, O say can you see, in Francis Scott Key’s handwriting against a backdrop of 15 stars and 15 stripes, representing the Star-Spangled Banner flag.

2012 Star Spangled Banner Silver Dollar Coin Specifications

$5 Gold Coin Specifications