The obverse design for the coin features a pennant based on the design of the USO flag. Written above in calligraphy is “50th Anniversary”. The remaining inscriptions include “In God We Trust”, “Liberty”, and the date “1991″. The obverse was modeled by William C. Cousins and designed by Robert Lamb.
On the reverse, is the image of an eagle perched on a globe. The eagle has a ribbon in its beak containing the incused letters “USO”. There are eleven stars in a semi-circle below the globe and the inscription “E Pluribus Unum” across the globe. The remaining inscriptions include “United States of America”, “Fifty Years Service”, “To Service People”, and “One Dollar”. The reverse was designed by John Mercanti.
A maximum mintage of one million coins was established for the 1991 USO Silver Dollar. Proof versions were struck at the San Francisco Mint, while uncirculated versions were struck at the Denver Mint. The coins were officially launched on June 8, 1991 during a victory parade for troops returning from operation Desert Storm. The cost of each coin included a surcharge, half went to the USO to fund its programs and the other half was used to reduce the national debt.
Coin Specifications
Designer: Robert Lamb (obverse), John Mercanti (reverse)
Weight: 26.7300 g
Composition: 90% Silver (0.7736 ounces of silver)
Diameter: 38.1 mm
Maximum Authorized Mintage: 1,000,000
1991-D Uncirculated USO Silver Dollar
Pre-Issue Price: $23.00
Regular Price: $26.00
Final Mintage: 124,958
1991-S Proof USO Silver Dollar
Pre-Issue Price: $28.00
Regular Price: $31.00
Final Mintage: 321,275
The obverse design depicts a soldier charging up a hill with naval ships in the foreground and two aircraft flying above. The inscriptions within the right field read “Thirty Eighth Anniversary Commemorative Korea” and “In God We Trust”. Additional inscriptions are found on the hill “1953 1991″ and at the base of the coin “Liberty”. The obverse was designed by John Mercanti.
Appearing on the reverse of the coin is a map of Korea with the division at the 38th parallel and the “yin and yang” in the south. An eagle’s head appears to the left of the map. Inscriptions include “One Dollar”, “E Pluribus Unum”, and “United States of America”. The reverse was designed by James T. Ferrel.
A maximum authorized mintage of 1,000,000 was established for the Korean War Silver Dollar. The uncirculated version of the coin was produced at the Denver Mint and the proof version at the Philadelphia Mint. Final sales came short of achieving a sell out, but did reach more than 80% of the maximum. Surcharges raised from the commemorative program went towards the construction of the Korean War Veterans Memorial.
Coin Specifications
Designer: John Mercanti (obverse), James Ferrell ( reverse)
Weight: 26.7300 g
Composition: 90% Silver (0.7736 ounces of silver)
Diameter: 38.1 mm
Maximum Authorized Mintage: 1,000,000
1991-D Uncirculated Korean War Memorial Silver Dollar
Pre-Issue Price: $23.00
Regular Price: $26.00
Final Mintage: 213,049
1991-S Proof Korean War Memorial Silver Dollar
Pre-Issue Price: $28.00
Regular Price: $31.00
Final Mintage: 618,488
While the other two coins contain prominent depictions of the monument, the obverse of the gold coin is dominated by the image of a bald eagle in flight. The eagles claws hold a chisel and a mallet for sculpting and a ribbon in its peak includes the words “In God We Trust”. At the lower right side of the coin, a small view of Mount Rushmore appears. The inscriptions “Liberty”, “1991″, and an arrangement of six stars completes the obverse design by John Mercanti.
The reverse of the coin is entirely designed in lettering, representing the first such design in the history of United States commemorative coins. Centrally, the words “Mount Rushmore National Memorial” appear in calligraphy. Around the outer rim, the remaining inscriptions are placed “United States of America”, “Five Dollars”, and “E Pluribus Unum”. The reverse was modeled by William Cousins and designed by William Lamb, a calligraphic artist.
Proof and uncirculated versions of the Mount Rushmore $5 Gold Coin were available, struck at the West Point Mint. The coins were offered individually or as part of a three coin set in uncirculated or proof or a six coin set. The final sales of 111,911 proofs and 31,959 uncirculated coins were low when compared to the maximum authorized mintage of 500,000.
Coin Specifications
Designer: John Mercanti (obverse), William Lamb (reverse)
Weight: 8.3590 g
Composition: 90% gold (0.242 ounces of gold)
Diameter: 21.6 mm
Maximum Authorized Mintage: 500,000
1991-W Uncirculated Mount Rushmore $5 Gold
Pre-Issue Price: $185.00
Regular Price: $210.00
Final Mintage: 31,959
1991-W Proof Mount Rushmore $5 Gold
Pre-Issue Price: $195.00
Regular Price: $225.00
Final Mintage: 111,991
Other 1991 Mount Rushmore Commemorative Coins
1991 Mount Rushmore Half Dollar
1991 Mount Rushmore Silver Dollar
The obverse design of the silver dollar contains a view of Mount Rushmore. The mountainside carving by Gutzon Borglum features busts of Presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln. At the bottom of the coin are two laurel wreaths with a ribbon containing the motto “In God We Trust”. Other inscriptions include “Liberty”, “Golden Anniversary”, “Mount Rushmore National Memorial”, and “1991″. The obverse was designed by Marika H. Somogyi and modeled by Chester Young Martin.
On the reverse of the coin is the Great Seal of the United States with a sunburst and an outline of the America. There is a star placed at the location of Mount Rushmore with an inscription “Shrine of Democracy”. The remaining inscriptions include “United States of America”, “E Pluribus Unum”, and “One Dollar”. The reverse was designed by Frank Gasparro.
A maximum mintage of 2,500,000 was established for the Mount Rushmore Silver Dollar. The coins were available in proof version struck at the San Francisco Mint or uncirculated version struck at the Philadelphia Mint. The US Mint offered the coins for sale individually or as part of various sets incorporating the half dollar and $5 gold coins. Pre-issue discounts were available for a specified period.
Coin Specifications
Designer: Marika Somogyi (obverse), Frank Gasparro (reverse)
Weight: 26.7300 g
Composition: 90% Silver (0.7736 ounces of silver)
Diameter: 38.1 mm
Maximum Authorized Mintage: 2,500,000
1991-P Uncirculated Mount Rushmore Silver Dollar
Pre-Issue Price: $23.00
Regular Price: $26.00
Final Mintage: 133,139
1991-S Proof Mount Rushmore Silver Dollar
Pre-Issue Price: $28.00
Regular Price: $31.00
Final Mintage: 738,419
Other 1991 Mount Rushmore Commemorative Coins
1991 Mount Rushmore Memorial Half Dollar
1991 Mount Rushmore Memorial $5 Gold Coin
The obverse design of the half dollar features an image of the the Mount Rushmore Memorial, the world’s largest carved stone sculpture. A sunburst appears in the background with the inscriptions “Liberty”, “Mount Rushmore”, “In God We Trust”, and “1991″. The obverse was designed by Marvel Jovine.
The reverse, designed by T. James Ferrell, depicts the great North Western American Bison, also commonly referred to as a buffalo. There are fifty stars positioned around the outer edge of the coin and inscriptions “United States of America”, “Golden Anniversary”, “E Pluribus Unum”, and “Half Dollar”.
The Mount Rushmore Half Dollar carried a maximum authorized mintage of 2,500,000. The proof version of the coin was minted at the San Francisco Mint and the uncirculated version at the Denver Mint. The coins were available individually or as part of two, three, or six coin sets incorporating the silver dollar and $5 gold coin.
Half of the surcharges raised through the program were used to enlarge and renovate the memorial. The other half was placed in the Treasury General Fund to reduce the national debt.
Coin Specifications
Designer: Marcel Jovine (obverse), T. James Ferrell (reverse)
Weight: 11.3400 g
Composition: 91.67% copper, 8.33% nickel
Diameter: 30.61 mm
Maximum Authorized Mintage: 2,500,000
1991-D Uncirculated Mount Rushmore Half Dollar
Pre-Issue Price: $6.00
Regular Price: $7.00
Final Mintage: 172,754
1991-S Proof Mount Rushmore Half Dollar
Pre-Issue Price: $8.50
Regular Price: $9.50
Final Mintage: 753,257
Other 1991 Mount Rushmore Commemorative Coins
1991 Mount Rushmore Silver Dollar
1991 Mount Rushmore Gold Coin
