The 2001 Capitol Visitor $5 Gold Coin was issued along with a silver dollar and clad half dollar for the proposed Visitor Center to the U.S. Capitol. The coins of the program had relatively slow sales, with the lowest mintage occurring for the uncirculated version of the gold coin.
The obverse of the Capitol Visitor Center $5 Gold depicts the top of a Corinthian column. Inscriptions read “Liberty”, “1800″, “First Convening of Congress in Washington”, “In God We Trust”, and the date. The reverse features a view of he 1800 Capitol with inscriptions “United States of America”, “E Pluribus Unum”, and the denomination “Five Dollars”. Both the obverse and reverse were designed by Elizabeth Jones, former Chief Engraver at the United States Mint.
The coins were produced in proof and uncirculated versions at the West Point Mint. The coins were offered individually or as part of a three coin proof set. The maximum mintage across all options was set at 1000,000. This year the US Mint experimented with issuing coins in standard packaging or in plain mailers at a slightly reduced cost. This practice was not repeated in future programs.
The uncirculated 2001 Capitol Visitor Center Gold Coin had a low mintage of just 6,761 coins. After the coins went off sale, premiums quickly developed for this issue based on the low mintage.
Coin Specifications
Designer: Elizabeth Jones
Weight: 8.3590 g
Composition: 90% gold (0.242 ounces of gold)
Diameter: 21.6 mm
Maximum Authorized Mintage: 100,000
2001-W Uncirculated Capitol Visitor Center $5 Gold Coin
Pre-Issue Price: $180.00 ($175.00 in mailer)
Regular Price: $205.00 ($200.00 in mailer)
Final Mintage: 6,761
2001-W Proof Capitol Visitor Center $5 Gold Coin
Pre-Issue Price: $195.00 ($177.00 in mailer)
Regular Price: $225.00 ($207.00 in mailer)
Final Mintage: 27,652
The 2001 Capitol Visitor Center Silver Dollar was issued as part of the commemorative coin program authorized for the proposed Capitol Visitor Center in Washington, DC. The program included three different coins issued in proof and uncirculated versions.
The obverse of the Capitol Visitor Center Silver Dollar presents an image of the original Capitol with the date “1800″ and the later Capitol with the date “2001″. Additional inscriptions include “Liberty”, “In God We Trust”, and “U.S. Capitol”. The obverse was designed by Marika Somogyi.
The reverse features a heraldic eagle with shield and rays emanating around. A scroll across the center reads “U.S. Capitol Visitor Center”. Additional inscriptions above and below read “United States of America”, “E Pluribus Unum”, and “One Dollar”. The reverse was designed by John Mercanti.
Both the proof and uncirculated versions of the 2001 Capitol Visitor Center Silver Dollar were produced at the Philadelphia Mint. The US Mint offered the coins individually or as part of a three coin set, in standard packaging or a simple mailer at a slightly reduced price. The maximum authorized mintage was 500,000 coins, but the final tally would reach about 35% of that amount. Surcharges added to the cost of each coin in the program benefited the construction of the proposed visitor center under the U.S. Capitol’s East Plaza.
Coin Specifications
Designer: Marika Somogyi (obverse), John Mercanti (reverse)
Weight: 26.7300 g
Composition: 90% Silver (0.7736 ounces of silver)
Diameter: 38.1 mm
Maximum Authorized Mintage: 500,000
2001-P Uncirculated Capitol Visitor Center Silver Dollar
Pre-Issue Price: $30.00 ($27.00 in mailer)
Regular Price: $32.00 ($29.00 in mailer)
Final Mintage: 35,380
2001-P Proof Capitol Visitor Center Silver Dollar
Pre-Issue Price:$33.00 ($29.00 in mailer)
Regular Price: $37.00 ($33.00 in mailer)
Final Mintage: 143,793
The 2001 Capitol Visitor Center Half Dollar represented the first commemorative half dollar issued in five years. The last commemorative coins of this denomination had been issued as part of the large program from 1995-1996 for the Olympics. The present coin was issued along with a $5 gold and $1 silver for the proposed Capitol Visitor Center.
The obverse design of the coin consist of the North Wing of the original Capitol superimposed on an outline of the present building. A horse drawn carriage appears in front and a circle of stars surround. The inscriptions read “Liberty”, “In God We Trust”, “U.S. Capitol”, and the dates “1800″ and “2001″. The obverse was designed by Dean McMullen.
The reverse features an arrangement of inscriptions in different fonts and a circle of 16 stars, representing the 16 states that existed in 1800. The central inscriptions read “1800 /6th Congress / Senate 32 Senators / House 106 Members / E Pluribus Unum”. Inscriptions around the outer edge of the coin read “United States of America” and “Half Dollar”. The designers of the reverse was Alex Shagin and Marcel Jovine.
The US Mint produced the coins in proof and uncirculated versions at the Philadelphia Mint. The coins were offered individually in regular packaging or simple mailers, as part of the 3 Coin Proof Set priced, and within a specially packaged Collector Set including only the uncirculated half dollar. The half dollars had a maximum authorized mintage of 750,000 across all options, but only sold less than 200,000 by the end of sales.
Coin Specifications
Designer: Dean McMullen (obverse), Alex Shagin and Marcel Jovine (reverse)
Weight: 11.3400 g
Composition: 91.67% copper, 8.33% nickel
Diameter: 30.61 mm
Maximum Authorized Mintage: 750,000
2001-P Uncirculated Capitol Visitor Center Half Dollar
Pre-Issue Price: $8.75 ($7.75 in mailer)
Regular Price: $9.75 ($8.75 in mailer)
Final Mintage: 99,157
2001-P Proof Capitol Visitor Center Half Dollar
Pre-Issue Price: $11.25 ($10.75 in mailer)
Regular Price: $12.00 ($11.50 in mailer)
Final Mintage: 77,962
The 2001 American Buffalo Silver Dollar was issued to commemorate the recently opened National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI) of the Smithsonian Institution. The classic design of the coin after James Earle Fraser’s Buffalo Nickel, made this commemorative coin issue immensely popular with collectors, leading to a prompt sell out.
The obverse and reverse designs for the Buffalo Silver Dollar are taken from the 1913 Indian Head or Buffalo Nickel with some additional inscriptions added to the reverse. The obverse features the profile of a Native American facing right with the inscription “Liberty” in front and the date on the shoulder. The reverse features a full figure of the American Bison or Buffalo. The inscriptions read “United States of America”, “In God We Trust”, “E Pluribus Unum”, and “One Dollar”.
The United States Mint produced the uncirculated version of the coins at the Denver Mint and the proof version at the Philadelphia Mint. The coins were offered individually, as a two coin set, or included in the American Buffalo Coin and Currency Set. The coin and currency set was limited to 50,000 sets and included a replica of a Series 1899 $5 Silver Certificate and two postage stamps. The maximum production for across all products was 500,000.
The 2001 Buffalo Silver Dollar went on sale June 7, 2001 and sold out on June 21, 2001 making it one of the most popular modern commemorative coins. Prices for all versions remain high due to the continued collector demand for the issue.
A surcharge of $10 was added to the price of each coin to fund the opening of the NMAI and supplement the educational and outreach efforts of the museum. After the quick sell out, the NMAI sought the production of an additional 250,000 or 500,000 coins, but the Treasury Secretary denied the request.
Coin Specifications
Designer: James Earle Fraser
Weight: 26.7300 g
Composition: 90% Silver (0.7736 ounces of silver)
Diameter: 38.1 mm
Maximum Authorized Mintage: 500,000
2001-D Uncirculated American Buffalo Silver Dollar
Pre-Issue Price: $30.00
Regular Price: $32.00
Final Mintage: 227,131
2001-P Proof American Buffalo Silver Dollar
Pre-Issue Price:$33.00
Regular Price: $37.00
Final Mintage: 272,869
