Collectors will have an option on Thursday, February 16, 2012 to purchase a limited-edition Infantry Soldier Silver Dollar Defenders of Freedom Set at a price of $51.95. The set will launch at the same time (noon ET) as the commemorative proof and uncirculated Infantry Soldier Silver Dollars.
Details of the set were sparse until Monday when the United States Mint added its product page to http://www.usmint.gov/catalog. Limited to a total of 50,000 with a further per household ceiling of 100, each Defenders of Freedom Set contains:
- a proof version of the Infantry Soldier Silver Dollar and
- a replica dog tag on a miniature chain
These items will arrive in a custom folder which includes the silver dollar, dog tag and a printed quote from President John F. Kennedy that highlights the Army motto.
Individual uncirculated and proof Infantry Silver Dollars also going on sale Thursday will have respective introductory pricing of $44.95 and $49.95. As such, the Infantry Soldier Silver Dollar Defenders of Freedom Set is just $2 more than the proof coin by itself, and should prove an attractive offering with the added dog tag and special packaging. Likely to be very appealing to veterans and of course coin collectors, comments have already begun to appear on forums and coin sites that the set’s 50,000 product limit is too low and the household purchase limit of 100 too high.
Both uncirculated and proof silver dollars were designed to be emblematic of the courage, pride, sacrifice, sense of duty and history of the Infantry. The obverse of each depicts a modern Infantry soldier on rocky ground charging forward and beckoning to the troops to follow. The scene is meant to symbolize the "Follow Me" motto of the Infantry. The reverse of each dollar features the crossed rifles insignia, the branch insignia of the Infantry.
The collectible dollars honor the legacy of the U.S. Army Infantry and establishment of the National Infantry Museum and Soldier Center. $10 surcharges for each dollar sold will be targeted toward the museum center to help fund its maintenance.
The Infantry Soldier Silver Dollar Defenders of Freedom Set and individual dollars will be available through the United States Mint website (http://www.usmint.gov/catalog) or through its customer service phone lines at 1-800-USA-MINT (872-6468). The introductory period for the dollars ends after 5 PM ET on March 19, 2012 at which time each will see a price increase of $5. The set pricing will remain the same for the duration of its availability.
