The United States Mint unveiled images of its high reliefs American Liberty 1-ounce gold coin and 2.5-ounce silver medal. The 2019-dated collectibles are scheduled to launch Aug. 15 at yet to be announced finishes and limits.
Introduced in 2015, the U.S. Mint’s series of American Liberty products feature modern interpretations of Lady Liberty that embody the ideals of freedom and equality.
The West Point Mint-struck 2019 American Liberty gold coin is in an ounce of 24-karat gold and has a diameter of 1.2 inches. Its price can change weekly based on the Mint’s gold coin pricing matrix, with its opening price published on the day before its release. The 2019 American Liberty medal at 2.5 ounces in .999 fine silver marks a first for its size in modern U.S. Mint history. Priced at $99.95, it is produced at the Philadelphia Mint to a diameter of about 2 inches.
Both pieces share the same obverse (heads side) and reverse (tails side) designs, which came from passed over designs that had originally been submitted for the 2015- and 2017-dated American Liberty coins and medals.
Obverses depict Liberty with 13 rays of light, symbolizing the free and creative spirit of America’s people, emanating along her headdress. Richard Masters created the design and Joseph Menna executed its sculpting. It was favored by the Commission of Fine Arts (CFA) and the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC) when they reviewed American Liberty design candidates last year.
Designed by Donna Weaver and sculpted by Michael Gaudioso, reverses show a bald eagle as it prepares to land. Its feathers are different from the original design candidate, changed following concerns from the CCAC that they lacked proper rendering.
The CFA recommended the design over others, noting that "the radial pattern of the eagle’s wing would pair well with the headdress on the obverse." The original design was the CCAC’s second preference, losing some support because of the since modified feathers.
