The United States Mint joined the National Purple Heart Honor Mission on Veterans Day to unveil designs for the 2022 National Purple Heart Hall of Honor Commemorative Coins. The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor collects, preserves and shares the stories of courage and sacrifice of Purple Heart recipients. The Purple Heart is awarded to those who have been wounded or killed by enemy action while serving in the U.S. military.
Authorized under Public Law 116-247, the coins will be struck in collector qualities of proof and uncirculated and offered beginning Jan. 6 in gold, silver and clad options for a total of 6 unique versions.
Editor’s note: The U.S. Mint has since changed the release date of the commemorative coins to "To Be Determined." In addition, unique versions were increased to 7 with a colorized silver dollar option.
"The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor Commemorative Coin Program will honor the extraordinary sacrifices made by so many," said U.S. Mint Acting Director Ventris Gibson. "We hope this program will assist the National Purple Heart Honor Mission, Inc, in its efforts to collect, preserve, and share the stories of all Purple Heart recipients."
The program is limited to maximum mintages of 50,000 $5 gold coins, 400,000 silver dollars and 750,000 clad half dollars.
U.S. Mint-published line art images and descriptions of the coin designs follow.
$5 Gold Coin Designs
The obverse (heads) design features the Purple Heart medal with the inscriptions "LIBERTY," "IN GOD WE TRUST," "THE PURPLE HEART," "2022," and "A GRATEFUL NATION HONORS AND REMEMBERS."
The reverse (tails) design places George Washington’s signature under the Badge of Military Merit and over a textured stripe. Inscriptions are "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA," "1782," "BADGE OF MILITARY MERIT," "E PLURIBUS UNUM," and "FIVE DOLLARS."
| Obverse Artists | Reverse Artists |
|---|---|
| Designer: Donna Weaver | Designer: Donna Weaver |
| Sculptor: Joseph Menna | Sculptor: John P. McGraw |
Silver Dollar Designs
The design features the Purple Heart medal with the inscriptions "COMBAT WOUNDED & KILLED IN ACTION," "LIBERTY," "1932," "2022," and "IN GOD WE TRUST." Five stars represent the branches of the military.
The design shows a nurse in a World War I helmet as she bandages a wounded service member on a stretcher. More than 23,000 women nurses served in the Army and Navy during the war. Inscriptions are "UNITED STATES of AMERICA," "E PLURIBUS UNUM," and "ONE DOLLAR."
| Obverse Artists | Reverse Artists |
|---|---|
| Designer: Heidi Wastweet | Designer: Heidi Wastweet |
| Sculptor: Eric David Custer | Sculptor: Craig A. Campbell |
Half Dollar Designs
The design shows a figure in military fatigues and combat boots using a pair of crutches. The left leg has been amputated from the thigh down. The negative space below shows the missing leg in silhouette. The Purple Heart medal appears behind the figure, and the inscription "ALL GAVE SOME" sits below the composition. The background field has a subtle flag motif. Additional inscriptions are "IN GOD WE TRUST," "LIBERTY," and "2022."
The design features a young boy holding the dress cap of an enlisted Marine. The silhouette of a Marine in dress blues stands behind him in negative space, emphasizing the loss that affects the families of Purple Heart recipients. The inscription "SOME GAVE ALL" is featured in the negative space around the boy in the lower half. The obverse’s background field flag motif is repeated. Additional inscriptions are "E PLURIBUS UNUM," "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA," and "HALF DOLLAR."
| Obverse Artists | Reverse Artists |
|---|---|
| Designer: Beth Zaiken | Designer: Beth Zaiken |
| Sculptor: Craig A. Campbell | Sculptor: John P. McGraw |
Surcharges and Other 2022 Commemorative Coin Program
Prices for the commemorative coins have yet to be published.
The authorizing law calls for added surcharges of $35 per gold coin, $10 for each silver dollar, and $5 per clad half-dollar. Provided the coins turn a profit, the collected surcharges are to be paid to the non-profit National Purple Heart Honor Mission to support its mission and for capital improvements to the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor facilities in New Windsor.
Current law provides for two U.S. Mint commemorative coin programs each year. The other 2022 program includes coins commemorating the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the Negro Leagues baseball.
