The United States Mint has revealed a range of design candidates for the 2027 American Liberty Gold Coin and Silver Medal, showcasing 20 potential obverses and 12 reverses. The portfolio of line art renderings was presented Oct. 21 to the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC), an 11-member federal body that advises the Treasury Secretary on coin and medal themes and designs.
The Commission of Fine Arts (CFA) was also slated to review the designs, but its meetings remain on hold until the federal government reopens. In addition, on Tuesday the White House reportedly dismissed all six members of the commission, who had been appointed under former President Biden, and will need to name replacements.
During their review, CCAC members expressed a broad spectrum of opinions — from calls to refine or expand the portfolio for another review to others commending the submissions as exceptional. Views also differed on which designs stood out more, with some preferring the obverses and others favoring the reverses. Several of the designs had appeared in prior CCAC and CFA discussions for other coin programs and were requested for reconsideration in later portfolios.
Among the designs, two combinations drew the most support. In the end, the committee recommended O-16 with R-11, shown topmost. The obverse depicts Liberty holding a torch and olive branch, set against a central sunburst, while the reverse features an alert bald eagle perched atop a rock. The obverse’s LIBERTY★ and the reverse’s UNITED STATES OF AMERICA appear in large, stylized lettering.
The next highest vote-getters in the portfolio were O-3 with R-1, shown below, appreciated by members in part for their complementary parental and child depictions. The obverse shows Liberty walking with a young girl while holding the American flag, and the girl carries a torch symbolizing enduring freedom. The reverse portrays an adult eagle with an eaglet in the nest.
Launched in 2015, the U.S. Mint’s American Liberty program is known for reimagining traditional themes through a modern lens. Obverses showcase contemporary portrayals of Liberty, while reverses depict striking renditions of eagles. Each issue pairs a gold coin with a corresponding silver medal — both sharing the same design, with the medal notably excluding the statutory inscriptions found on coins.
Struck in 24-karat (.9999 fine) gold at the West Point Mint, the $100 coins are generally one troy ounce in weight, with the lone exception of 2018’s 1/10-ounce, $10 release. Apart from the inaugural 2016 edition, which was produced at both the San Francisco and West Point Mints, the companion silver medals have been struck at the Philadelphia Mint in one troy ounce of .999 fine silver, except for the larger 2.5-ounce version issued in 2019.
Obverse 2027 American Liberty Design Candidates
U.S. Mint images of all 20 obverse design candidates follow.
Reverse 2027 American Liberty Liberty Design Candidates
U.S. Mint images of all 12 reverse design candidates follow.
