The United States Mint revealed nearly 30 potential designs for 2027 commemorative coins honoring dogs that serve in military, law enforcement, search-and-rescue, and other assistance roles.
Authorized by Congress under Public Law No. 118-109, the Working Dog Commemorative Coin Act directs the U.S. Mint to strike and sell $5 gold coins, silver dollars, and clad half dollars in 2027, with surcharges benefiting America’s VetDogs and supporting its mission. The cost to breed, raise, train, and place a single assistance dog exceeds $50,000, though America’s VetDogs provides its services free of charge to veterans, active-duty service members, and first responders with disabilities.
Nearly 60 designs were initially proposed before being culled to 28 following consultation with representatives of America’s VetDogs. Fourteen obverse and 14 reverse designs were formally presented to the Commission of Fine Arts (CFA) on Feb. 19 and the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC) on Feb. 24. Representatives of America’s VetDogs also participated in the CCAC meeting, including the organization’s president and CEO, John Miller.
Final design selections will be made by the Treasury Secretary after considering recommendations from the reviewing bodies.
$5 Gold Coin Recommended Designs (Therapy Dog)
In the end, three designs emerged as the top candidates for the $5 gold coin recognizing therapy dogs.
Liaisons from America’s VetDogs preferred obverse #O-06, which depicts an outstretched hand and a therapy dog, paired with reverse #R-04A, showing the loving bond between a child and a therapy dog.
The CCAC recommended the same reverse but wanted the heart removed and the more kid-friendly lettering replaced with a standard font. For the obverse, the committee selected #O-02, depicting a left-facing therapy dog.
The CFA also preferred #O-02 for the obverse. Instead of selecting one of the designs created for the reverse, the panel suggested using obverse #O-06 as the reverse — the obverse design preferred by America’s VetDogs. As part of that change, it recommended removing the keys and coordinating the inscriptions and fonts.
Silver Dollar Recommended Designs (Service and Guide Dogs)
Three designs also rose to the top as leading candidates for the silver dollar honoring service and guide dogs. All parties agreed on the reverse, design #R-01. Specifically, the CFA stated the design "successfully narrates the story of a service dog helping a veteran," and suggested replacing the word "service" with "vet" on the dog’s vest.
For the silver dollar obverse, liaisons from America’s VetDogs and members of the CCAC preferred design #O-01, featuring a golden retriever guide dog pausing in a crosswalk to alert its visually impaired handler to a raised curb.
The CFA, meanwhile, did not select any of the silver dollar obverse candidates and instead returned to the designs created for the gold coin, recommending #O-01, which depicts the profile of two dogs.
Clad Half Dollar Recommended Designs (Military and Law Enforcement K-9s)
There was less consensus on the candidate designs for the half dollar recognizing military and police K-9 dogs.
Liaisons from America’s VetDogs preferred obverse design #O-05, which pairs a uniformed service member with a K-9. For the reverse, they favored design #R-05, showing a K-9 officer with a police dog.
For its clad obverse selection, the CFA again turned to a design from the silver dollar candidates, choosing #O-04. It features a German Shepherd without gear. Members recommended text revisions to better align with the military and police K-9 theme. For the reverse, the panel recommended clad design #R-03, citing its dynamic and balanced composition. Members also suggested removing the background chair and the "do not pet" text while increasing the size of the American flag on the dog’s vest.
Members of the CCAC agreed with the CFA’s reverse choice of #R-03. For the obverse, however, they recommended #O-02A, depicting a German Shepherd clad in a bulletproof canine vest and goggles.
Images of All Candidate Designs
Images of all candidate designs appear below.
