In 2011, the U.S. Mint issued a commemorative silver dollar to mark the 150th anniversary of the Medal of Honor, a prestigious military award created during the American Civil War in 1861. This coin honors the brave individuals who have received this high distinction for acts of gallantry while engaged in combat with enemy forces.
The 2011 Medal of Honor Silver Dollar was authorized by the Medal of Honor Commemorative Coin Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-91), which allowed for the minting of up to 500,000 silver dollars, as well as up to 100,000 $5 Gold Coins. The coins were designed to recognize the enduring legacy of the Medal of Honor and its recipients.
The obverse of the coin features a design by Sculptor-Engraver Jim Licaretz, showcasing the three versions of the Medal of Honor awarded to U.S. Army, Navy, and Air Force personnel. The medals are positioned from left to right, accompanied by the inscriptions “LIBERTY,” “IN GOD WE TRUST,” “MEDAL OF HONOR,” and “1861–2011.”
On the reverse, a powerful image designed by AIP Master Designer Richard Masters and sculpted by Phebe Hemphill depicts a modern-day infantry soldier carrying a wounded comrade to safety while under enemy fire. Surrounding this heroic scene are the words “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,” “ONE DOLLAR,” and “E PLURIBUS UNUM.”