2007
The Virginia Company of London, England landed on the shores of what would be the United States of America in 1607. These would be the first English settlers in the New World. The 400th anniversary of their settlement, Jamestown (named for King James of England) was honored with two commemorative coins.
The silver dollar coin has on its obverse an engraving of three faces representing diversity of the different cultures brought together in the New World. On its reverse there is the image of the three ships that brought the English Virginia Company to North America; The Susan Constant, Godspeed, and the Discovery. (500,000 minted) It is 90% silver and 10% copper.
The five dollar gold coin has on its obverse the legendary Captain John Smith meeting a Native American man carrying corn. The reverse has an image of the historic Jamestown Memorial Church, which is the only remaining building from the settlement. It is 90% gold and 10% alloy. (100,000 minted)
A silver dollar coin honors the Little Rock Arkansas Nine… the nine African-American students who attended Little Rock Central High during the 1957-58 school year. The 1954 Supreme Court had declared segregation unconstitutional, and these nine students were the first steps in actually making this a reality.
The obverse shows a compelling image of the legs and feet of the nine students walking to school. Also shown is an armed United States soldier walking with them. The reverse shows a rendering of Little Rock Central High as it looked in 1957. The coin was minted in Philadelphia and is 90% silver and 10% copper.
2008
Three different coins honor the American Bald Eagle. This great bird very nearly became extinct until the Endangered Species Act of 1973. These coins mark the 35th anniversary of this.
The half dollar coin is made up of 8.33% nickel with a balance of copper. The obverse shows an image of two eaglets just hatched along with an egg. The reverse has a beautiful engraving of America’s beloved Challenger, the bald eagle that has been raised by the American Eagle Foundation since being rescued in 1989. (750,000 minted)
The silver dollar coin is made up of 90% silver and 10% alloy. The obverse has an image of a bald eagle as it soars through the sky. The reverse shows the Great Seal of the United States as it appeared from 1742-1841. (500,000 minted)
The gold five dollar coin is made up of 90% gold and 10% alloy. The obverse has a rendering of two baby eaglets as they would be in their own habitat. The reverse shows the current Great Seal of the United States. (100,000 minted)
Written by Angela Sangster, Copyright 2010 CoinCollectorGuide.com