Jackie Robinson commemorative coins
The Jackie Robinson commemorative coins are a series of commemorative coins issued by the United States Mint in 1997 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Jackie Robinson debuting in Major League Baseball and breaking the baseball color line. The series consists of silver dollars and gold half eagles. The dollar coins feature an obverse designed by Alfred F. Maletsky and a reverse designed by T. James Ferrell. The half eagles feature an obverse designed Maletsky and a reverse designed by James Peed.
The dollars were struck at the San Francisco Mint and the half eagles were struck at the West Point Mint in both proof and uncirculated varieties. Although high sales were anticipated, they failed to meet expectations. Surcharges for the coin were paid to the Jackie Robinson Foundation and the National Fund for the United States Botanic Garden.
The uncirculated half eagle is considered a key date for modern United States commemorative coins.
Legislation
The United States Commemorative Coin Act of 1996 (Pub. L. 104–329 (text) (PDF)) was enacted into law on October 20, 1996. It authorized the United States Mint to strike 200,000 silver dollars and 100,000 gold half eagles in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier in Major League Baseball.[1]
Surcharges were applied to the coins after the sales covered the Mint's production expenses. They were $10 for the dollar coin and $35 for the half eagle coin.[1] The surcharges were to be paid to the Jackie Robinson Foundation, an organization founded by Rachel Robinson that offers scholarships to poor youths. However, the surcharges from the first 100,000 silver dollars sold ($1 million of proceeds) were to be paid to the National Fund for the United States Botanic Garden, after a provision was added by Senator Bennett Johnston to the authorizing legislation.[2][3]
Designs
The Mint presented proposed designs to the Commission of Fine Arts (CFA) during a meeting on March 20, 1997. The designs presented were those favored by Robinson's widow, Rachel Robinson, and the Jackie Robinson Foundation. The CFA approved the designs unanimously.[4] The designs were shown at a Little League game honoring Robinson on April 13 in Union Township, New Jersey.[5] The final designs were unveiled to Rachel and her family before a ceremony honoring Robinson at Shea Stadium on April 15.[6]
Dollar
The obverse of the dollar was designed by Mint engraver Alfred F. Maletsky.[1]. It featured Robinson sliding into home plate and kicking up dust with the inscriptions LIBERTY arcing at the left , the date 1997 at the bottom and IN GOD WE TRUST at the right with the mint mark below.[7] The reverse of the dollar was designed by Mint engraver T. James Ferrell.[1] It depicts the logo of the Jackie Robinson Foundation surrounded by the inscriptions ROOKIE OF THE YEAR 1947, HALL OF FAME 1962, and E PLURIBUS UNUM in small letters around the logo and UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and ONE DOLLAR in large letters.[7]
Half eagle
The obverse of the half eagle was designed by Maletsky and featured a portrait of Robinson with JACKIE ROBINSON inscribed above and LIBERTY below; the date and mint mark appear to the left and IN GOD WE TRUST appears to the right. The reverse was designed by James Peed and depicts a baseball inscribed with 1919–1972 and LEGACY OF COURAGE; around the baseball reads UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, ONE DOLLAR and E PLURIBUS UNUM.[7]
Striking
The coins were struck in both proof and uncirculated varieties. The dollar coins were struck in 90% silver and 10% copper at the San Francisco Mint. The half eagle was struck in 90% gold and 10% copper at the West Point Mint.[8]
| Coin | Pre-issue price | Issue price | Mint and mint mark | Authorized mintage | Total mintage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $5 proof | $195 | $225 | West Point (W) | 100,000 | 24,072 |
| $5 uncirculated | $180 | $205 | 5,174 | ||
| $1 proof | $33 | $37 | San Francisco (S) | 200,000 | 110,002 |
| $1 uncirculated | $30 | $32 | 30,180 | ||
Release and reception
Sales expectations were high, with the Foundation asking that the launch date of July 8 be moved earlier to April. The original authorizng legislation stated the coins could only be struck between July 1, 1997, and July 1, 1998.[10] A July 1997 article in The Numismatist from numismatist Donn Pearlman described the coins as the first since the 1986 Statue of Liberty commemorative coins to "attract ongoing, widespread, positive publicity in the general news media."[11]
The Mint offered a limited Jackie Robinson Legacy Set consisting of the proof half eagle coin, a reproduction of a 1952 Topps baseball card, a lapel pin, and a patch worn by players in the 1997 Major League Baseball season.[2] Of the total mintage, 10,271 proof half eagles were sold as part of the Legacy Sets.[9] Q. David Bowers noted that the baseball card was the first to be issued by the US government.[12] Remaining unsold baseball cards were destroyed by the Mint.[13]
Sales of the coins failed to meet expectations.[12] In a 2002 Coin World article, numismatist David Allen Hines attributed the failure to poor marketing to sports enthusiasts and collectors being disgusted at the release of another expensive set of coins.[14] The Foundation sought to extend the sales of the coins to December 31, 1998, and lobbied Congress to pass legislation. The Senate passed an amendment to extend the sales period, yet the bill died in the House after opposition from Representative Mike Castle.[12] Later legislation was approved granting the extension as well allowing the Foundation to buy remaining unsold coins at a discount, with the costs of continuing the program coming from the surcharges.[15] The Foundation decided against buying the remaining coins.[16]
The uncirculated half eagle is considered a key date of modern United States commemorative coins due to its low mintage.[13][17] Prices for the half eagles increased on the collector market, with an uncirculated example graded MS-69 by Professional Coin Grading Service selling for $2,185 at a March 2012 Heritage Auctions sale.[18]
A Congressional Gold Medal was posthumously awarded to Robinson in 2005; the Mint offered bronze replicas to the public.[19]
See also
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 Bowers 2017, p. 216.
- 1 2 Swiatek 2012, p. 569.
- ↑ Skidmore, Dave (July 16, 1997). "Robinson coin helps fund Botanic Garden". The Day. New London, Connecticut. Associated Press. p. 3.
- ↑ Gilkes, Paul (April 7, 1997). "Mint unveils Jackie Robinson coin designs". Coin World. Amos Press. pp. 1, 103.
- ↑ Loder, Christopher M. (April 14, 1997). "Honoring Robinson with dreams". The Star-Ledger. Newark, New Jersey. p. 19.
- ↑ Smith, Claire (April 16, 1997). "A Grand Tribute to Robinson and His Moment". The New York Times. p. 1.
- 1 2 3 Swiatek 2012, p. 568.
- ↑ Yeoman 2021, p. 1216.
- 1 2 "Historical Commemorative Coin Sales Figures: 1997 Jackie Robinson". www.usmint.gov. United States Mint. Retrieved August 23, 2026.
- ↑ Gilkes, Paul (February 10, 1997). "Jackie Robinson Foundation seeks early release of coins". Coin World. Amos Press. pp. 1, 101.
- ↑ Pearlman 1997, p. 748.
- 1 2 3 Bowers 2017, p. 217.
- 1 2 Swiatek 2012, p. 570.
- ↑ Hines, David Allen (February 2002). "President Clonton's Numismatic Legacy". The Numismatist. Colorado Springs, CO: American Numismatic Association. pp. 172–173.
- ↑ "Clinton Approves Coins". The Numismatist. Colorado Springs, CO: American Numismatic Association. January 1999. pp. 25–26.
- ↑ Starck, Jeff (October 17, 2005). "Jackie Robinson coins". Coin World. Amos Press. pp. 65, 68.
- ↑ Bowers 2017, p. 218.
- ↑ Smith, Andy (July 2012). "Legacy of Courage". The Numismatist. Colorado Springs, CO: American Numismatic Association. p. 25.
- ↑ Valdois, Ahenka (April 2005). "A Strike for Jackie Robinson". The Numismatist. Colorado Springs, CO: American Numismatic Association. p. 33.
Sources
- Bowers, Q. David (2017). A Guide Book of United States Commemorative Coins (2nd ed.). Whitman Publishing. ISBN 978-0-7948-4419-6.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: ref duplicates default (link) - Pearlman, Donn (July 1997). "Jackie Robinson Commems: All Bases Covered". The Numismatist. Colorado Springs, CO: American Numismatic Association. pp. 748–752, 795–796.
{{cite magazine}}: CS1 maint: ref duplicates default (link) - Swiatek, Anthony (2012). Encyclopedia of the Commemorative Coins of the United States. Chicago: KWS Publishers. ISBN 978-0-9817736-7-4.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: ref duplicates default (link) - Yeoman, R. S. (2021). Bowers, Q. David; Garrett, Jeff; Bressett, Kenneth (eds.). A Guide Book of United States Coins 2021 (Mega Red 7th ed.). Pelham, AL: Whitman Publishing, LLC. ISBN 978-0-7948-4897-2.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: ref duplicates default (link)