Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee recommended June 16 the designs for the three-coin 2022 National Purple Heart Hall of Honor commemorative Coin Program.
The pair of mated designs were created by outside artists who are part of the U.S. Mint’s Artistic Infusion Program, and members of the Philadelphia Mint’s in house engraving staff.
Program will include Proof and Uncirculated versions for a $5 gold coin, a silver dollar, and a copper-nickel clad quarter dollar.
The program has a limit on the production and release of 50,000 silver dollars, 400,000 gold coins and 750,000 copper-nickel clad dollars in Proof and Uncirculated issue for all packaging options.
The $5 coin’s mated pair of designs features on its obverse a Purple Heart Medal with the inscription A GRATEFUL NATURE HONORS and REMEMBERS. On the reverse, George Washington’s signature is placed under the Badge of Military Merit. The reverse design is completed by the inscriptions 1782 and BADGE OF MILITAL MERIT.
The dollar design recommendation pairs two possible pairings. The recommendation obverse shows the Purple Heart medal, with the additional insignia COMBAT WOOUNDED AND KILLED IMMEDIATELY. Five stars signify the five branches in the U.S. army. The reverse is recommended. It shows a woman wearing a World War I helmet and helping a wounded soldier to get on a stretcher. There were over 23,000 female nurses who supported World War I soldiers in the Army or Navy.
The half dollar mated couple recommended features on the reverse a figure wearing military fatigues and combat boots with a pair of crutches. The left leg is amputated at the mid-thigh. The silhouette of the left leg is shown in the negative space below the remaining hip. Below the figure is the Purple Heart medal and the inscription ALL GAVE SOME. A subtle flag motif is visible in the background.
The reverse design shows a young boy with the dress cap of an enlisted Marine. In negative space, the silhouette of a Marine wearing dress blues stands behind him. This emphasizes the grief of Purple Heart recipients’ families. In the lower half of the image, the inscription SOME GAVE ALWAYS is displayed in the negative space. The background field of the corresponding reverse is also repeated.
The motion was to recommend that each denomination use edge lettering.
