The 2.5-ounce,.999 fine sterling U.S Coast Guard medal will be offered by the United States Mint in a limited edition starting at noon Eastern Time Aug. 16.
The product costs $160 per medal and is limited to 10,000 copies. Orders can only be made by one household.
This is the second in a series honoring the U.S. Armed Forces. After its earlier launch dates for sales were cancelled, the U.S. Air Force Medal sales opened on July 13.
The Coast Guard medal’s reverse, measuring 63.5 millimeters in diameter, depicts a Coast Guard national safety cutter speeding towards the viewer at full throttle. The top border is split by the antenna and the Coast Guard motto, “Always Ready”, are arced with the inscriptions U.S.COAST GUARD and SEMPER PARATUS.
The cutter Hamilton is identified by the hull number 753 and named after Alexander Hamilton.
The U.S. Mint Artistic Infusion Program artist Richard Masters designed the obverse and Michael Gaudioso, now retired U.S. Mint Medallic Artist, sculpted it.
Reverse of the medal depicts two emblems of Coast Guard: a life saver ring, and the racing stripese mark. These are found on nearly all Coast Guard craft.
Racing stripes are illustrated with a heraldic tradition of hatching to indicate color. Horizontal lines signify blue, and vertical lines signify red.
In the middle is the Coast Guard emblem. It is part of the racing stripes mark. The Coast Guard’s core values, HONOR, RESPECT and DEVOTION to DUTY, are inscribed on the life saver ring.
The reverse design was created and sculpted in U.S. Mint Medallic Artist Renata Garon by Thomas Hipschen, an AIP artist (an ex-bank note picture engraver with Bureau of Engraving and Printing).
The U.S. Congress created the Coast Guard on August 4, 1790 at Hamilton’s request. It is the oldest continuously operating seagoing service in the United States.
Hamilton was secretary to the Treasury and headed Revenue-Marine. Its original purpose was to collect customs duties at U.S. shipping ports. The U.S. Revenue Cutter Service was the name of the service by the 1860s.
On Jan. 28, 1915 under the Department of the Treasury, the U.S. Revenue Cutter Service merged with the U.S. Life-Saving Service to create the modern Coast Guard. The U.S. Lighthouse Service, which was also merged with the Coast Guard in 1939, was also merged.
The Coast Guard is one of six armed services in the United States and has been involved with every major U.S. conflict since 1790.
