Coin of the Month

U.S. Army Commemorative $5 Gold Coin

Many coins honor historic people, places, or events, but this month's coin has about 200 years of history right on the front!  It's a 5-dollar gold coin (one of three released this year) to commemorate the United States Army.

Founded in 1775, the U.S. Army has certainly taken part in a lot of history.  The five soldiers lined up on the front of the coin, dressed in the uniforms of their time, show an unbroken line of service from colonial times through today.

The U.S. Army has played a major role in wars like the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, the U.S. Civil War, World Wars I and II, the Korean War, the wars in Vietnam and Iraq, and others.

In the beginning, the Continental Army (as it was called) mostly supported local militia (civilian soldiers).  In the War of 1812, the militia soldiers were proving unreliable in battle.  By the Mexican War (1846), the regular Army had taken the place of the militia entirely.

With all this history, wouldn't it be great if the U.S. Army had its own museum so people could learn about it?  Well, that's exactly what's happening!  The Army Historical Foundation is building the National Museum of the United States Army at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, and this coin will help to fund it.

This coin and the two others in the set are a tribute to every American soldier who has served our nation in war and in peace.  The coins express our appreciation to currently-serving soldiers and their families and surviving Army veterans.  You can read more about all three U.S. Army commemorative coins on the Commemoratives page.

—Flip