Mark Twain Commemorative $1 Silver Coin

Commemorative Coin Programs

Background

The U.S. Mint released the Mark Twain $1 Silver Coin in 2016 as part of the Mark Twain Commemorative Coin Program. The program includes a $5 gold coin and $1 silver coin to commemorate author Mark Twain, born Samuel Langhorne Clemens. Each coin has distinctive obverse and reverse designs that are emblematic of the life and legacy of the author.

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Recipient Organization: Mark Twain House and Museum, University of California, Berkeley, Elmira College in New York, Mark Twain Boyhood Home and Museum

Prices for the coins include surcharges of $35 for each gold coin and $10 for each silver coin, which are authorized to be distributed as follows:
  • One-quarter to the Mark Twain House and Museum in Hartford, CT, to support the continued restoration of the Mark Twain house and grounds and ensure continuing growth and innovation in museum programming to research, promote and educate the public on the legacy of Mark Twain
  • One-quarter to the University of California, Berkeley, for the benefit of the Mark Twain Project at the Bancroft Library to support programs to study and promote the legacy of Mark Twain
  • One-quarter to Elmira College in New York for research and education purposes
  • One-quarter to the Mark Twain Boyhood Home and Museum in Hannibal, MO, to preserve historical sites related to Mark Twain and help support programs to study and promote his legacy.

Commemorative Coin Surcharges

Commemorative coin programs are created by acts of Congress to honor a person, place, or event. Surcharges from the sales of these coins help fund a variety of organizations and projects that benefit the public. Commemorative coins are only available from the United States Mint for a limited time, as specified by public law.

Characteristics

The silver obverse (heads) design features a portrait of Mark Twain smoking a pipe with the smoke forming a silhouette of Huck Finn and Jim on a raft in the background.

The silver reverse design features an assortment of characters leaping to life from Mark Twain's works: the knight and horse from A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court, the frog from The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County, and Jim and Huck from Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.

Obverse Inscriptions

  • LIBERTY
  • 2016
  • IN GOD WE TRUST

Reverse Inscriptions

  • UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
  • $1
  • E PLURIBUS UNUM

Mint and Mint Mark

Specifications

Composition: 90 percent silver, 10 percent copper
Diameter: 1.500 inches (± 0.003), 38.10 mm (± 0.08)
Weight: 26.73 grams
Mintage Limit: 350,000 across all silver product options

Artist Information

Obverse
  • Sculptor: Michael Gaudioso, Medallic Artist
  • Designer: Chris Costello, Artistic Infusion Program
Reverse

Related Information

Content last reviewed February 25, 2021

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