Capitol Visitor Center Commemorative Clad Half Dollar Coin

The Capitol Visitor Center Commemorative Coins were authorized in Public Law 106-126 to commemorate Congress convening in the Capitol Building in 1800. Sales of these coins helped benefit the construction of a visitor center under the U.S. Capitol's East Plaza.

The 580,000-square-foot visitor center opened in December 2008, containing space for interactive and multi-media exhibits in many languages, food service, security and storage, and allowing access to the Capitol building.

The Clad Half Dollar obverse was designed by Dean McMullen, a semi-retired free-lance graphic designer and formerly a staff artist with an advertising agency. He also designed the 1993 Bill of Rights one dollar and half dollar reverses, the 1994 World Cup Soccer Silver Dollar obverse, as well as the World Cup Soccer Gold Five Dollar, Silver Dollar and Clad Half Dollar reverses.

The Clad Half Dollar reverse is a composite of designs by Alex Shagin and Marcel Jovine. Born in Russia, Mr. Shagin designed commemorative coins and medals for the Leningrad Mint in the 1970s, including Peter the Great 300, Michelangelo 500, Apollo Soyuz, and the Moscow Olympics.

Marcel Jovine designed the official medal for the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, NY; the 125th Anniversary Medal for the American Numismatic Society; and, for the U.S. Mint, the Mount Rushmore Clad Half Dollar obverse and the Bicentennial of the Constitution Gold Five Dollar obverse and reverse.

The reverse features 16 stars-representing the 16 states that existed in 1800 - around the center, with inscriptions recognizing the 32 Senators and 106 House members of the 6th Congress.

• LIBERTY
• IN GOD WE TRUST
• U.S. CAPITOL
• 1800
• 2001

• UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
• HALF DOLLAR
• E PLURIBUS UNUM
• 1800
• 6TH CONGRESS
• SENATE
• 32 SENATORS
• HOUSE
• 106 MEMBERS

• Philadelphia