By an official Act of Congress, the United States Mint was commissioned to strike gold and silver commemorative coins honoring the American sports legend Jackie Robinson.
Mintage limits were 100,000 $5 gold coins and 200,000 $1 silver coins – the lowest number of authorized silver coins in the modern commemorative era.
Fifty years ago, American Baseball’s Major League was hobbled by segregation. The field of competition was closed to African Americans.
Then in April 1947, one man braved the taunts and insults, and opened America’s pastime to men of every race and color. Jack Roosevelt Robinson’s athletic prowess and courage on the field was mirrored by the dignity and integrity with which he lived his personal life.
His example has stood for the generations that have followed. And history has accorded a special place for the man that fans of all races came to cheer as “Jackie.”
A portion of the proceeds from the sale of the coins were paid to the Jackie Robinson Foundation to support educational and leadership programs and scholarships.
