On Thursday, October 11, the United States Mint unveiled the design for the 2019 Apollo 11 50th Anniversary Commemorative Coin. The coin honors the first manned moon landing.
Explore the final frontier with space and STEM lesson plans from the U.S. Mint.
Coin of the Month
2019 Apollo 11 50th Anniversary Commemorative Coin
The U.S. Mint’s commemorative coins honor famous people, places, and events by highlighting important parts of American history and culture. The 2019 Apollo 11 50th Anniversary Commemorative Coin is one of two commemorative coins to be released next year.
Fast Facts:
- The coin’s obverse design features the inscriptions “MERCURY,” “GEMINI,” and “APOLLO,” separated by phases of the Moon, and a footprint on the lunar surface, which together represent the efforts of the United States space program leading up to the first manned Moon landing.
- The coin’s reverse design features a representation of a close-up of the famous ‘Buzz Aldrin on the Moon’ photograph taken July 20, 1969, that shows just the visor and part of the helmet of astronaut Buzz Aldrin. The reflection in Buzz Aldrin’s helmet includes astronaut Neil Armstrong, the United States flag, and the lunar lander.
- The coin’s obverse was designed by Gary Cooper and sculpted by Joseph Menna. The coin’s reverse was designed and sculpted by Phebe Hemphill.
Space Lesson Plans
Learn more about space exploration as depicted on coins with the following lesson plans:
Pioneers in Space (Grades K-1)
Students will learn the meaning of the word “pioneer” and will be introduced to some aviation pioneers who came from Ohio.
Many Happy Returns (Grade 4)
Students will make connections between the past and the present and compare the Journey of Lewis and Clark with the space flight of Apollo 11.
Exploration Across Eras (Grades 9-12)
Students will understand the chronology of events related to the Corps of Discovery and the United States space program of the 1960s.
Mint Pals Word Quest
The Mint’s newest game, Counting with Coins, teaches basic math concepts and coin identification for grades K-2 in a fun grocery store setting.
Coins in Outer Space
Did you know two of the Mint’s 50 State Quarters are currently in outer space? Learn more about the Maryland and Florida quarters and their journey aboard the New Horizons spacecraft by watching the video.
Upcoming Events
Block Island National Wildlife Refuge Quarter Launch
Thursday, November 15 | Charlestown, Rhode Island
Commemorating the release of the Block Island National Wildlife Refuge Quarter. View the events page for more information.