Capitol Visitor Center Commemorative Silver Dollar Coin
- Year of Issue: 2001
- Authorizing Legislation: Public Law 106-126
Background
Availability For Purchase
The Capitol Visitor Center coins were available from the U.S. Mint between February 28, 2001, and March 1, 2002.
Authorized Mintage Limit
Silver Dollar: 500,000
Recipient Organization: The Capitol Visitor Center
A portion of the proceeds from each coin--$35 from the Gold Five Dollar coin, $10 from the Silver Dollar coin, and $3 from the Clad Half Dollar--will go to benefit the construction of a visitor center under the U.S. Capitol's East Plaza.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
Story of the Design
The proof Silver Dollar obverse was designed by Marika Somogyi of the Beaux Arts College in Budapest. Somogyi's work has been seen in more than 14 art museums around the world, including the permanent collections of the Smithsonian Institution and the British Museum. She designed the U.S. Mint's Mount Rushmore Commemorative Silver Dollar obverse and has received the "Excellence in American Medallic Art" Award.
The Silver Dollar reverse was designed by John Mercanti. Mercanti designed the 2000 Library of Congress Bimetallic Ten Dollar obverse and Silver Dollar reverse, the reverse of the Leif Ericson Silver Dollar, and the obverse designs for the George H. W. Bush and the Hubert Humphrey medals. He also designed the Bicentennial of the Congress Gold Five Dollar; the Eisenhower Silver Dollar obverse; the Mount Rushmore Gold Five Dollar obverse; the Korean War Silver Dollar obverse; the 1991 USO Anniversary Silver Dollar obverse; and two of the 1995 Atlanta Centennial Olympic Silver Dollar obverses (track & field and cycling).
Design Theme on Reverse
The reverse shows a contemporary interpretation of the U.S. bald eagle wrapped in a banner that says "U.S. Capitol Visitor Center".
Obverse Inscriptions
• LIBERTY
• IN GOD WE TRUST
• U.S. CAPITOL
• 1800
• 2001
Reverse Inscriptions
• UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
• ONE DOLLAR
• E PLURIBUS UNUM
• U.S. CAPITOL VISITOR CENTER
Mint and Mint Mark
Artist Information
Obverse- Sculptor: Marika Somogyi
- Designer: Marika Somogyi
- Sculptor: John Mercanti
- Designer: John Mercanti