Christopher Columbus Quincentenary Dollar

Commemorative Coins

Background

Released on August 28, 1992, this commemorative coin honors the 500th Anniversary of the discovery of America by Christopher Columbus.

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Recipient Organization: Christopher Columbus Fellowship Fund

Surcharges from coin sales were to be deposited in the Christopher Columbus Fellowship Fund and be available to the Christopher Columbus Fellowship Foundation. The latter was established to encourage and support research, study, and labor designed to produce new discoveries in all fields of endeavor for the benefit of mankind.

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 obverse design of the coin features a full-length portrait of Christopher Columbus holding a banner in his right hand, a scroll in his left hand, and he is standing next to a globe atop a pedestal to his left. The background displays three sailing vessels.

The reverse features an image of the Santa Maria and the U.S. Space Shuttle Discovery, with the Earth and a star to the upper right of the shuttle.

Obverse Inscriptions

  • COLUMBUS QUINCENTENARY
  • LIBERTY
  • IN GOD WE TRUST
  • 1992

Reverse Inscriptions

  • UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
  • ONE DOLLAR
  • E PLURIBUS UNUM
  • 1492 ~ 1992

Mint and Mint Mark

Artist Information

Obverse
  • Designer: John Mercanti
Reverse
  • Designer: Thomas D. Rogers, Sr.

Related Information

Content last reviewed December 12, 2016

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