Library of Congress Commemorative Bi-Metallic Ten Dollar Coin

Commemorative Coins

Background

Authorization Date

The coins were authorized on October 19, 1998.

Authorized Mintage Limits

200,000

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Recipient Organization: Library of Congress Trust Fund Board

A portion of the proceeds from each coin's sale benefited the Library of Congress Trust Fund Board to help support outreach programs to make the Library's collection available to all Americans.

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

These commemorative coins are called the coins of many firsts. The first commemorative coins of the new Century, they are also the first-ever gold and platinum bi-metallic coins in the nation's history. For the bi-metallic version, the outer ring is stamped from a sheet of gold, then a solid core of platinum is placed within the ring. The coins contain about one-half an ounce of precious metal.

The bi-metallic obverse coin features the hand of Minerva, Roman goddess of wisdom, holding the Torch of Learning with the Jefferson building dome in the background. The reverse shows the Library's seal.

Design Theme on Obverse

The hand of Minerva raises the torch of learning over the Jefferson Building.

Design Theme on Reverse

A laurel wreath encircles the Seal of the Library of Congress.

Obverse Inscriptions

• LIBERTY
• 2000
• LIBRARY OF CONGRESS
• IN GOD WE TRUST

Reverse Inscriptions

• UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
• TEN DOLLARS
• E PLURIBUS UNUM

Mint and Mint Mark

Artist Information

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

Related Information

Content last reviewed June 1, 2016

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