Commems Collection Modern: 1993 World War II Coin And Victory Medal Set

Note: This post shares some general information/text with my 1993 WWII Young Collectors Set post.

The 102nd Congress approved a three-coin commemorative program for the 50th Anniversary of World War II - it included a CuNi Clad Half Dollar, a Silver Dollar and a Gold Half Eagle in 1992. The Mint used the flexibility within the enacting legislation, and its own authority, to create several products that supplemented the standard coin packaging.

I've previously posted about two such product options:

- 1993 World War II Half Dollar Paperweight
- 1993 World War II Young Collectors Set

In addition to these two packaging options, the Copper-Nickel (CuNi) Clad Half Dollar coin was available individually in Proof and Uncirculated versions in standard packaging, as well as in several multi-coin sets (also in standard packaging). In this post, I'm taking a look at the last of the Mint's special CuNi Clad Half Dollar packaging options: the World War II Coin and Victory Medal Set (CMS).

The obverse design of the Half Dollar depicts the faces of three members of the US military (two men, one woman), superimposed over a large "V" for "Victory." Above the figures is seen a World War II era bomber surmounted by five stars. The bomber appears to be a Boeing B-29 Superfortress used by the US Army Air Force, though it is not specifically identified by the Mint. The five stars above the bomber appear to be a reference to the highest US military rank of five stars; the rank was created during WWII, in 1944, and is generally a war time rank; it was retired in 1981 with the death of Omar Bradley.



The central figure of the coin's reverse is a US serviceman (Army or Marine Corps) crawling with his gun at the ready on the beach of a Pacific Ocean island. In the background is seen a pair of landing craft bringing more soldiers to the beach and a Navy warship (it appears to be a light cruiser); overhead is a fighter plane (its wings suggest that it is a carrier-based Vought F4U Corsair).

The coin's obverse was designed by George Klauba; its reverse was the work of Bill J. Leftwich.

As with the 1993 James Madison/Bill of Rights Coin and Medal Set, the World War II Coin and Victory Medal Set was designed more for an age 10+ audience vs. children ages 6 to 10; most adults will also appreciate it. Stylistically, it makes use of actual images vs. cartoons and its more focused content is written for the older audience it targets.

The Set is comprised of a Coin Folder and Slipcase. The artwork on the front of the Slipcase includes a large "V" for "Victory" topped by the ribbon bars for each of the Campaign Medals discussed inside the Coin Folder - plus the ribbon bar for the WWII Victory Medal. Across the "V" is a red, white and blue ribbon inscribed with "WORLD WAR II 50th ANNIVERSARY" below the "V" is the set's identifier; the artwork is shared with the front panel of the Coin Folder. The back of the slipcase presents the Half Dollar's Specifications and Certificate of Authenticity.

The Coin Folder's educational content is presented on two interior panels; the back panel does not include any text. Overall, the Folder has two fewer content panels than the WWII YCS - four vs. six.

The Set sold 49,781 units out of an announced maximum of 50,000 (it was a sell-out, the small difference in units produced/sold represents the damaged/unsaleable sets returned to the Mint); the Set had an issue price of $13.50. For comparison, the WWII Young Collectors Set sold 46,849 units.

1993 World War II 50th Anniversary - Coin and Victory Medal Set - Slipcase - Front


1993 World War II 50th Anniversary - Coin and Victory Medal Set - Slipcase - Back


1993 World War II 50th Anniversary - Coin and Victory Medal Set - Coin Folder - Front Panel



The Interior Side of the Front Panel presents the US WWII Campaign Medals for the American, Asiatic-Pacific and European-African-Middle Eastern theaters via illustration and brief explanation.

1993 World War II 50th Anniversary - Coin and Victory Medal Set - Coin Folder - Front Panel / Interior



The Interior Side of the Back Panel discusses the US World War II Victory Medal - illustrated via an embedded bronze duplicate medal struck by the US Mint (sans ribbon) - and includes the obverse of the World War II CuNi Clad Half Dollar.

1993 World War II 50th Anniversary - Coin and Victory Medal Set - Coin Folder Back Panel / Interior



The Back Panel of the Folder does not include written content, but does provide a view of the reverse of the CMS' Half Dollar and Victory Medal.

1993 World War II 50th Anniversary - Coin and Victory Medal Set - Coin Folder - Back Panel



For more of my topics on commemorative coins and medals, including more Modern US Commemorative Coin stories, see: Commems Collection.