Commems Collection Modern: 2003 First Flight Centennial - Part II / Coin Program

Continued from Part I...

The move to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the Wright Brothers' First Flight with a coin or coins began in June 1996, during the 104th Congress. Lauch Faircloth (R-NC) introduced a bill in the Senate; Walter B. Jones (R-NC) introduced similar legislation in September. The Senate bill was referred to the Senate Committee on Banking. The House bill was referred to the House Committee on Banking and Financial Services with a subsequent referral to its Subcommittee on Domestic and International Monetary Policy.

Though each of the bills called for a three-coin program (Gold Eagle/$10, Silver Dollar and Copper-Nickel (CuNi) Clad Half Dollar, they differed on the quantities requested. The Senate bill proposed up to 500,000 Gold Eagles, up to 3,000,000 Silver Dollars and up to 10,000,000 Half Dollars. (Aggressive mintage figures!) The House bill was a bit more realistic, proposing 100,000 Gold Eagles, 500,000 Silver Dollars and 750,000 Half Dollars.

The First Flight Foundation was to be the recipient of collected surcharges: $35 for each Gold $10 coin sold, $10 for each Silver Dollar and $1.00 per Half Dollar. Neither bill was reported out of Committee, and thus faded away with the adjournment of the 104th Congress. The 105th Congress would be the charm.

During the 105th Congress, Senator Faircloth and Representative Jones re-introduced their respective bills - each continuing the same mintage figure specifications - in May 1997 and September 1997, respectively. As in the previous Congress, the bills were referred to their respective Senate and House Committees. Neither bill moved forward out of Committee.

The Senate Committee did, however, amend the "50 States Commemorative Coin Program" bill it was considering to include the First Flight centennial coins; it did so on October 23, 1997. The amended bill was reported out to the Senate where it was passed by Unanimous Consent.

Though amended by the Senate Committee, the "50 States" bill adopted the more modest mintage specifications of the previous House bills. Namely, 100,000 Gold Eagles, 500,000 Silver Dollars and 750,000 Half Dollars. As with the standalone bills, collected surcharges were to be paid to the First Flight Foundation to be used for

"(A) repairing, refurbishing, and maintaining the Wright Brothers Monument on the Outer Banks of North Carolina; and

(B) expanding (or, if necessary, replacing) and maintaining the visitor center and other facilities at the Wright Brothers National Memorial Park on the Outer Banks of North Carolina, including providing educational programs and exhibits for visitors."

The Senate-passed bill was sent to the House for its consideration - it was passed without issue. The bill was examined and signed in each chamber, whereupon it was sent to the President for approval. US President William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton signed the bill into law on December 1, 1997.

Note: In addition to the 50 States Quarter Program and the First Flight Centennial coins, the Act also authorized the US "golden" small dollar coin.)

The Gold Eagle features front-facing portraits of Orville Wright (left) and Wilbur Wright, the coin's reverse presents the Wright Flyer that made the historic flight with an eagle soaring above. Designers: Donna Weaver (obverse); Norman E. Nemeth (reverse).

The obverse of the Silver Dollar presents conjoined, left-facing portraits of the Brothers with Wilbur in the front position and Orville in the rear. The reverse captures the Flyer in flight over the dunes of North Carolina's Outer Banks. Designers: T. James Ferrell (obverse); Norman E. Nemeth (reverse).

The Half Dollar depicts the Wright Brothers National Monument on its obverse, and an adaptation of the "first flight" scene with Orville in the Flyer and Wilbur running alongside. John Mercanti (obverse); Norman E. Nemeth (reverse).

Each of the coins was available in Proof and Uncirculated versions. The Pre-Issue Prics/Regular Price for the Proof Gold Eagle was $350/$375, for the Uncirculated version $340/$365. Pricing for the Silver Dollar was $33/$37 for the Proof and $$31/$33 for the Uncirculated. The Half Dollar pricing was $12.50/$13.50 for the Proof coin and $9.75/$10.75 for the Uncirculated.

None of the coins reached even 50% of the maximum authorized mintage limits:

- Gold Eagle, Proof: 21,676
- Gold Eagle, Uncirculated: 10,009

- Silver Dollar, Proof: 190,240
- Silver Dollar, Uncirculated: 53,533

- Clad Half Dollar, Proof: 109,710
- Clad Half Dollar, Uncirculated: 57,122

For my collection, I added the Uncirculated versions of each coin.

2004 First Flight Centennial - Gold Eagle ($10)


2004 First Flight Centennial - Silver Dollar


2004 First Flight Centennial - CuNi Clad Half Dollar


For the historical background on the "First Flight" and to see a few historical images, check out: Part I / Background[/url

For a discussion of the Congressional Gold Medal awarded to Orville Wright and Wilbur Wright, see:

- 1909 Wright Brothers - US Congress


For more of my stories about commemorative coins and medals, including other First Flight coin posts, see: Commems Collection.