Commems Collection Medals: African-American Leaders Set

Between 1982 and 1991, the United States ("US") Congress awarded its Congressional Gold Medal to Joe Louis (1982), Roy Wilkins (1984), Jesse Owens (1988) and General Colin Powell (1991). The authorizing legislation for each medal allowed for Bronze duplicates to be produced and sold to the public.

In 1991, the US Mint released a "Heroes" Set of the leaders which featured small bronze medals of each. The four medals were inserted into a maroon tray which was, in turn, inserted into a CD-style jewel case. I am aware of two versions of the package: one in which each of the medals is encapsulated and one in which the medals are in the tray "raw."

The Set includes a small leaflet that includes brief biographical information on each Leader honored (I've included scans of each page of the leaflet below.) A second leaflet is included that features additional information on why each recipient was so honored, along with technical specifications of each medal.

I find two things very interesting about the Set: 1) The Mint refers to the Set as its "first in a series of coin awareness projects." I'm not aware of the Mint's follow-up projects in this series; and 2) The leaflet mentions how the Set honors Marian Anderson in addition to the others. Neither of the Sets that I have in my collection includes a Marian Anderson medal, nor have I seen such a set online or at a coin show. (Maybe I've just missed it?) In any case, including a leaflet in a Set that references a medal that is not included can definitely add an element of confusion.

African-American Leaders Medals Set - Joe Louis


African-American Leaders Medals Set - Jesse Owens


African-American Leaders Medals Set - General Colin Powell


African-American Leaders Medals Set - Roy Wilkins



African-American Leaders Medals Set Leaflet - Front Cover


African-American Leaders Medals Set Leaflet - Interior, Page 1


African-American Leaders Medals Set Leaflet - Interior, Page 2


African-American Leaders Medals Set Leaflet - Interior, Page 3


African-American Leaders Medals Set Leaflet - Interior, Page 4


African-American Leaders Medals Set Leaflet - Back Cover Cover



African-American Leaders Medals Set Specifications Leaflet - Joe Louis


African-American Leaders Medals Set Specifications Leaflet - Jesse Owens


African-American Leaders Medals Set Specifications Leaflet - General Colin Powell


African-American Leaders Medals Set Specifications Leaflet - Roy Wilkins



For other of my posts about commemorative coins and medals, see: Commems Collection.