Commems Collection Modern: 1993 James Madison-Bill Of Rights - Part II - The Coins

For a discussion of the Congressional pathway for the James Madison-Bill of Rights ("JM-BoR") coin program, see Part I - Success in Congres!.


The enacted legislation for the JM-BoR commemorative coin program included the provisions of the previous Kennedy-Hatch bill, as outlined during the House Subcommittee Hearing by Admiral Yost (see What If? 1993 James Madison-Bill Of Rights - Part II for more.).

The bill/Act included general design guidelines for each of the coins:

- Gold Half Eagle: "emblematic of the first ten Amendments of the Constitution of the United States, known as the Bill of Rights."

- Silver Dollar: "emblematic of James Madison, the fourth President of the United States. The reverse design shall be emblematic of James Madison's home, Montpelier, between the years 1751 and 1836. "

- Silver Half Dollar: "emblematic of the first ten Amendments of the Constitution of the United States, known as the Bill of Rights." (Same as Gold Half Eagle.)

Note: The design for the Silver Half Dollar was to be subject to a nationwide open competition that was to launch within three months of the bill's enactment.

Also carried forward were the provisions for the creation of a Design Panel to select the designs for each of the program's coins (based on the general guidance provided). The multi-disciplinary Panel was to consist of:

1. The Chairperson of the Commission of Fine Arts.
2. The president of the James Madison Memorial Fellowship Foundation.
3. The Executive Director, National Numismatic Collection, the Smithsonian Institution.
4. A representative member of the American Numismatic Association.
5. A representative member of a national sculpture society or association.
6. Two representatives of the United States Mint selected by the Director of the United States Mint.

The designs selected for each coin were:

Gold Half Eagle

Obverse: James Madison reviewing the Bill of Rights
Obverse Designer: Scott R. Blazek (Engraver/Sculptor: William C. Cousins)

Reverse: James Madison quote - "EQUAL LAWS PROTECTING EQUAL RIGHTS ARE...THE BEST GUARANTEE OF LOYALTY AND LOVE OF COUNTRY" loosely encircled by an Eagle (top), the Torch of Freedom (left) and a laurel branch (right).
Reverse Designer: Joseph D. Pena (Engraver/Sculptor: Edgar Z. Steever)



Silver Dollar

Obverse: Right-facinf portrait of James Madison, offset to left of center.
Obverse Designer/Sculptor: William Krawczewicz

Reverse: Montpelier, the home of James and Dolley Madison in Virginia,
Reverse Designer: Dean McMullen (Engraver/Sculptor: Thomas D. Rogers)



Silver Half Dollar

Obverse: Three-quarter, right-facing portrait of James Madison drafting US Constitution amendments that would become the Bill of Right; Montpelier is depicted in the background.
Obverse Designer/Sculptor: Thomas J. Ferrell

Reverse: The Torch of Freedom flanked by the inscriptions "THE BILL OF RIGHTS" and "OUR BASIC FREEDOMS".
Reverse Designer/Sculptor: Dean McMullen



The Pre-Issue Price of the Proof Gold Half Eagle was $185; the Regular Issue Price was $220. The prices for the Uncirculated version of the Half Eagle were $175 and $205, respectively. (Much has changed in 30+ years!)

The Pre-Issue Price of the Proof Silver Dollar was $25; the Regular Issue Price was $29. The prices for the Uncirculated version of the Silver Dollar were $22 and $27, respectively.

The Pre-Issue Price of the Proof Silver Half Dollar was $12.50; the Regular Issue Price was $13.50. The prices for the Uncirculated version of the Half Dollar were $9.75 and $11.50, respectively.

The program sold a total of ~1.514 million coins across all options - ~69% of the authorized total. Individually, sales of the Gold Half Eagle totaled 101,917 coins - 78,651 Proof, 23,266 Unirculated - or ~34%. Silver Dollar sales totaled 779,661 units - 596,315 Proof, 193,346 Uncirculated - or ~87%. The Silver Half Dollar sold 632,384 units - 534,001 Proof, 98,383 Uncirculated - or ~63%.

The sales figures did not reach the levels expected by the James Madison Fellowship Foundation - though the Silver Dollar got close - and didn't fully reflect the optimism espoused by Admiral Yost during the Subcommittee Hearing. Being in competition with the 1993 World War II 50th Anniversary coin program may have dampened sales. Lower-than-hoped-for sales aside, the JM-BoR coin program did raise over $9.6 million via surcharges - a near 50% increase over the Foundation's initial appropriation.

The Foundation and the US Mint leaned heavily into the Silver Half Dollar, only the second such coin of the modern US commemorative coin series, producing three special sets that included the Half Dollar. Following are links to stories about each:

- 1993 Bill Of Rights Coin And Medal Set
- 1993 Bill Of Rights Coin And Stamp Set
- 1993 Bill Of Rights Young Collectors Set

The American Numismatic Association (" ANA") also helped to promote the Half Dollar via its James Madison Freedom Pack. You can read more about it here:

- 1993 A N A - James Madison Freedom Pack Redux


For other of my posts about commemorative coins and medals, including more modern issue What If? stories, see: Commems Collection