Commemorative coins have been around since the days of the Greeks and Romans. In the beginning, they were used to record and honor important events. And, in the absence of newspapers, they proved useful in passing along important news of the day.
Many modern nations have issued commemorative coins which are highly sought after by collectors. But no nation has surpassed the United States when it comes to commemorative coins.
People who collect commemoratives are usually geared more toward the historical side of coin collecting. It is the historical features of the commemoratives that create interest among many people who would otherwise have little interest in coins.
Here’s more about U.S. modern commemorative coins…
What Are Commemorative Coins?
These special coins are usually issued either to commemorate events or to help pay for monuments and celebrations that commemorate historical persons, places, or things.
A commemorative coin is offered in most instances by a commission in charge of the event to be commemorated and it is sold at a price higher than the face value of the coin.
There have been many many commemoratives made over the years — too many to list in one article. So I’m going to list what are known as the modern commemorative coins here.
See a list of older U.S. commemorative coins from 1892 to 1954.
What Are Modern Commemorative Coins?
Modern commemorative coins are uncirculated commemorative coins minted from 1982 to present date. They are all listed below — with their current values.
The U.S. Mint’s modern commemorative coin program began in 1982. Commemorative coins celebrate and honor American people, places, events, and institutions. These coins help raise money for important causes as well as commemorating important aspects of American history. Although these coins are legal tender, they are not minted for general circulation. Each commemorative coin is produced by the U.S. Mint in limited quantity and is only available for a limited time.
It’s worth noting that many people consider popular coin programs (like the 50 States Quarters and America the Beautiful Quarters) to be modern commemorative coins — and we include them as such whenever we talk about commemoratives here at The Fun Times Guide to Coins.
However, circulating coin programs are technically not commemorative coins in the proper sense — even though the coins do commemorate certain people, places, and things.
The coins mentioned in this article are, indeed, true U.S. Mint uncirculated commemoratives that are legal tender but not intended for general circulation.
List Of Modern Commemorative Coins Value – By Year
The prices listed below are for MS-67 grade coins. Anything graded less will be worth considerably less.
2018
Breast Cancer Awareness Commemorative Coins
2018-D Half Dollar – $20
2018-P Silver Dollar – $40
2018-W $5 Pink Gold Coin – $375
World War I Centennial Commemorative Coin
2018-P Silver Dollar – $40
2017
Boys Town Centennial Commemorative Coins
2017-D Half Dollar – $20
2017-P Silver Dollar – $40
2017-W $5 Gold Coin – $360
Lions Clubs International Centennial Commemorative Coin
2017-P Silver Dollar – $45
2016
Mark Twain Commemorative Coins
2016-P Silver Dollar – $40
2016-W $5 Gold Coin – $360
National Park Service 100th Anniversary Commemorative Coins
2016-D Half Dollar – $18
2016-P Silver Dollar – $45
2016-W $5 Gold Coin – $365
2015
U.S. Marshals Service 225th Anniversary Commemorative Coins
2015-D Half Dollar – $17
2015-P Silver Dollar – $45
2015-W $5 Gold Coin – $375
March of Dimes Commemorative Coin
2015-P Silver Dollar – $45
2014
Civil Rights Act of 1964 Commemorative Coin
2014-P Silver Dollar – $75
National Baseball Hall of Fame Commemorative Coins
2014-D Half Dollar – $35
2014-P Silver Dollar – $70
2014-W $5 Gold Coin – $825
2013
5-Star Generals Commemorative Coins
2013-D Half Dollar – $35
2013-W Silver Dollar – $40
2013-P $5 Gold Coin – $975
Girl Scouts of the USA Centennial Commemorative Coin
2013-W Silver Dollar – $40
2012
Star-Spangled Banner Commemorative Coins
2012-P Silver Dollar – $45
2012-W $5 Gold Coin – $475
Infantry Soldier Commemorative Coin
2012-W Silver Dollar – $40
2011
Medal of Honor Commemorative Coins
2011-S Silver Dollar – $45
2011-P $5 Gold Coin – $525
United States Army Commemorative Coins
2011-D Half Dollar – $60
2011-S Silver Dollar – $45
2011-P $5 Gold Coin – $400
2010
Boy Scouts of America Centennial Commemorative Coin
2010-P Silver Dollar – $27
American Veterans Disabled for Life Commemorative Coin
2010-W Silver Dollar – $30
2009
Abraham Lincoln Commemorative Coin
2009-P Silver Dollar – $30
Louis Braille Bicentennial Commemorative Coin
2009-P Silver Dollar – $27
2008
Bald Eagle Commemorative Coins
2008-W $5 Gold Coin – $300
2008-P Silver Dollar – $25
2008-S Half Dollar – $12
2007
Little Rock Central High School Desegregation Commemorative Coin
2007-P Silver Dollar – $30
Jamestown 400th Anniversary Commemorative Coins
2007-P Silver Dollar – $35
2007-P $5 Gold Coin – $320
2006
San Francisco Old Mint Commemorative Coins
2006-S Silver Dollar – $40
2006-S $5 Gold Coin – $320
Benjamin Franklin Commemorative Coins
2006-P “Scientist” Silver Dollar – $30
2006-P “Founding Father” Silver Dollar – $30
2005
Chief Justice John Marshall Commemorative Coin
2005-P Silver Dollar – $40
Marine Corps 230th Anniversary Commemorative Coin
2005-P Silver Dollar – $45
2004
Lewis & Clark Bicentennial Commemorative Coin
2004-P Silver Dollar – $30
Thomas Alva Edison Commemorative Coin
2004-P Silver Dollar – $45
2003
First in Flight Centennial Commemorative Coins
2003-P Half Dollar – $12
2003-P Silver Dollar – $40
2003-P $10 Gold Coin – $800
2002
West Point Bicentennial Commemorative Coin
2002-W Silver Dollar – $30
Olympic Winter Games Commemorative Coins
2002-D Silver Dollar – $40
2002-W $5 Gold Coin – $315
2001
American Buffalo Commemorative Coin
2001-D Silver Dollar – $165
U.S. Capitol Visitor Center Commemorative Coins
2001-P Half Dollar – $16
2001-P Silver Dollar – $35
2001-W $5 Gold Coin – $1,000
2000
Leif Ericson Millennium Commemorative Coin
2000-P Silver Dollar – $65
Library of Congress Commemorative Coins
2000-P Silver Dollar – $25
2000-W Gold/Platinum $10 Coin – $1,200
1999
Yellowstone National Park Commemorative Coin
1999-P Silver Dollar – $50
George Washington Commemorative Coin
1999-W $5 Gold Coin – $315
Dolley Madison Commemorative Coin
1999-P Silver Dollar – $30
1998
Black Revolutionary War Patriots Commemorative Coin
1998-S Silver Dollar – $80
Robert F. Kennedy Commemorative Coin
1998-S Silver Dollar – $35
1997
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Commemorative Coins
1997-P Silver Dollar – $115
Jackie Robinson Commemorative Coins
1997-S Silver Dollar – $80
1997-W $5 Gold Coin – $1,450
Franklin D. Roosevelt Commemorative Coin
1997-W $5 Gold Coin – $450
Botanic Garden Commemorative Coin
1997-P Silver Dollar – $25
1996
Smithsonian Institution 150th Anniversary Commemorative Coins
1996-D Silver Dollar – $70
1996-W $5 Gold Coin – $350
National Community Service Commemorative Coin
1996-S Silver Dollar – $120
Centennial Olympics Commemorative Coins
1996-S Swimming Half Dollar – $110
1996-S Soccer Half Dollar – $100
1996-D Tennis Silver Dollar – $220
1996-D Paralympics Silver Dollar – $225
1996-D Rowing Silver Dollar – $215
1996-D High Jump Silver Dollar – $225
1996-W Flag Bearer $5 Gold Coin – $500
1996-W Cauldron $5 Gold Coin – $1,025
1995
Centennial Olympics Commemorative Coins
1995-S Basketball Half Dollar – $17
1995-S Baseball Half Dollar – $20
1995-D Gymnastics Silver Dollar – $45
1995-D Paralympics Silver Dollar – $30
1995-D Track and Field Silver Dollar – $65
1995-D Cycling Silver Dollar – $125
1995-W Torch Runner $5 Gold Coin – $550
1995-W Stadium $5 Gold Coin – $1,000
Civil War Battlefield Commemorative Coins
1995-S Half Dollar – $35
1995-P Silver Dollar – $60
1995-W $5 Gold Coin – $420
Special Olympics World Games Commemorative Coin
1995-W Silver Dollar – $35
1994
U.S. Capitol Bicentennial Commemorative Coin
1994-D Silver Dollar – $35
Women in Military Service for America Commemorative Coin
1994-W Silver Dollar – $30
American Prisoners of War Commemorative Coin
1994-W Silver Dollar – $70
Vietnam War Memorial / Washington DC 10th Anniversary Commemorative Coin
1994-W Silver Dollar – $75
Thomas Jefferson 250th Anniversary Commemorative Coin
1994-P Silver Dollar – $27
World Cup Tournament Commemorative Coins
1994-D Half Dollar – $7
1994-D Silver Dollar – $38
1994-W $5 Gold Coin – $370
1993
World War II 50th Anniversary Commemorative Coins
1991-1995 P Half Dollar – $12
1991-1995 D Silver Dollar – $40
1991-1995 W $5 Gold Coin – $375
Bill of Rights Commemorative Coins
1993-W Half Dollar – $17
1993-D Silver Dollar – $35
1993-W $5 Gold Coin – $325
1992
Christopher Columbus Quincentenary Commemorative Coins
1992-D Half Dollar – $7
1992-D Silver Dollar – $35
1992-W $5 Gold Coin – $350
White House 200th Anniversary Commemorative Coin
1992-D Silver Dollar – $25
1992 Olympics Commemorative Coins
1992-P Half Dollar – $8
1992-D Silver Dollar – $32
1992-W $5 Gold Coin – $350
1991
United Service Organizations (USO) Commemorative Coin
1991-D Silver Dollar – $30
Korean War Memorial Commemorative Coin
1991-D Silver Dollar – $20
Mount Rushmore Golden Anniversary Commemorative Coins
1991-D Half Dollar – $12
1991-P Silver Dollar – $35
1991-W $5 Gold Coin – $350
1990
Eisenhower Centennial Commemorative Coin
1990-W Silver Dollar – $30
1989
Congress Bicentennial Commemorative Coins
1989-D Half Dollar – $8
1989-D Silver Dollar – $25
1989-W $5 Gold Coin – $350
1988
Seoul Olympics Commemorative Coins
1988-D Silver Dollar – $20
1988-W $5 Gold Coin – $350
1987
Constitution Bicentennial Commemorative Coins
1987-P Silver Dollar – $20
1987-W $5 Gold Coin – $350
1986
Statue of Liberty Commemorative Coins
1986-D Half Dollar – $4
1986-P Silver Dollar – $20
1986-W $5 Gold Coin – $350
1984
Los Angeles Olympics Commemorative Coins
1984-P Coliseum Silver Dollar – $25
1984-D Coliseum Silver Dollar – $27
1984-S Coliseum Silver Dollar – $27
1984-W $10 Gold Coin – $700
1983
Los Angeles Olympics Commemorative Coins
1983-P Discus Thrower Silver Dollar – $25
1983-D Discus Thrower Silver Dollar – $25
1983-S Discus Thrower Silver Dollar – $25
1982
George Washington 250th Anniversary Commemorative Coin
1982-D Half Dollar – $9
Modern commemorative coins are only available directly from the United States Mint for a limited time.
I have been collecting and trading coins for years. Coin collecting is a hobby for me, and I’ve done a lot of research about coins through the years.