History:
The American Liberty Gold Coins and Silver Medals Program began in 2015, intending to celebrate "modern interpretations of the concept of American liberty."
On its obverse, each coin and medal in the series features a reimagined image of Lady Liberty herself or the idea of liberty at large and a "contemporary" iteration of an American eagle on its reverse. As the Mint points out, renditions of Lady Liberty, from her appearance to her pose, have evolved throughout U.S. coinage history "to reflect a changing America" while still representing the values and ideals she has stood for all along. The American Liberty coins and medals program is the perfect example of this evolution, as the program seeks to recast Liberty, or the idea of liberty, in visual renditions more aligned with today’s America.
The 2021 issue is the fifth gold-coin installment of the American Liberty program. Like all those that have come before it, it aims to represent the meaning that the idea of liberty holds for each of us, as individual Americans and as a collective nation. This year’s obverse design is a departure from depictions of Liberty that have graced the front side of these coins – and the majority of American coins, for that matter – to this point. The 2021 obverse motif does not represent a human manifestation of Lady Liberty at all. Instead, it features the image of a bucking mustang horse with a western-style saddle on its back – a far cry from the traditionally allegorical or even modern-day visuals that depict Liberty as a female figure. According to the Mint’s product description, this current-year design is a “bold and breathtaking representation of the determination and power of the passion for American liberty.” It elaborates that the image of the horse bucking the saddle that is affixed to its back – and presumably, the rider who previously sat atop it – harkens to the American Revolution, during which our forefathers bucked “the yoke of the British rule” in their pursuit of liberty and self-governance. A beaming sun radiates behind the Mustang, while the word "LIBERTY," the coin's "2021" strike year, and the United States motto, “IN GOD WE TRUST,” line the top and bottom edges of the coin. The obverse image was designed by a member of the Mint's Artistic Infusion Program, Beth Zaiken, and sculpted by Medallic Artist Craig Campbell. The initials of both artists appear on the coin's obverse.
The reverse of the 2021 American Liberty High Relief Proof Gold coin features a striking close-up image of an American eagle that, coincidentally, is quite reminiscent of the image on the reverse of the 2021 Gold American Eagle Type 2 Proof that launched from the Mint earlier this summer. The reverse motif of the gold 2021 American Liberty coin was designed by Richard Masters, a member of the Mint's Artistic Infusion Program. It was sculpted by Phebe Hemphill, another Mint Medallic Artist. Masters’ American eagle is shown having an intense gaze and is depicted in intricate detail, making it a visually impactful image. The standard reverse inscriptions for this coin are also included: “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” on the outer bottom edge, the coin's "1 OZ." ".9999 FINE GOLD" precious metal contents and its "$100" face value. The motto found on the Great Seal of the United States, "E PLURIBUS UNUM," appears centered in the bottom portion of the coin's reverse, with the "W" mint mark, indicating production at New York's West Point Mint, just below. The initials of the image's designer appear at the throat of the mighty bird, while the sculptor's initials appear just below its beak.
Product Highlights:
- 24-karat gold with a high relief proof finish
- Obverse: Wild American Mustang horse, bucking off a western-style saddle, evoking the throwing off of the yoke of British rule during the American Revolution
- Reverse: A close-up view of an eagle
- Proof 70 graded by NGC
- Mintage: 12,500
