Recently I was talking with a friend about United States coins with living people depicted on them, the conversation inspired me to write this blog.

There are not many U.S. coins with living people on them because it is illegal for a living person to be depicted on a U.S. coin

1921 Alabama Centennial Half-Dollar (Thomas Kilby 1865-1943)

Laura Gardin Fraser designed the 1921 Alabama centennial half dollar. It was made to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Alabama's admission into the Union. The obverse depicts Portraits of William Bibb and Thomas Kilby (Their portraits are both facing left). William Bibb was Alabama's first governor and Thomas Kilby was the governor at the time the coin was minted. Thomas Kilby was the first living person to be on a US commemorative coin. 22 stars are in the field because Alabama was the 22nd state to enter the Union. A variety with 30,000 minted showing "2X2" behind the portraits were also produced. The reverse depicts the Alabama State Seal which portrays an eagle with raised wings, holding arrows in its talons and a scroll in its beak the scroll has the state motto. The state seal was changed in 1939.The total mintage number was 100,000 pieces. 70,000 were minted and 5,000 were returned to the mint to be melted leaving a total of mintage of 65,000. The sale price was $1.00 each.

 

1926 Sesquicentennial of American Independence Half-Dollar (Calvin Coolidge 1872-1933)

1926 marked the Sesquicentennial of American Independence so the United States Mint minted a commemorative coin to commemorate the sesquicentennial. The coin was designed by John R Sinnock. The obverse depicts portraits of the first president, George Washington and current (at the time the coin was minted) president Calvin Coolidge. The reverse depicts the Liberty Bell. The United States Mint minted 1,000,000 coins to sell, 140,592 coins were sold leaving a total of 859,408 coins to be melted.

 

1936 Robinson/Arkansas Half-Dollar (Joseph T Robinson 1872-1937)

In 1936 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Arkansas admission to the union the United States mint minted a commemorative coin. The obverse was designed by Everett Burr and depicts an eagle with outstretched wings. The reverse was designed by Henry Kreis and depicts a bust of Senator Joseph T Robinson from Arkansas. 50,000 coins were authorized 25,250 coins were minted and all were sold to the public.

1995 Special Olympics Dollar (Eunice Kennedy Shriver 1921-2009)

In 1995 to commemorate "Special Olympics" the United States Mint minted a commemorative coin. The obverse was designed by Jamie Wyeth and depicts a bust of Eunice K Shriver. The reverse was designed by Thomas D Rogers and depicts Special Olympics Medal, Flowers, and a Quote from Eunice K Shriver that says "As we hope for the best in them, hope is reborn in us."  Eunice Kennedy Shriver was the sister to President John F Kennedy and the founder of the Special Olympics.

2016 Nancy Reagan First Spouse $10 (Nancy Reagan 1921-2016)

 

In 2016 the United States Mint minted a first spouse $10 gold coin for the first spouse coin series. The obverse was designed by Benjamin Sowards and depicts a portrait of Nancy Reagan, the reverse was designed by Joel Iskowitz and depicts Nancy Reagan with her arms around two children. The coin was approved early before she died even though it was minted after she died.