Last Call: US Mint Calling on Public to Design World War I Commemorative Coin

Apr 13, 2016

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The United States Mint is calling on American artists to design a coin to commemorate the centennial of America’s involvement in World War I, and we invite you to help spread the word.

“The World War I American Veterans Centennial Commemorative Coin Design Competition provides a unique opportunity for American artists to capture the patriotism of the country nearly one hundred years ago while providing a tangible touch-point for future generations to understand and appreciate the impact of what was called ‘the war to end all wars,’” said Rhett Jeppson, Principal Deputy Director of the United States Mint.

The commemorative coin, to be issued in 2018, will serve as a tribute to the bravery, actions and sacrifices of Americans.

This competition consists of two phases. During phase one, applicants submit three to five samples of their artwork along with general contact information at www.usmint.gov/competition. Qualifying portfolios will be evaluated by an expert jury, which will choose no more than 20 artists to participate in phase two.

The second phase requires invited applicants to submit a design for both the obverse and reverse of the coin as well as plaster models of the designs. The winner will have his or her initials placed on the coin and receive $10,000.

Part of the price of this coin and all of the Mint’s commemorative coins includes a surcharge that is authorized by Congress to be paid to organizations and projects that benefit the community. Surcharges for the 2018 World War I American Veterans Centennial Silver Dollar are authorized to be paid to the United States Foundation for the Commemoration of the World Wars. This will assist the World War I Centennial Commission in commemorating the anniversary of World War I. The commission is currently working to build a memorial honoring America’s World War I veterans in the nation’s capital. 

To learn more, visit www.usmint.gov/competition to review rules and timelines and submit an entry by April 28. More news will come as this exciting competition progresses.