Coin of the Month

U.S. Infantry Commemorative Dollar

Before the Battle of Bunker Hill, the British colonies in New England defended themselves with their own local militias...groups of volunteer soldiers set up as separate military units in each state and town.  But when it came time to break free of British rule by defending Boston in June 1775, the men of the Continental Congress decided to gather the militias into a single organization and began forming companies of riflemen.

This effort to unite the fighting forces created the Continental Army, which later became the U.S. Army Infantry.  The Continental Congress appointed George Washington as the Army's first Commander-in-Chief.

Ever since, the U.S. Infantry has remained an essential part of the military in the United States.  Soon, the story of this important organization will be told in a new museum called The National Infantry Museum and Soldier Center.  And now there's a coin that tells a short version of the story too!

My coin of the month hasn't been around since 1775, but only 2008, when a law to create it was passed by Congress and the President.

The law required the Secretary of the Treasury to mint and issue a special silver dollar to honor the legacy of the U.S. Army Infantry and the establishment of the National Infantry Museum and Soldier Center.  And here it is.

As you can see in the pictures, the coin's images symbolize the Infantry's courage, pride, sacrifice, sense of duty, and history.  Isn't it great how much history can be wrapped up in one little coin?

That's my coin for this month.  If you want to learn more about these Infantry designs and what they mean, just check out the Commemorative Coins page!

—Bill