The Apollo 11 50th Anniversary commemorative coin series was issued by the United States Mint in 2019 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the historic Apollo 11 moon landing, which occurred on July 20, 1969.
Design
The obverse of the coin features a footprint on the lunar surface, a powerful and iconic representation of the first steps Neil Armstrong took on the moon. This image is surrounded by inscriptions “MERCURY“, “GEMINI“, and “APOLLO“, separated by phases of the Moon. It also includes “IN GOD WE TRUST” and “LIBERTY“, as well as the year of minting.
The reverse design is a representation of the famous “Buzz Aldrin on the Moon” photograph, one of the most iconic images of the 20th century. It features a close-up of the visor and part of the helmet of astronaut Buzz Aldrin, which reflect the image of Neil Armstrong, the United States flag, and the lunar module.
Shape and Size
What makes this series truly unique is that the coins are “curved”. They have a concave obverse and a convex reverse, intended to resemble the round astronaut helmet visors. This design approach was previously used in the U.S. Mint’s Baseball Hall of Fame series. The $1 silver coin is composed of 99.9% silver and has a diameter of 38.1 mm.
These coins hold not only monetary value but also significant historical and sentimental value, as they honor one of humanity’s greatest achievements.