US Mint Previews 2022 Coin Releases

2021 was a banner year for collectors of United States Mint coins between the new American Silver and Gold Eagle reverse designs, the new Morgan and Peace dollars and much more.

The Mint recently provided details about next year’s lineup, which will include more silver dollars, some exciting commemorative coin programs and many other coins.

2022 Morgan and Peace dollars

As for the Morgan and Peace dollars, the Mint will issue one of each design struck with a Proof finish at the San Francisco Mint in the fall. As of now, there are only plans to issue those two silver dollars in 2022. But the Mint expects to continue the program in future years and possibly issue them in other finishes then, depending on how sales go next year.

Many collectors have indicated they would love to see the Peace dollar made with the level of high relief of the 1921 Peace dollars. The Mint was not able to do that with the 2021 coin but understands collectors want to see them and is working to see if that would be feasible.

Because of the problems some buyers encountered this year when trying to order the 2021 coins – especially the CC and O privy mark coins, the Mint plans to offer the 2022 coins on an enrollment basis if possible.

2022 commemorative coins

On January 6 the Mint will begin accepting orders for both 2022 commemorative coin programs – the Negro Leagues Baseball and Purple Heart Hall of Honor coins.

Both programs will feature three different coins, a clad half dollar, silver dollar and $5 gold coin – each with an original design and both issued in uncirculated and Proof versions and also sold in 3-coin Proof sets.

In addition, some special products will be issued, including a colorized Purple Heart silver dollar and a Jackie Robinson silver medal and a privy mark Negro Leagues silver dollar

The new Acting Mint Director Ventris C. Gibson’s father was one of the pitchers for the league, as she revealed during a recent meeting with the numismatic media.

The Negro Leagues was a professional baseball team of over 2,600 African-American and Hispanic-American players founded in 1920 in response to African-American players being banned from the major leagues and existed until 1960. It was formed by Andrew “Rube” Foster after he convened the owners of eight independent baseball teams at the time.

Surcharges from the sale of these coins will go to the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City – where the coin designs were recently unveiled -- for education and outreach programs. The usual maximum mintages will apply: up to 750,000 half dollars, 400,000 silver dollars and 50,000 gold coins.

The clad Negro Leagues half dollar’s obverse depicts a Negro Leagues tour bus that served as their home on the road and a pitcher in action, while the reverse shows five Negro Leagues baseball players.

The Negro Leagues silver dollar obverse shows a pitcher in mid throw with the baseball in the foreground and the stitching on the baseball as the border, while the reverse shows a player’s eye view of a pitch being delivered to the catcher at the plate.

The $5 Negro Leagues gold piece obverse features a profile of the league’s founder Rube Foster and his signature below, while the reverse shows the gesture of tipping one’s cap as a way of showing respect.

As for the Purple Heart coins, they honor the Hall of Honor that opened in 2006 to remember the sacrifices of the 1.8 million Purple Heart recipients -- servicemen and servicewomen killed or wounded by enemy action since the Civil War.

Surcharges from the sale of these coins will go to support the mission of the Purple Heart Honor Mission Inc., and no more than 750,000 half dollars, 400,000 silver dollars and 50,000 gold coins will be struck at the West Point Mint.

The half dollar obverse shows a figure in military fatigues and combat boots using a pair of crutches. The left leg has been amputated from the thigh down. The negative space below shows the missing leg in silhouette. The Purple Heart medal appears behind the figure. The reverse depicts a young boy holding the dress cap of an enlisted Marine. The silhouette of a Marine in dress blues stands behind him in negative space, emphasizing the loss that affects the families of Purple Heart recipients.

The silver dollar obverse depicts a Purple Heart medal with inscriptions, while the reverse features one of the 23,000 female nurses from World War I as she bandages a service member. Both sides of this coin were designed by acclaimed sculptor Heidi Wastweet.

The gold $5 coin has another image of a Purple Heart medal with inscriptions, while the reverse shows an image of the Badge of Military Merit above George Washington’s signature.

Other coins

Finally, there are the core products issued annually, and some new ones for 2022.

The four 2022 American Women quarters will be sold in rolls and bags of mint state coins and in clad and Proof 4-coin Proof sets and probably also in the annual Mint and Proof sets for 2022.

American Silver Eagle Proof coins will be issued at the West Point and San Francisco Mints, and four 2022 American Innovation dollars will be available in rolls and bags and in a Reverse Proof set.

The silver medals for branches of the military and former presidents will continue, and the popular American Liberty gold coin design from 2021 of a bucking Mustang horse will appear on a one-ounce silver medal, which will be very popular.