Commemorative Coins of the United States

1991 Mount Rushmore Anniversary $5 Gold Coin

Mount Rushmore Commemorated

Under the provisions of the Mount Rushmore National Memorial Coin Act (public Law 101-332, July 16, 1990), a quantity of 1991-dated $ 5 gold coins not to exceed 500,000 pieces was to be struck to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the monumental sculpture in stone. (For historical and legislative information see the earlier entry under the 1991 Mount Rushmore half dollar.)

The Obverse Design

Following a design competition involving over a dozen artists, Secretary of the Treasury Nicholas F. Brady in consultation with the Commission of Fine Arts made the final selections for the Mount Rushmore coin motifs. The work of John Mercanti of the Mint staff was selected for the obverse of the $5 gold coin.

Mercanti's motif showed an eagle in flight, holding a mallet and chisel, about to land, with a view of the Mount Rushmore sculptures in the distance to the lower right-arguably the most striking design of the 1991 Mount Rushmore series. The motif might have been used to better advantage on a dollar-size coin.

In an article in The Numismatist David L. Ganz commented on Mercanti's work. (Charles Logan ( nom de plume of David L. Ganz), "A Numismatic Vision of Mount Rushmore." Article in The Numismatist, April 1991.) The obverse of the $5 coin, a sweeping design by John Mercanti, is an unusually bold design depicting the statutorily required bird with its talons bearing the tools of a sculptor's trade. It is majestic, bleeds right off the coin in an unusual manner, and is highly distinctive because all it bears besides the national motto is the date and the inscription 'Liberty,' also statutorily required. Mount Rushmore is beneath the soaring eagle between four and six o' clock on the coin in a relatively minor position."

The Reverse Design

The winning design for the reverse of the $5 gold coin featured the work of Robert Lamb, a Lincoln, Rhode Island artist, and consisted of the calligraphic inscription, "Mount Rushmore National Memorial," in four lines at the center, with legends surrounding. For the first time in the history of United States commemorative issues, there was no emblem or motif on one side of a coin. The finished model for the reverse was made at the Engraving Department of the Mint by William C. Cousins.

Robert Lamb discussed the creation of the reverse: "The Mount Rushmore coin was my first adventure into the coin design world, having been invited to submit designs. I consider myself to be a sculptor and letterer, and over the years have worked large and small in stone, bronze, pewter, wood, etc., and also do a lot of calligraphic work. It is from my experience as a calligrapher that I approached the Mount Rushmore coin design, feeling that it might give a style and interest somewhat different from other types. Since I was too busy with other projects to do the actual sculpting it was done for the Mount Rushmore and USO coins by the able hands of William Cousins of the U.S. Mint staff."

Minting and Distribution

Mount Rushmore $5 gold coins and other Mount Rushmore commemorative issues were distributed beginning in spring 1991. Coins of the $5 denomination were struck at the West Point Mint in Uncirculated and Proof formats. Presentation of the first specimens for public viewing took place in a ceremony held at Ford's Theatre, Washington, D.C., February 15, 1991.

The ordering options below are numbered in accordance with the overall program of 12 options listed earlier in the present text under the 1991 Mount Rushmore half dollars. Those given below specifically pertain to $5 gold coins:

(5) Single Uncirculated 1991-W Mount Rushmore $5 gold coin: pre-issue discount price (through March 28, 1991) $185; regular price $210. Mounted in a protective plastic capsule on a gray velvet tray within a gray gift box with hinged lid (on top of which is a gold-colored plaque of the Great Seal; on the underside is a gold imprint of the Great Seal and the inscription "United States Mount Rushmore Anniversary Coins), all within a cardboard box imprinted in gold "United States Mint" on one side of the bottom and with the Great Seal and the gold imprint "United States Mount Rushmore Anniversary Coins [sic; plural]" on the lid, this enclosed in a cardboard sleeve imprinted the same as the cardboard box lid.

(6) Single Proof 1991-W Mount Rushmore $5 gold coin: pre-issue discount price (through March 28, 1991) $195; regular price $225. Mounted similarly to Option 5.

(8) Three-coin Uncirculated set containing the 1991-D Mount Rushmore half dollar, 1991-P Mount Rushmore silver dollar, and the 1991-W Mount Rushmore $5 gold com: $210 pre-issue discount price (through March 28, 1991); regular price $235. Mounted in protective plastic capsules on a gray velvet tray within a gray gift box with hinged lid (on top of which is a gold-colored plaque of the Great Seal; on the underside is a gold imprint of the Great Seal and the inscription "United States Mount Rushmore Anniversary Coins"), all within a cardboard box imprinted in gold "United States Mint" on one side of the bottom and with the Great Seal and the gold imprint "United States Mount Rushmore Anniversary Coins" on the lid, this enclosed in a cardboard sleeve imprinted the same as the cardboard box lid.

(10) Three-coin Proof set containing the 1991-S Mount Rushmore half dollar and 1991-P Mount Rushmore silver dollar and 1991-W Mount Rushmore $5 gold coin: $225 pre-issue discount price (through March 28, 1991); regular price $255. Mounted in protective plastic capsules on a gray velvet tray within a gray gift box with hinged lid (on top of which is a gold colored plaque of the Great Seal; on the underside is a gold imprint of the Great Seal and the inscription "United States Mount Rushmore Anniversary Coins"), all within a cardboard box imprinted in gold "United States Mint" on one side of the bottom and with the Great Seal and the gold imprint "United States Mount Rushmore Anniversary Coins" on the lid, this enclosed in a cardboard sleeve imprinted the same as the cardboard box lid.

(11) Six-coin set containing the Uncirculated 1991-D Mount Rushmore half dollar, 1991-P Mount Rushmore silver dollar, and the 1991-W Mount Rushmore $5 gold coin; and the Proof 1991-S Mount Rushmore half dollar and silver dollar and the 1991-W Mount Rushmore $5 gold coin: $445 pre-issue discount price (through March 28, 1991); regular price $490. Mounted in protective plastic capsules on a gray velvet tray within a cherry wood gift box with hinged lid (on top of which is a gold-colored imprint of the Great Seal; on the underside is a gold imprint of the Great Seal and the inscription "United States Mount Rushmore Anniversary Coins"), all within a cardboard box imprinted in gold with the Great Seal and "United States Mount Rushmore Anniversary Coins" on the lid.