I am new to collecting coins but found these coins & medals to be important to our nations history. I was very happy that NGC recognized that there was a need for a registry set to appeal to new collectors with modest budgets and to recognize this occasion in anticipation of the 250th anniversary right around the corner in 2026.
This set was minted by the US Mint under the supervision of the Mint Director Mary Brooks & American Revolution Bicentennial Commission (ARBC) in 1970's in preparation for the 200th anniversary of our founding & independence.
A complete set consist of 21 US Mint medals 1972 thru 1976 bronze, silver, & gold in various sizes:
1972 George Washington/Liberty Tree (bronze dated & FDC)
1973 Sam Adams &Patrick Henry/Comm of Correspondence (Silver & bronze; dated & FDC)
1974 John Adams/Continental Congress (Silver & bronze; dated & FDC)
1975 Paul Revere/Lexington & Concord (Silver & bronze; dated & FDC)
1976 Thomas Jefferson/Dec of Independence (Silver & bronze; dated & FDC)
1976 National Bicentennial Medal (Gold, gold-plated, silver & bronze; dated & undated)
(38mm)- 1-1/2" / Bronze
(38mm)- 1-1/2" / Gold-plated Bronze
(38mm)- 1-1/2" / Sterling Silver, Proof finish / 0.925 troy ounce of silver
(76mm)- 3" / Sterling Silver, Antique finish / 7.822 troy ounces of silver
(23mm)- 29/32" (0.906") / Gold, Proof finish / 0.37 troy ounces of gold
(34mm)- 1-5/16" / Gold, Proof finish / 1.167 troy ounces of gold
(76mm)- 3" / Gold, Proof finish / 13.18 troy ounces of gold
While there were millions of the 38mm medals produced, many of the 5 different “First Day Cover”(PNC) medals (undated) were separated from their commemorative stamped envelopes and removed from the “soft pack” OGP. The other dated medals, 5 bronze mint state & 4 silver proof, came in individual hard cases & encapsulated in hard plastic, thus have survived relatively untouched.
Mintage of 1972-76 Medals
ITEM UNITS SOLD
1972 PNC 791,000
1972 bronze medal 672,200
1973 PNC 475,812
1973 bronze medal 237,790
1973 silver medal 208,120
1974 PNC 511,428
1974 bronze medal 188,308
1974 silver medal 150,428
1975 PNC 668,419
1975 bronze medal 327,677
1975 silver medal 212,542
1976 PNC 446,939
1976 bronze medal 98,408
1976 silver medal 98,677
*Note: The figures represent units sold. Some of these numbers differ greatly from stated mintages given in the "Annual Report of the Director of The Mint" (1976). For example, the figures for the 1976 bronze medals are given as 153,300, while the silver medals are listed at 146,213. As for the 1974 medals, the 1974 PNC is listed at about 530,000, while the silver medal is 156,000. Discrepancies also are found in the reported totals of National Bicentennial Medals.
The 7 National Bicentennial Medals came in several sizes & medals, including gold, which will present the most challenging pieces to acquire, because of their value and lower mintage numbers. These medals depict the Statue of Liberty on the obverse and the National Seal on the reverse, both of which were designed by Chief Engraver Frank Gasparro.
1976 National Bicentennial Medal mintage #’s
3" Gold 309
1 5/16" Gold 3,789
.906" Gold 20,378
3" Silver 6,084
1 1/2" Silver 181,392
1 1/2" Bronze 380,152
1 1/2" Gold Electroplated 34,271
* Coin descriptions and mintage details are from the article "American Revolution Bicentennial Medals" dated July 2015 in the Numismatist written by Michael B. Costanzo.閱讀全文