Update: Shortly after this article was posted, the Mint reached out via Twitter to indicate sales will not happen today. They do not have a release date for the United States Air Force medal at this time. The Mint did not indicate a reason as to why sales were postponed.
The United States Air Force silver medal, honoring the second youngest branch of the United State military, will go on sale today. Sales will begin at Noon Eastern, 9:00 AM Pacific. Sales of the 2.5-ounce silver medal will only be available directly from the United States Mint’s website. The medal is priced at $160.00.
The medal was intended to go on sale earlier this month but the Mint pushed back its release date, likely due to ongoing production constraints due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Initially formed as a part of the United States Army on 1 August 1907, the Air Force was established as a separate branch of the U.S. Armed Forces on 18 September 1947 with the passing of the National Security Act of 1947. It is the second youngest branch of the U.S. Armed Forces and the fourth in order of precedence.
The obverse design depicts a fighter jet pilot, flying alongside F-35 fighter jets with a stylized landscape below.
This reverse design features a dynamic perspective of the three spires of the Air Force Memorial, with one of the spires piercing the border of the medal into the beyond. Surrounding the memorial are members of the U.S. Air Force Honor Guard in ceremonial assembly.
The medal itself is two inches in diameter, 2.5 troy ounce in weight and composed of 99.9% silver in a matte finish.
While the medal has no production limit, sales will be limited to one medal per household – at least initially. Often the Mint will allow for more purchases of a product after a few weeks or months.