The United States Mint has released the images of the 2021 American Innovation Dollars. This year, four coins will be released in the series, representing New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, and Virginia. The Mint has released high resolution images of all four of the 2021 coins as well as information on the artists, engravers, and what each coin represents for the states being released.
The American Innovation Dollar coin came about through legislation passed in 2018 and is set to run through the year 2032. In all, there will be 57 coins released in the program with the first one released on December 14, 2018. That coin, however, was an introductory coin fundamentally to show the coin off to the public and was never released for circulation.
You can read more about the coin and its history in this Coin History article.
New Hampshire
Designer: Christina Hess
Sculptor-Engraver: Eric David Custer
The New Hampshire $1 Coin recognizes Ralph Baer and his creation of the first home video game console. This design depicts Ralph Baer’s brown box game “Handball” on the right side of the coin. The left side of the coin features “New Hampshire” and “Player 1” on an incused background. “IN HOME VIDEO GAME SYSTEM” and “RALPH BAER” encircle the outside of the coin in a text that is meant to pay homage to Ralph Baer’s Odyssey game. The design of the coin is also symbolic of an arcade token.
Virginia
Designer: Matt Swaim
Sculptor-Engraver: John P. McGraw
The Virginia $1 Coin recognizes the engineering marvel of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel. This design depicts a view of the Chesapeake Bay Tunnel as a cross section cut away, illustrating the ingenuity involved in constructing it. Inscriptions are “VIRGINIA” and “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.”
New York
Designer: Ronald D. Sanders
Sculptor-Engraver: Phebe Hemphill
The New York $1 Coin pays homage to the Erie Canal. This design depicts a packet boat being pulled from a city in the East toward the country areas to the West. Inscriptions are “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” and “NEW YORK.”
North Carolina
Designer: Ronald D. Sanders
Sculptor-Engraver: Joseph Menna
The North Carolina $1 Coin acknowledges the first public institution of higher learning in the United States. The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill opened its doors in 1795 and was the only public institution to confer degrees in the 18th century. This design features a stack of three textbooks with “First Public University” on the spine of the middle book. A lamp of knowledge is perched atop the books, and olive branches curve around the edge of the design. Inscriptions are “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” and “NORTH CAROLINA.” The obverse (tails) design of American Innovation $1 Coins features a dramatic representation of the Statue of Liberty in profile with the inscriptions “IN GOD WE TRUST” and “$1.” The design also includes a privy mark of a stylized gear, representing industry and innovation.
All four of the 2021 coins will continue to carry the common Obverse of the Statue of Liberty.
The first of the new for 2021 coins will be available directly from the United States Mint starting on June 8, 2021. That is when the bags, boxes & rolls for the New Hampshire Dollar will be available for purchase.