2016 Mark Twain Commemorative Coin
Posted by Derek Sawchenko on
In 2016, the Mint depicted none other than American author, Mark Twain. Mark Twain was born Samuel Langhorne Clemens in November of 1835. Throughout his life, Clemens held many jobs including printers apprentice, riverboat pilot, and minor before he found success as a writer. There are few authors in American history that had a larger influence on American culture than Mark Twain, who will forever be remembered for addressing the complex social issues that America had faced at the turn of the century. These issues included the legacy of the Civil War, race relations, as well as economic inequalities.
There are two versions of this commemorative coin, gold, and silver, both featuring a slightly different design. First, we can take a look at the $5 gold coin, minted at West Point. The obverse of this coin features a portrait of Mark Twain, with the inscriptions “Liberty,” “2016,” and “In God We Trust.” The reverse depicts an image of a steamboat with a paddlewheel as well as the coin's denomination, “United States of America,” and “E Pluribus Unum.” The obverse of the silver dollar, made in Philadelphia, also features a portrait of Mark Twain. This time, the author is smoking a pipe, the smoke forming a silhouette of Huck Finn and Jim on a raft. “Liberty,” “In God We Trust,” and “2016” are also found on the obverse. The reverse of this beautiful coin depicts an assortment of characters leaping to life from Twain’s works: the knight and horse from “A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court,” the frog from “The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County,” and Jim and Huck from “Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" are all included. The coin’s denomination, “United States of America,” and “E Pluribus Unum” are also found on the reverse completing this gorgeous and imaginative coin.
There are two versions of this commemorative coin, gold, and silver, both featuring a slightly different design. First, we can take a look at the $5 gold coin, minted at West Point. The obverse of this coin features a portrait of Mark Twain, with the inscriptions “Liberty,” “2016,” and “In God We Trust.” The reverse depicts an image of a steamboat with a paddlewheel as well as the coin's denomination, “United States of America,” and “E Pluribus Unum.” The obverse of the silver dollar, made in Philadelphia, also features a portrait of Mark Twain. This time, the author is smoking a pipe, the smoke forming a silhouette of Huck Finn and Jim on a raft. “Liberty,” “In God We Trust,” and “2016” are also found on the obverse. The reverse of this beautiful coin depicts an assortment of characters leaping to life from Twain’s works: the knight and horse from “A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court,” the frog from “The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County,” and Jim and Huck from “Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" are all included. The coin’s denomination, “United States of America,” and “E Pluribus Unum” are also found on the reverse completing this gorgeous and imaginative coin.
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- Tags: Coin Collecting, Gold, Numismatics, Silver