Little Rock Central High School Desegregation silver dollar

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Little Rock Central High School Desegregation dollar
United States
Value1 U.S. Dollar
Mass26.73 g
Diameter38.1 mm
Thickness2.58 mm
EdgeReeded
Composition90% Ag / 10% Cu
Years of minting2007
Mintage66,093 Uncirculated 124,678 Proof
Mint marks P
Obverse
2007 Little Rock Central High School Dollar Obverse.jpg
DesignFeet of the Little Rock Nine escorted by a soldier
Designer Richard Alan Masters
Reverse
2007 Little Rock Central High School Dollar Reverse.jpg
DesignLittle Rock Central High School in 1957
Designer Don Everhart

The Little Rock Central High School Desegregation silver dollar is a commemorative coin issued by the United States Mint in 2007. [1] The coin commemorates the desegregation of the Little Rock Central High School in the fall of 1957 when nine African-American students enrolled in the school in compliance with the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Brown v. Board of Education .

Contents

Legislation

The Little Rock Central High School Desegregation 50th Anniversary Commemorative Coin Act (Pub. L.   109–146 (text) (PDF)) was enacted into law on December 22, 2005. [2]

Design

The obverse of the coin was designed by Richard Alan Masters and sculpted by Charles L. Vickers. It depicts students walking to school accompanied by an armed soldier with nine stars symbolic of the nine students. [1] [3] The reverse was designed and engraved by Don Everhart and depicts the school at the time. [1] [3]

The coin won the Coin of the Year award from Numismatic News for Best Contemporary Event in 2009. [4]

Production and distribution

The Mint began accepting orders on May 15. [5] A surcharge on each coin sold went to the Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site for preservation and restoration. [5] [6] The uncirculated coin was included in a set with a bronze medal also commemorating the Little Rock Nine, designed by Marjorie Williams-Smith. [6] Of the 66,093 mintage total for the uncirculated pieces, 24,925 were sold as part of the coin and medal set. [7] The proof coin was also sold as part of the 2007 America Legacy Set, which included a proof set of all 14 circulating coins of 2007 and the Jamestown 400th Anniversary dollar. [6] Of the 124,678 mintage total for the proof pieces, 26,442 were sold as part of the American Legacy set. [7]

Collecting

While mintage of the coin is relatively low, the coin is readily available in high grades for collectors. [3] Numismatic interest in the coin is low, with Anthony Swiatek describing the obverse as "voyeuristic" and that "the butt of an M1 Garand rifle leaves the viewer with little inspiration." [6]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Little Rock Central High School Desegregation Silver Dollar". United States Mint . Retrieved 2025-07-29.
  2. ↑ "Little Rock Central High School Desegregation 50th Anniversary Commemorative Coin Act (2005 - H.R. 358)". GovTrack.us. Retrieved 2025-07-29.
  3. 1 2 3 McMorrow-Hernandez, Joshua (2020-11-18). "The Little Rock Nine and the 2007 Desegregation Commemorative Dollar". CoinWeek. Retrieved 2025-07-29.
  4. ↑ NMN (2009-02-11). "COTY goes to Mongolia". Numismatic News. Retrieved 2022-08-23.
  5. 1 2 Bowers, Q. David (November 2016). A Guide Book of United States Commemorative Coins (2nd ed.). Whitman Publishing. ISBN   978-0-7948-4419-6.
  6. 1 2 3 4 Swiatek, Anthony (2012). Encyclopedia of the Commemorative Coins of the United States. Chicago: KWS Publishers. ISBN   978-0-9817736-7-4.
  7. 1 2 "Historical Commemorative Coin Sales Figures: 2007 Little Rock Central High School Desegregation Silver Dollar". www.usmint.gov. Retrieved 2025-07-29.
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