Modern gold commemoratives translate the same congressionally authorized programs into compact five-dollar collector coins, usually alongside silver or clad companions.
The current local catalog contains 37 normalized issues from 1986 through 2020. The broader official program continues beyond the last local row.
Core specifications
- Issue period
- 1984 to date
- Catalog mints
- 3
- Reported catalog mintage
- 847,011
- Composition
- Varies by commemorative issue
- Diameter
- Not stated
- Weight
- Not stated
Gold anchors the premium tier
Modern commemorative legislation often creates a three-denomination program, with the five-dollar gold coin as its premium format.
Proof and uncirculated pieces may come from different facilities and require separate issue-level reading.
Obverse, reverse, and the details that identify the type
Confirm the major design, date, and mint mark before studying smaller die differences.
The main portrait and date
Portraits, monuments, and allegorical subjects vary by program; the five-dollar denomination and mint mark help separate the gold coin from companions.
Denomination, subject, and mint mark
Program emblems, eagles, or related scenes provide the second identification check.
Where the cataloged coins were made
Totals are calculated from reported issue records in this catalog; unknown figures are not counted as zero.
- W — West Point: 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2007, 2008, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020; 807,559. W identifies West Point; use the year, product, and finish to separate circulation releases from collector issues.
- P — Philadelphia: 2011, 2013; 21,952. P identifies Philadelphia; confirm its expected position and issue format against the series design guide.
- S — San Francisco: 2006; 17,500. Confirm the S mint mark together with its expected year, position, and issue format.
Representative issues that explain the series
A subject-based set can pair one gold coin with its silver or clad companion without requiring every finish.
- 1986-W $5 Statue Of Liberty — 95,248. Open the issue page and read this record together with its type, mint, finish, and grade context.
- 1999-W $5 Washington — 22,511. Open the issue page and read this record together with its type, mint, finish, and grade context.
- 2020-W $5 Basketball Hall of Fame — 3,263. Open the issue page and read this record together with its type, mint, finish, and grade context.
Issue catalog
From one type coin to a complete catalog
- One representative coin: Choose one problem-free, readable example and learn the size, edge, and major design.
- Major-type set: Use one coin per major design to show changes in artwork, composition, or production.
- Dates and mints: Work through the issue catalog by date and mint, defining special finishes separately.
Catalog status note
The official modern commemorative program continues, but this page's structured issue rows currently cover 1986–2020 only.
Sources
- Commemorative Coins — United States Mint
- Modern Gold Commemorative category reference — PCGS CoinFacts