‘Star-Spangled Banner’ coins on sale now
Mar 6, 2012, 10:00 AM
BALTIMORE (AP) – Coins commemorating the 200th anniversary of the writing of “The Star-Spangled Banner” are now available for purchase.
The U.S. Mint began selling the coins Monday and they’ll be available through mid-December. The coins depict the Battle of Baltimore during the War of 1812 that was the basis for the national anthem.
The U.S. Mint will produce 100,000 gold coins and 500,000 silver coins. The front of the silver coin shows a woman waving an American flag from the period with Fort McHenry in the background. The gold coin depicts warships on the front and the words “O say can you see” on the reverse.
Surcharges will provide up to $8.5 million in matching funds to the Maryland War of 1812 Bicentennial Commission.
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