No year in United States Mint history has been more significant than 2016 is proving to be. The US Mint is not only celebrating the 30th anniversary of the American Gold Eagle and American Silver Eagle coins, but it is also celebrating some of the most iconic designs ever to appear on American coins. In fact, no fewer than three of the nation’s most beloved coin designs celebrate their centennial anniversaries in 2016. The United States Mint is prepared to celebrate these milestones in brilliant fashion.

Walking Liberty

Adolph A. Weinman created the image of Walking Liberty in 1916 to replace the design currently in use on the nation’s half-dollar coin. Weinman’s depiction shows Lady Liberty walking toward the setting sun with an American flag draped over her shoulders. The image was indicative of the nation’s march toward a brighter future. His Walking Liberty Half Dollar coin was in circulation from 1916 to 1947, and featured the image of an American bald eagle on the reverse as it rises to flight from its mountaintop perch.

Weinman, a student of Augustus Saint-Gaudens who created the iconic Liberty design, created a design in the Walking Liberty image that is considered one of the finest in American history. It was so popular that it was revived after 39 years for use on the now-beloved American Silver Eagle.

Standing Liberty

Hermon Atkins MacNeil created the Standing Liberty design for the United States Mint in 1916, and it stands to this day as one of the most unique interpretations of Liberty ever used on American currency. During the first period of true global strife amid World War I, MacNeil created a depiction of Lady Liberty with militaristic features.

The goddess of Liberty is featured on the obverse of this quarter design, holding a shield in her left hand and standing in the opening of a wall that features 13 stars. In 1917, the US Mint obtained permission to add a chain mail vest to Liberty’s chest, which was originally designed to be bare by MacNeil. This image of Liberty represents her readiness to stand in the gap (represented by the wall’s opening) and protect the nation (represented by the 13 stars).

On the reverse of his design you’ll find an American bald eagle in mid-flight, with 13 stars encircling it on either side. The primary engraving on this face reads “United States of America.” MacNeil’s Standing Liberty design suffered in its day from poor minting at the US Mint, with the year of issue and mint marks wearing away quickly. After debuting in 1916, the Standing Liberty design was discontinued in 1930, no quarters were struck in 1931, and the new left-profile bust of President George Washington (created by John Flanagan) debuted on the quarter in 1932.

Mercury Dime/Winged Liberty

1916 was a big year not only for the United States Mint, but also for Adolph A. Weinman. Not only did his Walking Liberty image debut this year, he also redesigned the nation’s 10-cent piece as well. His left-profile portrait of Liberty is simultaneously referred to as the Mercury Dime or Winged Liberty dime.

Weinman’s Liberty design for the dime features a left-profile portrait of Liberty wearing a winged cap. It is referred to as the Mercury Dime by many because of Liberty’s similarity to the Roman god Mercury, the messenger of the gods. On the reverse side of the coin, Weinman opted not to use the bald eagle in his design. Instead, he used the Roman faces wrapped in an olive branch. The fasces represents unity and strength, indicating the readiness of America’s military for action, but the nation’s desire for peace.

The Mercury Dime design from Weinman was in use from 1916 to 1945. When President Franklin D. Roosevelt died in office that year, there were immediate calls for a coin bearing his likeness, and due to his association with the March of Dimes cause during the Great Depression, the dime was chosen as the most appropriate option to bear his likeness.

Why So Many Iconic Designs in One Year?

In the early 20th century, the United States Mint underwent a massive period of transition as it requested and adopted multiple new coin designs to revive th

e images of American gold coins. The initiative started in 1905 when President Theodore Roosevelt hand-picked Augustus Saint-Gaudens to lead the charge in reviving gold coin design.

This effort continued into the 1910s, with Director of the United States Mint Robert W. Woolley putting into motion an effort to replace the designs of Charles E. Barber. The Chief Engraver of the United States Mint from 1879 to 1917 (death), Barber’s designs for the dime, quarter, and half-dollar coins had dominated American currency since their adoption in 1892.

Woolley’s effort led to the adoption of both of Weinman’s designs and MacNeil’s quarter-dollar design. All of these designs were created in 1915 and 1916, debuting as the new face of the nation’s dime, quarter, and half-dollar coins in 1916.

How the United States Mint will Celebrate?

In late 2015, the United States Mint released mock-ups of three coins it plans to release this year to celebrate the centennial of these iconic coin designs. While each of these circulation coins were originally minted using .900 silver and .100 copper, for resilience and resistance to corrosion, the United States Mint has a different plan in mind.

The US Mint plans to release 24-karat gold coins bearing each of the original designs for the Walking Liberty Half Dollar, Standing Liberty Quarter, and Mercury Dime. Each of the .9999 pure gold coins will be struck in weights matching their original versions from 1916. The Walking Liberty Half Dollar commemorative gold coin will features 1/2 Troy ounce of .9999 pure gold. The Standing Liberty Quarter will bear 1/4 Troy ounce of .9999 pure gold, and the Mercury Dime commemorative coin will include 1/10 Troy ounce of .9999 pure gold.

At this point in time, the US Mint has not released further details regarding mintage levels, the potential for various finishes (proof, reverse proof, high relief), or the mint that will bear the striking load. The West Point Mint traditionally strikes the nation’s gold coins, so it is expected that the facility will handle at least a portion of the production.