American Innovation dollars


American Innovation dollars are dollar coins of a series minted by the United States Mint beginning in 2018 and scheduled to run through 2032. It is planned for each member of the series to showcase an innovation, innovator or group of innovators from a particular State or territory.

History

Legislation authorizing the American Innovation $1 Coin Program was approved by the United States Senate on June 20, 2018, amending an earlier House bill, and the Senate-amended bill was approved by the U.S. House of Representatives on June 27, 2018. It was signed into law by President Donald Trump on July 18, 2018.
The program was officially launched on December 14, 2018, with the release of a special introductory coin commemorating George Washington's signing the first American patent into law. However, these coins are not being released into circulation, and are only available at a premium in bags and rolls directly from the United States Mint. Uncirculated issues bear either the "P" or "D" mint mark signifying its mintage at the Philadelphia Mint or Denver Mint respectively. Proof and reverse proof coins struck for collectors bear the "S" mint mark signifying its mintage at the San Francisco Mint.
Four new coins will be released each year "celebrating innovations and innovators" from each of the fifty states, the District of Columbia, and the five U.S. territories. All coins issued through this program will have the same obverse design showing the Statue of Liberty, and will contain the words: "In God We Trust" and "$1".

Coin designs

Coins will be issued depicting designs which symbolize quintessentially American traits—the willingness to explore, to discover, and to create one’s own destiny. The program showcases an innovation, innovator or group of innovators from each State or territory in uncirculated and proof finishes.
In 2019, a privy mark was added to the obverse of the coin under "In God We Trust".