Bicentennial & Centennial Medals

About This Coin

The Bicentennial and Centennial Medals produced by the United States Mint commemorate the milestone anniversaries of American independence and its foundational institutions, with a combined mintage of 347,612 pieces across the Philadelphia and Denver Mints. The most prominent issues in this category are the 1976 Bicentennial medals marking the 200th anniversary of American independence, which were produced alongside the celebrated Bicentennial quarter, half dollar, and dollar coins that circulated during 1975-1976. These medals typically feature patriotic imagery — the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, the Declaration of Independence — rendered by U.S. Mint engravers with the technical precision characteristic of official Mint products. A notable auction result of $4,100 in PR68DCAM grade at Heritage Auctions demonstrates the premium that superb proof examples command from condition-conscious collectors. The category also encompasses centennial medals from 1876, when the Philadelphia Centennial Exhibition generated a wave of commemorative material celebrating the nation's first hundred years. Centennial and Bicentennial medals occupy a distinctive niche within the broader U.S. Mint medal program, as their connection to major national celebrations ensures broad public recognition and sustained collector interest. The relatively substantial mintage figures make most varieties accessible to collectors at moderate price levels, while the finest certified examples in deep cameo proof finishes attract competitive bidding from registry set builders pursuing top population grades.