2011 $5 Medal of Honor Commemorative Proof (box/COA) – SKU #63539

The Medal of Honor is the highest award for valor in action against an enemy force that can be bestowed upon an individual serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. Fewer than 3,500 Medals of Honor have ever been awarded. It is presented to a person who distinguishes him or herself conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her life above and beyond the call of duty.

The Gold coin designs are emblematic of the heritage and legacy of the original Medal of Honor and the era in which it was first established. The design on the obverse of this proof $5 Gold coin depicts the original Medal of Honor authorized by Congress in 1861 as the Navy’s highest personal decoration. The reverse design features Minerva, based on the common central image on both the original Navy and Army Medals of Honor. Minerva, standing with a shield representing the Army and Navy in her right hand and the Union flag in her left hand, is flanked by a field artillery cannon and wheel of the Civil War era.