1995 Civil War Collection - 2 piece - Proof - Photo Case Release - Original Government Packaging

It was just yesterday, November 19th, more than 155 years ago that Abraham Lincoln would give one of the most famous speeches in American history: The Gettysburg Address. This speech took place in the aftermath of what would become known as the bloodiest battle of the Civil War. By the time the dust had settled, it was clear that this war had caused irreparable damage to both the North and the South. Yet from the ashes, rose a nation full of fervor and hope, a nation ready to remember and honor those lives, and a nation ready to move forward to a better tomorrow.

In honor of today’s anniversary, we are bringing back one of the rarer special issue 2pc. Proof Sets from the United States Mint long and storied history: The 1995 Civil War Proof Pair in the hard to find photo case U.S. Mint packaging.

Issued in 1995 for the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Gettysburg National Military Park, the United States Mint produced two coins: the Civil War Battlefield Preservation Half Dollar and Silver Dollar. The purpose of these coins was to fund preservation efforts for our Nation's Civil War Battlefields, and to commemorate all the brave Americans who fought and died for their country.

This special 2pc. set contains both the silver dollar and the half dollar in stunning proof condition still in the very special photo case original government packaging. The half dollar’s obverse pays tribute to the Civil War drummer boys; the reverse depicts a battlefield scene with the inscription "Enriching Our Future By Preserving Our Past." The silver dollar depicts a wounded soldier being tended to by his foe, emblematic of the family vs. family that surrounded the conflict. The reverse of the silver dollar displays Little Round Top at Gettysburg alongside the quote:

“In Great Deeds something abides. On Great Fields something stays. Forms change and pass; bodies disappear; but spirits linger to consecrate ground for the vision place of Souls” – Joshua Chamberlin, survivor of Gettysburg

The Proof Silver Dollar and Proof Half Dollar 2 pc. sets came in two forms: One in the usual U.S. Mint 2pc. Commemorative proof packaging, and the other in a very special photo case that was made in incredibly limited numbers! To compare: the Mint made over 97,961 in the regular 2 pc. proof packaging, and just 30,398...that means that this packaging is over 3 times rarer! If you go to one of the national coin conventions, you would be lucky to find even a single one of these sets!