Obverse. Photo © Monetnik.ru
  • 1 Dollar 2024, KM# 797, United States of America (USA), American Innovation $1 Coin Program, Maine
  • 1 Dollar 2024, KM# 797, United States of America (USA), American Innovation $1 Coin Program, Maine
Description

The 56-coin American Innovation $1 Coin Program started in 2018. The program mandates that the Mint will issue four noncirculating dollar coins annually for 14 years.

One coin will be issued for each of the 50 states in the order in which each state ratified the U.S. Constitution or entered the Union. Following the states, the District of Columbia and the U.S. territories in order, Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the United States Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands all would also present an innovator from their area.

The American Innovation $1 Coin representing Maine honors Dr. Bernard Lown and his invention of the direct current defibrillator.

Obverse

Depicts the Statue of Liberty in profile with the inscriptions “IN GOD WE TRUST” and “$1.” In 2019, a privy mark was added under "WE TRUST".

The Statue of Liberty, a colossal neoclassical sculpture on Liberty Island in New York City, in the United States. The Statue is the work of sculptor Frederic Auguste Bartholdi, who enlisted the assistance of engineer Alexandre Gustave Eiffel, designer of the Eiffel Tower.

The Statue of Liberty was completed in 1884 in France and shipped to the United States in June 1885, having been disassembled into 350 individual pieces that were packed in over 200 crates for the transatlantic voyage. In four months’ time, it was re-assembled in New York Harbor, standing just over 151 feet from the top of the statue’s base to the tip of the torch her right hand holds high above the waters of New York Harbor.

Originally intended as a gift to celebrate the American Centennial in 1876, the Statue of Liberty was given to the United States as a symbol of the friendship forged between the new American government and the government of France during the American Revolutionary War.

Artist: Justin Kunz (JK)
Engraver: Phebe Hemphill (PH)

$1
IN GOD
WE TRUST
PH
JK

Reverse

Depicts a profile portrait of Dr. Bernard Lown with his direct current defibrillator in operation below.

Dr. Bernard Lown (1921–2021), a prominent Lithuanian-American cardiologist and inventor, revolutionized the field of cardiology with his groundbreaking contributions to cardiac resuscitation and the treatment of heart arrhythmias. Collaborating with engineer Baruch Berkovitz in 1962, Dr. Lown devised a novel method for correcting dangerously abnormal heart rhythms, known as fibrillations, a condition believed to contribute to a significant portion of fatal heart attacks in the United States annually. His innovative device, utilizing precisely timed direct current administered through the chest walls, successfully restored normal heartbeats to patients on the brink of cardiac failure.

This pioneering breakthrough, manufactured by the American Optical Company, rapidly proliferated across thousands of hospitals by 1964, marking a transformative milestone in medical history. Dr. Lown's inventive prowess extended beyond cardiac resuscitation, encompassing the introduction of lidocaine for controlling ventricular heart rhythms and reshaping the use of digitalis for congestive heart failure treatment. His relentless pursuit of medical advancements led to the establishment of the coronary care unit, significantly reducing mortality rates associated with heart attacks.

Moreover, Dr. Lown's profound insights into sudden cardiac death challenged conventional medical wisdom, ultimately leading to a paradigm shift in treatment approaches and patient outcomes. Through meticulous experimentation and collaboration, he pioneered the development of safer and more effective cardiac resuscitation techniques, laying the foundation for modern pacemakers and defibrillators. Dr. Lown's unwavering commitment to innovation and patient care not only saved countless lives but also galvanized transformative progress in cardiovascular medicine, leaving an indelible legacy that continues to inspire future generations of medical professionals.

Engraver: Phebe Hemphill (PH)

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
BERNARD
LOWN, M.D.
DIRECT
CURRENT
DEFIBRILLATOR
PH
MAINE

Edge

Inscribed along the edge of the coin is the year of minting, the mint mark, and also the legend "E Pluribus Unum" (Latin for "Out of many, one").

2024 P ★★★ E PLURIBUS UNUM ★★★★★★★★★★

Characteristics
Type Commemorative Issue (Non-circulating)
Material Manganese Brass
Weight 8.1 g
Diameter 26.5 mm
Thickness -
Shape round
Alignment Coin
Mints
Denver Mint (D)
Philadelphia Mint (P)
San Francisco Mint (S)

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