United States of America (USA) 10 Dollars 2003

History

10 Dollars 2003, KM# 350, United States of America (USA), 100th Anniversary of the First Flight

Obverse. Image Courtesy of Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS.com)

Description

The First in Flight Centennial commemorative coins are a series of commemorative coins issued by the United States Mint in 2003. The coins, issued in half dollar, dollar, and eagle ($10) denominations, commemorate the 100th anniversary of the first controlled flight. Besides the bimetallic $10 gold coin issued a few years ago, this was the first $10 gold commemorative coin issued by the United States Mint since 1984.

The Wright Flyer (also known as the Kitty Hawk, Flyer I or the 1903 Flyer) made the first sustained flight by a manned heavier-than-air powered and controlled aircraft—an airplane—on 17 December 1903. Invented and flown by Orville and Wilbur Wright, it marked the beginning of the pioneer era of aviation.

The Wright brothers flew the Wright Flyer four times that day on land now part of the town of Kill Devil Hills, about 4 miles (6 kilometers) south of Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. The aircraft was preserved and is now exhibited in the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C.

Design: Donna Weaver

Obverse	Person (scientist, inventor, explorer, architect etc.) Wright brothers Depicts a portrait of Orville and Wilbur Wright. The surrounding inscriptions read “Liberty”, “In God We Trust”, the centennial dates “1903 2003”, “Orville & Wilbur Wright”, and “First Flight Centennial”. The Wright brothers, Orville (1871-1948) and Wilbur (1867-1912), were two American brothers, inventors, and aviation pioneers who are credited with inventing and building the world's first successful airplane and making the first controlled, powered and sustained heavier-than-air human flight, on December 17, 1903 four miles south of Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. In 1904-1905 the brothers developed their flying machine into the first practical fixed-wing aircraft. Although not the first to build and fly experimental aircraft, the Wright brothers were the first to invent aircraft controls that made fixed-wing powered flight possible. LIBERTY IN GOD WE TRUST 1903 2003 DW ORVILLE & WILBUR WRIGHT FIRST FLIGHT CENTENNIAL
Reverse	Animal (fish, bird, mammal etc.) Eagle Aviation & astronautics Airplane Depicts the Wright 1903 Flyer with an eagle in flight above. Inscriptions include “United States of America”, “E Pluribus Unum”, and “Ten Dollars”. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA E PLURIBUS UNUM W DW TEN DOLLARS
Edge	Reeded (milled)