Description

The 2012 Infantry Soldier Silver Dollar was issued to commemorate the legacy of the United States Army Infantry and the establishment of the National Infantry Museum and Soldier Center. The price of each coin included a surcharge to be paid to the National Infantry Foundation to establish an endowment to support the maintenance of the National Infantry Museum and Solider Center after its completion.

The designs for the coin were announced prior to a football game between the Fort Benning Doughboys and the Columbus State University Cougars on October 27, 2011. The opening coin toss was performed with a prototype of the commemorative coin. This prototype was actually one of several test strikes created by the United States Mint using a master die and carrying a bullion finish, which is not approved for commemorative coins. The prototype and other test strikes were retained by the US Mint and eventually melted.

The Infantry Branch (also known as the "Queen of Battle") is a branch of the United States Army first established in 1775. Ten companies of riflemen were authorized by a resolution of the Continental Congress on 14 June 1775. However, the oldest Regular Army infantry regiment, the 3rd Infantry Regiment, was constituted on 3 June 1784, as the First American Regiment