Obverse. Image Courtesy of Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS.com)
  • 5 Dollars 2012, KM# 531, United States of America (USA), Star-Spangled Banner
  • 5 Dollars 2012, KM# 531, United States of America (USA), Star-Spangled Banner
Description

The 2012 Star Spangled Banner $5 Gold Coin was issued as part of a program authorized by Congress to commemorate the bicentennial of the writing of the national anthem of the United States of America. The designs for the program, which also included a silver dollar, were required to be emblematic of the War of 1812 and particularly the Battle of Baltimore, which formed the basis for the lyrics of the Star-Spangled Banner.

"The Star-Spangled Banner" is the national anthem of the United States. The lyrics come from the "Defence of Fort M'Henry", a poem written on September 14, 1814, by 35-year-old lawyer and amateur poet Francis Scott Key after witnessing the bombardment of Fort McHenry by British ships of the Royal Navy in Baltimore Harbor during the Battle of Baltimore in the War of 1812. Key was inspired by the large U.S. flag, with 15 stars and 15 stripes, known as the Star-Spangled Banner, flying triumphantly above the fort during the U.S. victory.

The poem was set to the tune of a popular British song written by John Stafford Smith for the Anacreontic Society, a men's social club in London. "To Anacreon in Heaven" (or "The Anacreontic Song"), with various lyrics, was already popular in the United States. This setting, renamed "The Star-Spangled Banner", soon became a well-known U.S. patriotic song. With a range of 19 semitones, it is known for being very difficult to sing. Although the poem has four stanzas, only the first is commonly sung today.

"The Star-Spangled Banner" was recognized for official use by the United States Navy in 1889, and by U.S. president Woodrow Wilson in 1916, and was made the national anthem by a congressional resolution on March 3, 1931, which was signed by President Herbert Hoover.

Obverse

Depicts a naval battle scene with an American ship in the foreground and a damaged and fleeing British ship in the background. The inscriptions include “In God We Trust”, “Liberty”, and “1812-2012”.

Initially, this design had been prepared as a candidate for the silver dollar, but it was selected for use on the gold coin following the recommendation of the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee.

Design: Donna Weaver
Modelled: Joseph Menna

IN GOD WE TRUST LIBERTY
1812-2012
W
DW JFM

Reverse

Depicts the first words of the national anthem “O say can you see” in Francis Scott Key’s handwriting. The background features an arrangement of 15 stars and 15 stripes to represent the Star-Spangled Banner flag. Inscriptions around the outer rim of the coin include “United States of America”, “E Pluribus Unum”, and “Five Dollars”.

Design: Richard Masters
Modelling: Joseph Menna

• UNITED STATES OF AMERICA •
O say
can
you
see
RM JFM
E PLURIBUS UNUM • FIVE DOLLARS

Edge
Characteristics
Type Commemorative Issue (Non-circulating)
Material Gold
Fineness 0.900
Weight 8.359 g
Diameter 21.6 mm
Thickness -
Shape round
Alignment Coin
Mint
West Point Mint (W)

Related coins

Star-Spangled Banner

Silver, 26.73 g, ⌀ 38.1 mm