Obverse. Image Courtesy of Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS.com)
  • 5 Dollars 2013, KM# 555, United States of America (USA), US Army 5-Star Generals, Douglas MacArthur
  • 5 Dollars 2013, KM# 555, United States of America (USA), US Army 5-Star Generals, Douglas MacArthur
Description

A commemorative coin program was authorized to recognize and celebrate the United States Army 5-Star Generals on the 132nd anniversary of the United States Army Command and General Staff College. The three coins included in the program featured Generals George Marshall, Douglas MacArthur, Dwight Eisenhower, Henry Arnold, and Omar Bradley.

A five-star rank is the highest military rank in the United States, with a five-star general insignia. Five-star ranks are extremely senior and are usually the highest ranks. As an active rank, the position exists only in a minority of countries and is usually held by only a very few officers during wartime. In times of peace, it is usually held only as an honorary rank. Traditionally, five-star ranks are granted to distinguished military commanders for notable wartime victories and/or in recognition of a record of achievement during the officer's career, whether in peace or in war.

Five-star ranks were created in the U.S. military during World War II because of the awkward situation created when some American senior commanders were placed in positions commanding allied officers of higher rank. U.S. officers holding five-star rank draw full active duty pay for life, both before and after retiring from active duty. The five-star ranks were retired in 1981 on the death of General of the Army Omar Bradley. Nine Americans have been promoted to five-star rank, one of them, Henry H. Arnold, in two services (U.S. Army then later in the U.S. Air Force).

Obverse

Depicts a portrait of Douglas MacArthur with the 5-star insignia to the right of the portrait. The inscriptions include “Liberty”, “In God We Trust”, “Douglas MacArthur”, and the date “2013”.

Douglas MacArthur (1880–1964) was an American military leader who served as General of the Army for the United States, as well as a field marshal to the Philippine Army. He was Chief of Staff of the United States Army during the 1930s, and he played a prominent role in the Pacific theater during World War II. Macarthur received the Medal of Honor for his service in the Philippines campaign. This made him and his father Arthur MacArthur Jr. the first father and son to be awarded the medal. He was one of only five to rise to the rank of General of the Army in the U.S. Army, and the only one conferred the rank of field marshal in the Philippine Army.

Design: Ronald D. Sanders
Modelled: Michael Gaudioso

LIBERTY
2013
DOUGLAS
MacARTHUR
RS MG
IN GOD WE TRUST

Reverse

Depicts an image of the Leavenworth Lamp, in a design similar to the $1 silver coin issued under the same program. The inscriptions read “United States of America”, “Five Dollars”, “E Pluribus Unum”, and “Fort Leavenworth”.

The United States Army Command and General Staff College (CGSC or, obsolete, USACGSC) at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, is a graduate school for United States Army and sister service officers, interagency representatives, and international military officers. The college was established in 1881 by William Tecumseh Sherman as the School of Application for Infantry and Cavalry (later simply the Infantry and Cavalry School), a training school for infantry and cavalry officers. The curriculum expanded throughout World War I, World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War and continues to adapt to include lessons learned from current conflicts. Fort Leavenworth has been historically known as the "Intellectual Center of the Army."

Design: Barbara Fox
Modelled: Joseph Menna

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
E
PLURIBUS
UNUM
BF JFM
FIVE DOLLARS
FORT LEAVENWORTH

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
Mints
Philadelphia Mint (P)
West Point Mint (W)

Related coins

Henry Arnold and Omar N. Bradley

US Army 5-Star Generals

Copper Nickel Clad Copper, 11.34 g, ⌀ 30.61 mm
George C. Marshall and Dwight D. Eisenhower

US Army 5-Star Generals

Silver, 26.73 g, ⌀ 38.1 mm