2018-P World War I Centennial Silver Dollar & Coast Guard Silver Medal 2-pc Proof Set NGC PF70 w/Bressett Signatures

A Lasting, Heartfelt Tribute To The Heroes Of "The Great War"

2018 marked a somber centennial in American history. In early 1918, after months of training, the first troops from the United States began to fight alongside the Allied Powers of France, Britain, Russia, and Italy in World War I. For the previous four years, the European continent had been engulfed in bloody and brutal mechanized conflict between the Allied Powers and the Central Powers of Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Turkey. Horrific trench warfare and the use of poison gases by both sides had already resulted in staggering casualties, and the Allies were running out of resources after years of fighting.

Honoring The Sacrificed Of America's Military In World War I

While the United States had tried to broker peace at a distance, the sinking of several merchant ships by German forces spurred America into action. On April 6th, 1917, the United States declared war on Germany, and America began preparing for war. With the arrival of skilled U.S. doughboys in 1918, the war decisively turned in the Allies' favor, ultimately resulting in the November 11, 1918 armistice. Finally, for a while at least, peace returned to the fields of Europe. But not without a grisly toll—116,516 U.S. soldiers gave their lives, joining the more than 10 million already sacrificed to the war's insatiable appetite.

To honor the bravery of the four million U.S. troops that served a century ago, the United States Mint created this exceptional two-piece set featuring a World War I Centennial Silver Dollar and a World War I Coast Guard Silver Medal—both featuring designs that capture the brutality of "The Great War" and the sacrifices we still honor today. Both available here come in gorgeous Proof condition, meaning they were expertly crafted by the mint from hand-selected planchets, polished dies and multiple strikes to produce beautifully frosted details rising over mirror-like fields.

Flawless Proofs Signed By A Coin Legend

What's more, each has been graded by the Numismatic Guaranty Company (NGC) as being in flawless Proof-70 (PF70) condition, a distinction that means your perfectly-graded proofs will have ZERO imperfections—showing all features and fields exactly as the engraver and mint intended! In addition, these proofs will each come sonically sealed in an acrylic holder and encapsulated with a label personally signed by the Official Red Book's editor emeritus, Kenneth Bressett. One of the most famous numismatic researchers and writers of all time having published numerous books and articles in his more than 60 years of involvement in the hobby, Bressett was appointed editor of the Official Red Book in 1962.

Low Mintages Means You Should Act Now!

The U.S. Mint struck just 127,481 of these 2018-P World War I Centennial Silver Dollars in Proof condition. Within that number the Mint released a series of five, two-piece sets that included silver medals that commemorated branches of the U.S. Armed Forces that were active in the First World War with designs honoring the Army, the Navy, the Air Service, the Marines, and the Coast Guard. These medals were available only in these two-piece sets with the Coast Guard sets achieving the lowest mintage of just 9,800 sets.

COIN HIGHLIGHTS:

·       THE FACE OF BATTLE, THE POPPIES OF PEACE - Designed by artist LeRoy Transfield and sculpted by the prolific United States Mint engraver Don Everhart, the obverse of the silver dollar proof features the stoic profile of a WWI soldier. Rifle in hand and wreathed by barbed wire, this "Soldier's Charge" design features dual dates of 2018 and 1918. The foreboding barbed wire from the literal heads of this proof continues to its reverse, joined by another Transfield/Everhart design of "Poppies in the Wire." A powerful symbol of sacrifice and remembrance, the poppy was made famous by Canadian Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae's 1915 poem "In Flanders Fields." The peaceful beauty of the flower, amidst the death and destruction of war, still symbolizes hope and honor today.

·       SAVING LIVES WITH THE U.S. COAST GUARD - Exclusively produced for this set, the silver medal proof captures the courage and skill that the United States Coast Guard brought to the seas. On one side, a rowboat of men from the Coast Guard Cutter Seneca slices through rough waters off the French coast as they head for the torpedo-damaged steamship Wellington on the morning of September 16th, 1918. As a life preserver is ready to be thrown, the USCGC Seneca stays firm among the crashing waves. Flip the medal over, and you'll discover the U.S. Coast Guard's WWI-era emblem, joined with the phrase "Over There!"—the rallying cry made famous by George M. Cohan's hit 1917 song.

·       IMMORTALIZED IN SILVER - The craftspeople at the Philadelphia Mint have brought their renowned talents to these masterpieces. Hand-selected 90% fine silver planchets are struck multiple times with polished dies to create commemoratives with frosted, razor-sharp details that rise from mirror-like fields—all capped with a "P" mint mark.

·       UNITED STATES LEGAL TENDER SILVER DOLLAR - Each 2018 WWI Centennial Silver Proof from this two-piece set is one dollar United States of America legal tender, as seen on the coin's reverse. While the medal of this set does not have a legal tender value, its silver content, stirring design and superb symbolism make it a collectible that will be treasured for generations.

·       PERFECT PROOF CONDITION - Each piece in your 2018-P World War I Centennial Silver Dollar & Coast Guard Silver Medal Two-Piece Proof Set has been graded by the Numismatic Guaranty Company (NGC) in perfect Proof-70 (PF70) condition

·       SIGNED BY A COIN LEGEND - Your silver dollar and silver medal have each been sealed in an acrylic holder and encapsulated with a label personally signed by Kenneth Bressett the Official Red Book's editor emeritus.

·       LOW LIMITED EDITION - The U.S. Mint struck just 127,481 of these 2018-P World War I Centennial Silver Dollar Proofs, and just 9,800 Coast Guard Silver Proof Medals.

For collectors of European history, military history or American history, this symbolic 2018 WWI Centennial Silver Dollar and WWI Coast Guard Silver Medal Two-Piece Proof Set is a reverent reminder of our troops' bravery and selflessness a century ago. Don't miss out on your chance to add these pieces to your collection—bring this stunning set home today!