Numismatic

2023-D American Innovation $1 Lung Transplant BU (Mississippi)

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The American Innovation dollar series celebrates the spirit of ingenuity across the United States, releasing four distinct designs each year in the order of statehood. This 2023 release from the Denver Mint highlights a monumental medical achievement from Mississippi, struck in a brilliant uncirculated finish. The coin features a multi-layered composition, with outer layers of copper, zinc, manganese, and nickel bonded securely to a core of pure copper. On the obverse, the Statue of Liberty is depicted in a striking profile. Alongside this iconic symbol, the inscriptions "IN GOD WE TRUST" and the "$1" face value are accompanied by a stylized gear privy mark, which represents the spirit of industry and innovation. The edge of the coin is incused with the year 2023, the "D" mint mark, and the traditional motto "E PLURIBUS UNUM." The reverse of the coin is dedicated to a historic moment in medicine, showcasing two hands carefully passing surgical instruments. This detailed scene is framed by the inscriptions "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA," "MISSISSIPPI," and "FIRST HUMAN LUNG TRANSPLANT," commemorating a pioneering surgical event that changed the course of modern medicine.