Jackie Robinson was a professional baseball player who played as a second baseman and was the first African American to be play in the MLB (Major League Baseball). He had over 130 home runs, captured the Rookie of the Year honor and was also designated an All Star six consecutive times. In 1997, this gold coin was issued in his honor.

Mintage figures are important within the field of numismatics and can dramatically influence the value of a coin. Generally speaking, as the mintage is reduced, the value of the coin will increase accordingly. The uncirculated version of this coin is a perfect example of this phenomenon. The total mintage for the Jackie Robinson gold coin was only 5,174 units, which has made the coin more valued than any other contemporary commemorative.

History of This Coin

In 1997, two versions of this coin were issued, one in gold and the other in silver. The coin has a face value of $5 and was released to honor the 50^th year anniversary of Robinson being accepted into the MLB, ending the period of segregation within baseball. When the coins were first issued they cost about $180 each, but were increased later on to over $200 apiece. Sales were initially slow, but this presented an excellent opportunity for savvy collectors to acquire some and place it in their collections.

Coin Design Highlights

The coin’s obverse side displays a profile of three quarters featuring Jackie Robinson, by artist William Cousins. The artwork on the coin’s reverse side was produced through Jim Peed and has an inscription which reads (1919-1972), which denotes the years of Robinson’s birth and death. The words “Legacy and Courage” are also visible. Proof versions of this coin were also released to the public along with a mint state variant. The coins can be purchased individually or as part of a 4 coin set.

Investors or collectors who chose to buy the 4 coin set have seen an excellent return on investment since the coins were released. In particular, the uncirculated version has seen the best returns since 1997. Part of this is attributed to the low mintage of the coin but can also be connected to the rising price of gold in general which has occurred over the last twenty years. Today, uncirculated Jackie Robinson coins which are in MS69 condition can sell for hundreds of dollars, much more than their asking price when they were first released.

Since the 1980s the U.S. has struck a number of commemorative gold coins which celebrate important events or individuals. These coins are one such example, as they combine a number of themes, including history, numismatics and athletics into one artistic piece. It should also be noted that Jackie Robinson has made history in two ways. Aside from being the first African American to play in the MLB and win multiple accolades while doing so, he is also the first African American to appear on an American gold coin, which will make it even more valuable as the years go by.