Disabled Veterans commemorative coin design unveiled.

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Those attending the DAV National Convention in Denver gave thunderous applause as Edmund C. Moy, Director of the United States Mint, unveiled the designs for the 2010 American Veterans Disabled for Life Silver Dollar.

"We are honored that the United States Mint has designated a special commemorative coin to honor our country's disabled veterans," said National Adjutant Arthur H. Wilson and President of the Disabled Veterans' LIFE Memorial Foundation. "Not only will the coin forever be a reminder of the brave service men and women who risked, and continue to risk their lives, but each coin sold will bring us one step closer to building a long overdue permanent tribute to disabled veterans in our nation's capital."

The coin's designs, approved by Treasury Secretary Timothy F. Geithner on July 30, are emblematic of the service of our disabled veterans who made enormous personal sacrifices defending the principles of our democracy. The obverse, or heads side, of the coin depicts the legs and boots of three disabled veterans. The inscription in the banner along the coin's upper rim, THEY STOOD UP FOR US, pays tribute to the courageous disabled veterans who fought to preserve our freedom, Moy told the audience. Additional inscriptions on the obverse are IN GOD WE TRUST, 2010 and LIBERTY.

The reverse (tails) design depicts a forget-me-not flower at the base of a wreath wrapped in a ribbon that cradles and supports clusters of oak branches. The oak branches represent strength, while the forget-me-not is a widely accepted symbol of remembrance for those who sacrificed their blood and their health for our country's cause, Moy explained. The main inscription reads Take This Moment to Honor Our Disabled Defenders of Freedom, while the rim is imprinted with UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, E PLURIBUS UNUM and ONE DOLLAR.

Under the American Veterans Disabled for Life Commemorative Coin Act, the U.S. Mint will issue commemorative coins in honor of veterans who became disabled while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. The agency will mint proof and uncirculated versions of the commemorative $1 coin in 90 percent silver. The coins will bear the "W" mint mark of the United States Mint at West Point. Mintage is set at 350,000 coins across all product options.

Surcharges collected from sales of the 2010 American Veterans Disabled for Life Silver Dollar coins are authorized to be paid to the Disabled Veterans' LIFE Memorial Foundation. The surcharges will help the Foundation support the construction of the American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial in Washington, D.C., which was authorized by Congress in 2000.

The American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial plans to break ground in 2010. To date, the Foundation has raised 90 percent of the total funds needed to design, build and permanently maintain the memorial. Approximately $5 million still must be raised before groundbreaking can begin.

Introductory and regular pricing will be established in early 2010.

To be placed on the early notification list when the coin becomes available for sale, send an email request to info@dvlmf. org. To make a tax-deductible donation or learn more about the Memorial, visit www.avdlm.org.

Edmund C. Moy, Director of the United States Mint, and Diane Musselmann unveil the designs for the 2010 American Veterans Disabled for Life Silver Dollar.