1976-D Medal D1976-1d, Gilt-Copper Colorado Centennial

Coin Details

Description

Swoger catalog number D1976-1d. This gilt-copper medal was struck at the United States Mint facility in Denver to commemorate the centennial of Colorado statehood. The gilt-copper composition — copper with a gold-toned surface treatment — provides a warm golden appearance befitting a state whose early history was defined by the gold and silver mining industries. The Pikes Peak Gold Rush of 1858-1861 and the subsequent silver boom of the 1870s and 1880s drew tens of thousands of fortune seekers to the Colorado Territory and drove the push for statehood. The Swoger catalog (D-series), compiled by Tom Swoger, documents modern U.S. Mint commemorative medals from 1956 onward. Modern U.S. Mint medals are available through the Mint's direct sales program, with limited mintages on many issues creating secondary market premiums for sold-out releases. The gilt-copper composition is an uncommon variant in the D1976-1 Colorado series.

Rarity Notes

Gilt-copper composition — an uncommon surface treatment. The gold-toned finish is thematically appropriate for a state built on precious metals. Exact mintage not separately reported.

Cross References

PCGS #76171; Swoger D1976-1d