2001-P U.S. Capitol Visitor Center Commemorative Half Dollar Proof NGC PF69 UC

2001-P Capitol Visitor Center Half Dollar

In 1991 the U.S. Congress voted to create a visitors center for the U.S. Capitol. It was not until December 2008 that the center finally opened to the public.

Public Law 106-126, signed into law by President William J. Clinton on December 6, 1999, established a three-coin commemorative program on the Capitol Visitor Center that consisted of the usual clad half dollar, silver dollar, and $5 gold coin. Surcharges from the sales of these coins went to help fund construction of the center, which grew larger and larger as it was being built and went way over budget.

After the terrorist attacks on the U.S. on September 11, 2001, which were believed to have also targeted the Capitol, many steps were taken to beef up security all over the Capitol and related buildings. This also complicated construction of the center and made it even more important that one exists.

The clad half dollar, whose obverse was designed by Dean McMullen and reverse was designed by Alex Shagin and Marcel Jovine, had an authorized maximum mintage of 750,000 coins. But the half dollar was not a big seller, and actual sales were 99,157 uncirculated coins and 77,962 proof coins. Both versions were minted at the Philadelphia Mint.

This was the first commemorative clad half dollar issued since those from the 1995-1996 Olympic coin programs.

Why purchase this NGC PF69 2001-P Capitol Visitor Center half dollar?

This coin in proof 70 is a modern rarity with just 13 coins that have been given the top grade by NGC, or 1% of the 1317 coins NGC has graded. 97% or 1,283 coins are proof 69.

The Proof 70 grade of this coin, which is rarely seen, costs approximately 100 times as much as a Proof 69 example because so few coins exist at the top grade. Given that the coin was minted almost 15 years ago, it is unlikely these census numbers will change dramatically in the future.

That makes the present coin a much more affordable option for the typical collector looking to add this attractive copper-nickel coin to their modern commemorative set.