The United States is heading into the new year with some shiny new hardware.
The U.S. Mint has released three coins honoring the great Harriet Tubman, who escaped slavery and helped other enslaved people gain freedom as a "conductor" of the Underground Railroad.
"Every coin produced by the United States Mint helps to tell a story that teaches us about America's history or connects us to a special memory," Ventris Gibson, Director of the Mint, said in a statement. "We hope this program will honor the life and legacy of Harriet Tubman and inspire others to learn more about this amazing woman."
A half-dollar, a silver dollar and a $5 gold coin featuring Tubman's likeness are now available for pre-order and expected to ship in February.
The half-dollar depicts Tubman, who distinguished herself as the first woman to lead an armed expedition in the Civil War, and two Civil War-era boats representing the Combahee River Raid, which resulted in more than 700 enslaved persons in South Carolina being freed. The reverse design depicts Harriet Tubman holding a spyglass in front of a row of Civil War-era tents, symbolizing her work as a scout and spy for the Union Army during the Civil War.
The silver dollar features Tubman offering her hand to the viewer with an expression that challenges the viewer to seize the opportunity for freedom. The reverse design depicts silhouettes crossing a bridge created by a pair of clasped hands. In the sky, the Big Dipper constellation points to the North Star.
The $5 gold coin features a portrait of Tubman in her years following the Civil War, looking confidently into the distance and towards the future. The reverse depicts both arms of an individual firmly clasping one arm of another individual, symbolizing the aid and care that Tubman offered to others throughout her life. Encircling the arms are inscriptions of Tubman's seven core values
The coins are legal tender, but won't be released into wide circulation. They must be ordered from the U.S. Mint with a surcharge that will go to the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center and the Harriet Tubman Home.
Currently, prices range from $47 for an uncirculated half-dollar coin to $836.25 for a three-coin proof set. Introductory sales prices are in effect until February 5 at 3 p.m. EST, after which regular pricing will take effect.
The Mint accepts orders online and 1-800-USA-MINT.