Some of America’s hardest-working dogs are getting a place on U.S. coins in 2027. The U.S. Mint has unveiled six designs celebrating therapy dogs, guide and service dogs, and military and law enforcement K-9s.
The designs will appear on three commemorative coins: a $5 gold coin, a $1 silver dollar, and a clad half dollar, each with a different image on the front and back. Beyond celebrating working dogs, the program will also support an organization that provides service dogs to veterans, active-duty service members and first responders with disabilities.
The $5 gold coin honors therapy dogs
The $5 gold coin features a therapy dog looking upward on the front along with the words “UNCONDITIONAL SUPPORT,” while the reverse shows a child sharing a close moment with a therapy dog. According to CoinNews, the two designs were selected from dozens of concepts considered during the review process.
The silver dollar celebrates guide and service dogs
The silver dollar shows a golden retriever guide dog stopping at a crosswalk to alert its visually impaired handler to a raised curb, with “LIVE WITHOUT BOUNDARIES” included in the design. On the other side, a Labrador retriever interacts with a veteran using a wheelchair, representing the close partnership between service dogs and the people who rely on them.
Military and police K-9s appear on the half dollar
The half dollar features a German shepherd wearing a protective vest and goggles while standing among broken concrete and exposed rebar, accompanied by the words “DEFENDING AMERICA.” Its reverse depicts a German shorthaired pointer examining a duffel bag at an airport with its human partner nearby, representing the detection work performed by police K-9s.
The coins will support service dogs for veterans and first responders
The commemorative program supports the mission of America’s VetDogs, a nonprofit that trains and places guide and service dogs with veterans, active-duty service members and first responders with physical and emotional disabilities. The U.S. Mint says it costs more than $50,000 to breed, raise, train, and place a single assistance dog, but America’s VetDogs provides its services to recipients free of charge.
You’ll have to wait until 2027 to get one
The new commemorative coins will go on sale sometime in 2027, although an exact release date hasn’t been announced yet. The Mint says the date will eventually appear on its 2027 product schedule and commemorative coin page, where collectors can also find ordering information once it becomes available.
The coins may appeal to dog lovers, but the story behind the designs goes well beyond putting dogs on collectible currency. Together, the six images highlight the very different jobs working dogs perform, from providing comfort and helping people navigate daily life to assisting veterans and working alongside law enforcement.
