The U.S. Mint has revealed the designs for Florida and Texas in the American Innovation $1 Coin Program, celebrating the technological contributions of both states. The coins, part of a series that spans 16 years, will be among the four new releases in 2025 as the program enters its eighth year.
According to the U.S. Mint, the coin designs were developed in collaboration with each state’s governor’s office and subject matter experts to ensure they represent meaningful innovations. After approval by the Secretary of the Treasury, the designs were finalized and prepared for production.
Florida’s Tribute to the Space Shuttle Program
Florida’s dollar coin, set for release this spring, commemorates NASA’s Space Shuttle program, which operated for 30 years. All 135 missions launched from Cape Canaveral, with nearly half of the shuttle landings occurring in the state as well.
The reverse side of the coin features an illustration of a space shuttle lifting off from Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Complex 39. Billowing smoke from the solid rocket boosters surrounds the bottom of the design, while stars dot the background.
The final design is similar to an earlier concept favored by both the Commission of Fine Arts (CFA) and the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC) during their reviews last year. The completed version includes the initials of designer Ron Sanders and sculptor Eric Custer. Despite suggestions to alter the star pattern, the original design was retained.
Texas Honors Mission Control
Texas’ dollar coin, which will be available this summer, pays tribute to NASA’s Mission Control at Johnson Space Center in Houston. Developing the design proved challenging, as the CFA initially rejected all original concepts, requesting revisions.
Ultimately, the selected design features an astronaut performing a spacewalk outside the International Space Station (ISS), symbolizing the vital role of Mission Control in providing economic, logistical, and intellectual support for human spaceflight. The coin also acknowledges Mission Control’s contributions to the international community participating in the ISS program.
While the final image captures the astronaut floating in space, some observers have noted the absence of a tether linking the astronaut to the ISS—a scenario that would not occur under real mission conditions. The design credits Ron Sanders as the artist and John McGraw as the sculptor.
Series Background and Release Details
Both coins will be minted at the U.S. Mint facilities in Philadelphia and Denver. They will be available for purchase in uncirculated rolls of 25 coins for $36.95 and bags of 100 coins for $123.50. Official release dates have yet to be announced.
These new additions continue the American Innovation $1 Coin Program’s space-related themes. Delaware’s 2019 coin honored astronomer Annie Jump Cannon, who developed a stellar classification system still in use today. Maryland’s 2020 coin celebrated the Hubble Space Telescope. More recently, Alabama’s 2024 coin paid tribute to the Saturn V rocket that powered the Apollo missions to the moon.
Florida and Texas now join this distinguished list, commemorating their significant contributions to space exploration through the space shuttle and Mission Control.