2015 Pope Francis USA Visit Commemorative Coin

Commemorating Pope Francis’ historic first trip to the United States from Sept. 22-27, when he will visit Washington DC, New York and Philadelphia this Brilliant Uncirculated 2015 Kennedy Half Dollar is counterstamped with the Coat of Arms of Pope Francis with his personal motto below: Miserando atque eligendo (Latin for "By giving mercy and by choosing”). The circumferential inscription reads: ‘POPE FRANCIS VISITS USA/SEPT. 22-27, 2015, and Mel Wacks’ initials “MRW” are below the shield.

From 1976 through 1984, Mel Wacks designed and counterstamped more than ten thousand coins for over 20 occasions including Pope John Paul II’s visits to the United States, Mexico and England. A catalog of these counterstamped coins was published in the TAMS Journal (March-April 2011) and appears on their web site; and they are sometimes offered for sale on ebay at prices well above the original issue prices.

No more than 500 Brilliant Uncirculated 2015 Kennedy Half Dollars (both “P” and “D”) will be counterstamped. Includes certificate of authenticity.