2003-W $10 First Flight Commemorative Uncirculated Gold Coin
Issued by the US Mint to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Wright brothers’ historic flight near Kitty Hawk, North Carolina was the 2003-W $10 First Flight Commemorative Uncirculated Gold Coin.
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| Mintage: 100,000 maximum across all product options Final Mintage: 10,009 eBay Listings Authorizing Coin Law U.S. Mint Online Site |
The momentous event occurred on December 17, 1903 and is generally considered the first powered controllable flight in history. Fame was slow in coming, however, for the brothers whose names were Orville and Wilbur. However, after several years of improvements and promotion, the two brothers became famous around the world.
Each First Flight Gold Coin is struck from 90% gold.
2003 First Flight Coins
The US Mint struck six different coins in 2003 to celebrate the centennial of Orville and Wilbur Wright’s first flight. Those six coins were:
- 2003-W $10 First Flight Commemorative Proof Gold Coin
- 2003-W $10 First Flight Commemorative Uncirculated Gold Coin
- 2003-P First Flight Commemorative Proof Silver Dollar
- 2003-P First Flight Commemorative Uncirculated Silver Dollar
- 2003-P First Flight Commemorative Proof Clad Half Dollar
- 2003-P First Flight Commemorative Uncirculated Clad Half Dollar
Surcharges were added to the sale of each of these coins and forwarded to the First Flight Centennial Foundation. The Foundation was to use the funds for the Wright Monument on the Outer Banks in North Carolina and the Wright Brothers’ National Memorial Park.
Issue Information
Each First Flight Gold Coin is struck from 90% gold to the diameter of 27 mm.
Release Date
The US Mint released the First Flight Gold Coin on August 1, 2003.
Issue Price
Initial price on the First Flight Proof Gold Coin was $340.00.
U.S. Mint Production Facility
A ‘W’ mintmark on each gold coin indicates it was struck at the US Mint’s facility in West Point.
Designer & Sculptor
Both the obverse (heads side) and the reverse (tails side) was designed by United States Mint sculptor/engraver Donna Weaver. The obverse (heads side) of the First Flight Gold Coin shows a portrait of Orville and Wilbur Wright while the reverse features an image of the Wright 1903 Flyer.
Coin Specifications
| Face Value: | $10 |
| Finish: | Uncirculated |
| Composition: | 90% gold, 10% alloy |
| Standard Weight: | 16.7180 g |
| Standard Diameter: | 27 mm |
| Edge: | Reeded |