End of World War II 75th Anniversary coins

World War II was a war to end all wars and brought about the upheaval of almost all nations in the world. The death and destruction that it brought was unheard of till then in history. This war saw our ‘greatest generation’ who fought in foreign lands and preserved freedom, liberty and our way of life. When the war came to an end, people rejoiced in the streets in the United States of America and United Kingdom. Times square and Trafalgar square bore witness to spontaneous song and dance routines. People were ecstatic and kissed random strangers.

But the streets around rest of Europe and world weren’t as filled with joy and spontaneity as they were still trying to come back to terms with the carnage and death orchestrated in their lands. Yet there was a collective sigh of relief that the worst was over.

This year the U.S. mint is marking the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II with a Commemorative 24-Karat Gold coin, Silver medal and Special American Gold Eagle and Silver Eagle proof coins.

Victory in Europe day

When the victory of the allied forces became more sure every day, Adolf Hitler, the Nazi dictator committed suicide on 30th April 1945. He left behind a successor, Karl Dönitz who was to supervise the dissolution of the third Reich and the surrender of Germany. Dönitz immediately went about organizing the surrender to the allies in Reims, France with representatives of the United States, United Kingdom and France on May 8th 1945.

Field Marshal Wilhelm Keitel, the supreme commander of all German forces surrendered on behalf of the German people again on May 9th 1945, in front of the Soviet Marshal Georgy Zhukov to appease Stalin. But it was a ‘victory only half-won’ as famously said by President Harry Truman as Japan was as yet ‘unsubdued’. The Pacific theatre of the war was still raging on as Imperial Japan surrendered only after 3 months of German surrender.

Victory over Japan day

When President Truman gave an ultimatum to Imperial Japan to "Surrender or suffer prompt and utter destruction’, during the Potsdam declaration, Japan rejected it. Within a few days however, the atomic bombs were dropped in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Emperor Hirohito accepted to surrender his troops to the allied powers on August 10th 1945. The formal surrender happened aboard USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay and President Truman declared September 2nd as the official "V-J Day". Though it was the day when the war ended, it is not officially celebrated in the United States because of the somber memories of the atomic bombs.

End of WWII 75th Anniversary coins

The American Gold Eagle and Silver Eagle proof coins this year have a special privy mark on their obverse “V75” to symbolize the 75th anniversary of the triumph of World War II. The design outline of the privy mark represents the aerial view shape of the Rainbow Pool located at West Potomac Park in Washington, DC. This is an integral part of the World War II Memorial.

The U.S. mint is also releasing a 24 Karat Gold coin and a Silver Medal with the same design to mark the end of the World war. The obverse design features an eagle in flight grasping an olive branch, symbolizing peace, in its right talon. The design is inspired by the 1945 version of the Great Seal of the United States, where the eagle faces to the right, toward the olive branch. Inscriptions are “LIBERTY,” “1945,” and “WORLD WAR II.”

The reverse design echoes the sun element featured on the obverse of the 1945 World War II Victory Medal. The sun from that medal has, 75 years later, risen to noon day brilliance. It shines on the symbolic olive branches on the left. Inscriptions are “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,” “E PLURIBUS UNUM,” “IN GOD WE TRUST,” 75th ANNIVERSARY,” “2020,” “AU 24K 1/2 OZ.,” and “$25.”

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