On January 15th, 2008, the United States Mint created the American Bald Eagle Commemorative coin. The coins were created to signify the importance of the Bald Eagles as the national symbol of the United States, to America's lands, skies and waterways, the recovery and restoration of the eagle, and to mark the 35th anniversary of the Endangered Species Act of 1973.

These coins will help in the protection of the eagle because every coin that gets sold benefits the eagle through the American Eagle Foundation.

There are three American Bald Eagle coins that have been minted. They all feature both natural and historical Bald Eagle images and emblems. One of them is targeted at young collectors. This is the clad half dollar; one side will be a profile of the Bald Eagle (Challenger), on the other side are two baby eaglets snuggled in their nest.

A lot of children will have heard of Challenger, who is a 19-year-old non-releasable bird cared for by AEF and has appeared at sporting events and ceremonies, showing off a free flight spectacular show.

A lot of hard work and excitement working with United States Mint, their artists and engravers to create three fantastic and beautiful coins, all for the good cause of helping to protect a national treasure the bald eagle for the future generations to admire and keep the program going.

The U.S. Mint Bald Eagle Coins are collectible and include a 5 dollar gold coin, a silver dollar and the clad half dollar. They are available individually or come in three special sets. There is a surcharge collected from the sale of each coin, and each coin will be earmarked. This will help to create an American Eagle Fund endowment to be managed as not-for-profit AEF. It is predicted that there is the potential to raise over 10 million dollars for the bald eagle protection cause.

The U.S. Mint Bald Eagle Coins will have maximum mintages across all the product options. These limits are 100,000 for the 5 dollar gold coin, 500,000 for the silver dollar and 750,000 for the clad half dollar. The composition of the 5 dollar bald eagle coin is 90% gold, 10% alloy, the silver coin composition is 90% silver, 10% alloy and the half dollar is 8.33% nickel, with the balance copper.

To promote these beautiful Bald Eagle Coins, on April 10th, 2008, country and western singer Dolly Parton was given the honor of pulling the rope that released a 14 week eaglet into the wild. The release took place at Douglas Lake, Tennessee in the foothills of the Smoky Mountains and was attended by Gloria Eskridge, who is the U.S. Mint's Associate Director of Sales and Marketing along with Al Cecere, who is the president and founder of the American Eagle Foundation (AEF).

It is also possible for the public to see these very beautiful birds of prey at the Dollywood theme park, the park is situated at the foothills of the Smoky Mountains and not only are there rides for the children, shows are put on daily with these amazing birds. The American Eagle Foundation (AEF) also has a center there to find more information regarding the U.S. Mint Bald Eagle Coin, and how the sale of these coins is helping to save this precious species.

A cause like this is probably the first time in the country's history anything has been done like this before. For the now famous bald eagle to appear on legal tender United States coinage, it was through the tireless campaign from the AEF staff with Challenger on Capitol Hill who strove to assure that the U.S. Mint Bald Eagle Coin bill was passed.