Tributes

Tribute Rounds from Provident Metals

When it comes to issuing commemorative items that reflect historic coin designs or celebrate national milestones, bullion coins, and rounds are often the first things collectors look to buy. Outside of these traditional product lines, you will find that tribute rounds exist that offer similar visuals with one key difference. Take a minute to learn more about tribute rounds available at Provident Metals.

What Makes a Tribute Round Different?

The primary difference between a tribute round and a traditional round or coin isn’t in the designs or even the visual finishes. Instead, it is the core of the blank used in the production of the tribute rounds. While bullion coins or rounds are struck on a blank made of at least .999 pure metal content, tribute rounds are made using blanks with a metallic alloy known as nickel-silver. In most cases, nickel-silver consists of 60% copper, 20% nickel, and 20% zinc.

Why are Tribute Rounds Issued?

Tribute rounds are produced and sold for much the same reason as other commemorative proof coins or rounds, to mark special occasions. A recent example of this was the 2021 Tribute Rounds marking the centennial of the Morgan Dollar and Peace Dollar. In 1921, the Morgan Dollar was issued for the final time, and the Peace Dollar for the first time. Centennial Tribute Rounds were issued in 2021 to mark the 100th anniversary by replicating those beautiful designs in incredible detail. Other tribute rounds may mark cultural milestones for a nation or simply replicate a popular coin design outside of a specific anniversary date.

Examples of Visual Finishes

While tribute rounds come with the nickel-silver alloy at the heart of the blank, don’t let that fool you. These rounds offer impressive visual appeal. The private mints producing tribute rounds will often enhance the visual impact of the rounds by applying thin layers of precious metals. Some tribute rounds may be entirely clad in a thin layer of 24-karat gold, while others may feature a combination of a ruthenium background and gold-clad designs to create visual contrast.

Examples of Tribute Rounds

• Trump Mugshot Medallions: On August 24, 2023, Donald Trump voluntarily turned himself in on charges involving racketeering. The infamous mugshot has proven to be a symbol of hope for Donald Trump and his supporters as he seeks to become the president once again. At Provident Metals, we have a handful of medallions that show this iconic mugshot, such as a gilded medallion and a black ruthenium medallion.
• Donald Trump Tribute Coin: Produced by the Merrick Mint, this coin is not considered legal tender. The obverse shows Donald Trump in left-profile relief, while the reverse shows a heraldic eagle.
• Bicentennial 3-Coin Set: This 3-coin set commemorates the 200th anniversary of the founding of America. This colorized set contains 3 coins, a dollar coin, a half dollar, and a quarter. Each obverse depicts the coin’s respective president while the reverse shows a colorized image symbolic of America.

Collecting Tribute Rounds with Provident Metals

If you have questions, Provident Metals is here to help. You can call us on the phone at 800-313-3315, chat with us live online, or simply send us an email. Our Payment Policies page is available to provide you with quick and easy answers to common questions regarding our acceptable forms of payment.