2022 American Liberty Silver Medal Bucking Bronco

The 2022 American Liberty Silver Medal, featuring the dynamic “Bucking Bronco” design, is one of the most striking modern issues ever released by the United States Mint. Struck in one full troy ounce of .999 fine silver, this medal embodies the contemporary interpretation of American Liberty—untamed, bold, and full of motion. Unlike traditional coinage that often portrays Liberty as serene or idealized, the 2022 design reimagines her spirit through a powerful allegory of a wild horse in mid-buck, symbolizing the energy and resilience of the nation. Issued without denomination as part of the ongoing American Liberty series, this medal represents the Mint’s most artistic exploration of national identity in the 21st century. With its high-relief proof finish and limited mintage, the 2022 Bucking Bronco Silver Medal has become a standout piece for collectors drawn to its combination of modern artistry, technical excellence, and deeply symbolic meaning.

The obverse of the medal features an electrifying image of a mustang horse rearing and bucking fiercely, its muscles rippling in exquisite high relief. The wild horse—one of America’s most enduring symbols of independence and strength—captures the essence of liberty as untamed vitality rather than passive serenity. Designed by Elana Hagler and sculpted by Renata Gordon of the U.S. Mint’s Artistic Infusion Program, the artwork radiates motion and energy: the horse’s mane whips through the air, its front hooves strike outward, and its tail flows dynamically behind. Beneath the image, the word “LIBERTY” appears in bold sans-serif letters, grounded in simplicity yet complementing the power of the composition. The date “2022” is engraved to the lower right, balancing the design. The overall effect is dramatic and modern, emphasizing movement and defiance—an unconventional but refreshing portrayal of the American spirit that challenges the stillness of past depictions of Liberty.

The reverse design, created by designer Craig Campbell and sculpted by medallic artist John P. McGraw, provides a striking counterbalance to the obverse’s motion and intensity. It features a close-up portrait of a wild horse’s head, its expression calm yet alert, embodying controlled strength and awareness. The detailed rendering of the horse’s features—flared nostrils, focused eyes, and defined musculature—contrasts beautifully with the smooth, mirror-like proof fields that surround it. The inscriptions “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” and “1 OZ. .999 FINE SILVER” encircle the design, confirming its origin and metal content. Unlike the obverse’s untamed energy, this side evokes quiet confidence, suggesting that liberty also involves balance, endurance, and the wisdom to channel power with purpose. The combination of the two designs—one explosive, the other composed—creates a narrative arc across the medal, capturing both the wild heart and thoughtful mind of the American ideal.

The medal’s composition and finish exemplify the technical mastery of the United States Mint. Struck in one troy ounce (31.1 grams) of .999 fine silver, the piece measures 40.6 millimeters in diameter and was produced at the West Point Mint, bearing the “W” mint mark. Each medal was struck multiple times on specially prepared proof planchets using polished dies to achieve exceptional depth and mirror finish. The high-relief design brings every muscle and contour of the bucking horse to life, producing shadows and highlights that shift dramatically under light. The contrast between the frosted reliefs and deeply reflective fields is particularly pronounced, showcasing the precision of modern minting technology. Each example was encapsulated to preserve its pristine surfaces and packaged in a black presentation case with a magnetic closure, accompanied by an official Certificate of Authenticity. The presentation reflects the premium nature of the release and the Mint’s dedication to numismatic artistry.

The 2022 American Liberty Silver Medal continues the innovative series first introduced in 2015, which seeks to reinterpret Liberty through diverse and contemporary artistic expressions. Earlier issues depicted Liberty as an African-American woman, as a youthful figure representing the future, and as an allegorical presence rooted in natural symbolism. The Bucking Bronco design takes this concept further, departing entirely from human imagery to represent Liberty as a force of nature—untamed, vigorous, and self-determining. The choice of the horse is profoundly American: it recalls the frontier spirit, the open plains of the West, and the independent character that defines the nation’s mythology. By focusing on an animal rather than a personification, the design broadens the emotional language of the Liberty concept, speaking to freedom as an instinctual, universal drive rather than a static ideal. This bold artistic direction marks the series as one of the most imaginative in modern U.S. Mint history.

The mintage of the 2022 American Liberty Silver Medal was strictly limited, underscoring its appeal to collectors of contemporary U.S. numismatics. The Mint produced only 75,000 examples, all of which sold out quickly upon release. This low mintage, combined with the medal’s innovative design, has ensured strong secondary market demand. Each medal was accompanied by an individually numbered Certificate of Authenticity and presented in a black matte clamshell box embossed with the U.S. Mint seal in silver foil. The medal’s lack of a monetary denomination underscores its status as a piece of medallic art rather than circulating coinage—its value lies in craftsmanship, metal content, and artistic merit rather than face value. The inclusion of the “W” mint mark links it to the finest proof coinage traditions of the West Point facility, known for its limited, high-relief, and collector-focused productions.

The condition of this medal in proof format is exemplary. The surfaces are flawless, with deeply mirrored fields reflecting light like glass and frosted reliefs exhibiting sharp contrast and full texture. The horse’s musculature and mane are fully struck, with no flattening or imperfections visible under magnification. The proof fields are free from hairlines, marks, or milk spots, preserving the medal’s full brilliance. The encapsulated presentation ensures that the piece remains in original Mint condition, protected from environmental wear. The black velvet-lined box and COA enhance its visual presentation, making it both a collectible and display-worthy item. Collectors prize such pristine examples, as the high-relief proof finish showcases the full depth and dynamism of the design, ensuring that each viewing reveals new subtleties of form and engraving.

Symbolically, the 2022 Bucking Bronco design speaks to the very essence of American freedom. The wild mustang has long been a metaphor for unrestrained spirit and resilience, embodying the frontier legacy of courage and perseverance. In this composition, Liberty is not passive or serene—she is explosive, unbridled, and alive with motion. The contrast between the bucking energy of the obverse and the calm intensity of the reverse mirrors the nation’s own duality: freedom as both chaos and control, strength and restraint. The medal thus invites interpretation on multiple levels—artistic, philosophical, and cultural—while maintaining the raw power of its imagery. It transforms the familiar motif of Liberty into a living, breathing symbol of America’s ongoing journey toward self-determination and unity through strength.

From a numismatic standpoint, the 2022 American Liberty Silver Medal “Bucking Bronco” is a landmark issue within the U.S. Mint’s modern portfolio. It represents the intersection of fine art and minting technology, blending conceptual innovation with flawless execution. Its limited mintage, stunning relief, and evocative symbolism make it one of the most memorable medals in recent U.S. Mint history. For collectors of modern American coinage, the piece complements the gold American Liberty coin of the same design, allowing appreciation of the artwork in both precious metals. As a physical embodiment of motion, independence, and vitality, the 2022 Silver Liberty Medal transcends its role as a collectible to become an artistic statement—a declaration that liberty is not static, but a living force that must be continually asserted and celebrated. With its breathtaking design and impeccable craftsmanship, the Bucking Bronco stands as one of the defining numismatic expressions of America’s modern era.