5 Dollars Memorializing Columbia Space Shuttle

Liberia issued a wave of commemorative copper-nickel pieces in the early 2000s targeting the thematic collector market — space, wildlife, world leaders — with little connection to the issuing nation. This coin appeared in 2003, the same year Columbia disintegrated during atmospheric re-entry on February 1st, killing all seven crew members. The disaster was caused by foam insulation that had broken off the external tank during launch sixteen days earlier and damaged the leading edge of the left wing.

KM#829 is one of dozens of Liberian issues from this period struck by outside minting contractors, almost certainly never circulating in Liberia itself.