The obverse features a detailed rendering of the Alamo façade, including the iconic curved parapet, arched doorway, and masonry stonework. The inscription “Remember the Alamo…” appears across the upper field, referencing the rallying cry that followed the fall of the mission in March 1836. The commemorative date “1836 – 1986” is positioned below the structure, marking the 150th anniversary of the battle and Texas independence.
The reverse carries a circular legend reading “.999 FINE SILVER” and “ONE TROY OUNCE.” Centered within a recessed matte inner field is the date "1985" or “1986,” positioned above a silhouette of the State of Texas. The outer ring is polished with raised lettering, creating contrast with the textured interior field.
1985-86 Alamo Silver Round Overview
The 1985-86 Alamo Silver Round, part of the Texas 150th Anniversary Collection, is a 1 oz .999 fine silver commemorative marking the 150th anniversary of Texas independence. The obverse depicts the Alamo chapel’s distinctive curved façade, arched doorway, and masonry stonework, with “Remember the Alamo…” arched across the top and the commemorative dates “1836 – 1986” below. The reverse carries a Texas-silhouette device within a “.999 FINE SILVER · ONE TROY OUNCE” legend, struck in two separate dated variants — “1985” and “1986.”
1985-86 Alamo Silver Round Attribution
Mint is attributed to World Wide Mint (Bloomington, MN) on the basis of reverse-die linkage shared across the full Texas 150th Anniversary Collection; see the mint page for the underlying reasoning. Distributor is John Grayson (San Benito / Harlingen, TX), confirmed through period Coin World and Texas Monthly advertisements and corroborated by a firsthand account naming Grayson as a wholesale source supplying multiple area dealers; see the collection page for full sourcing.
1985-86 Alamo Silver Round Historical Significance
The obverse engraving renders the Alamo chapel with its curved parapet — the scalloped silhouette most people picture when they hear the name. That shape is not how the building looked during the 1836 siege. The parapet was added in 1850, when the U.S. Army, then using the former mission as a quartermaster depot, rebuilt the façade and gave it the rounded gable that has defined the Alamo’s public image ever since. The round depicts the Alamo as it was rebuilt and remembered in the 20th century, not the fortified mission compound the defenders actually held.
The Alamo became the defining symbol of sacrifice and resistance in the Texas Revolution. In March 1836, a small Texian force held the former mission, in present-day San Antonio, against a much larger Mexican army for 13 days before being overwhelmed. The defenders were killed, but the event galvanized support for independence and is traditionally credited with inspiring the rallying cry “Remember the Alamo!” at the Battle of San Jacinto six weeks later, which fueled Texian resolve in the decisive victory that secured independence. The Alamo thus represents not merely a military defeat, but a foundational moment in Texas identity centered on courage, defiance, and the pursuit of self-governance.
1985-86 Alamo Silver Round Notes
- Two struck date variants exist: “1985” and “1986” on the reverse, reflecting the original and reissue years noted in the period sales brochure for the full 8-coin set
- See the Texas 150th Anniversary Collection page for the complete set, pricing, and distributor background
1985-86 Alamo Silver Round References
- January 1986 Texas Monthly Magazine advertisement (documented example examined, this entry)
- World Wide Mint (Bloomington, MN), The Texas Stacker
- John Grayson (San Benito / Harlingen, TX), The Texas Stacker
- Texas 150th Anniversary Collection (1985–1986), The Texas Stacker
- Texas Stacker Archives
