Dec 3, 2012 | administrative, coins, commemorative, fun, poll, US Mint
This week’s poll is asking about the U.S. Mint’s Last Chance Sale, items that the U.S. Mint will stop selling on December 17. Amongst the items are the 2011 September 11 National Medal, 2012 Infantry Soldier Proof Silver Dollar, and the 2012 Star-Spangled Banner Commemorative Coins.
Will you buy these coins or medals? Did you already buy these coins or medals? Let your opinion be heard!
Dec 2, 2012 | coins, commemorative, legislative, policy
H.R. 2453: Mark Twain Commemorative Coin Act
Sponsor: Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-MO)
To require the Secretary of the Treasury to mint coins in commemoration of Mark Twain.
This bill was passed by the Senate and enrolled on 11/15/12.
Presented to the President for his signature on 11/28/12.
See this bill at http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/112/hr2453
Nov 20, 2012 | coins, commemorative, legal, legislative, palladium, policy, US Mint
On November 6, two weeks ago, the United States held an election and it resulted in basically no change in the political structure. President Barack Obama was re-elected, the House of Representatives is still being lead by the Republicans and the Senate by the Democrats. Leadership in both chambers should not change.
For numismatists, there will be one change in the 113th Congress with the retirement of Ron Paul (R-TX) who is currently Chairman of the Financial Services Subcommittee on Domestic Monetary Policy and Technology, the subcommittee that oversees the U.S. Mint. There will also be a change on the leadership of the Financial Services Committee itself with the retirement of Barney Frank (D-MA), the Democrats will have to select a ranking member. There is no speculation as to who will replace these two retiring representatives.
In retrospect, after worrying about Paul becoming chairman of this subcommittee, the Financial Services Committee was able to maneuver around Paul’s usual intransigence by taking on legislation at the committee level rather than rely on the vetting of the subcommittee. In fact, because of Paul’s attempted run for the presidency, his absence made it easy for the committee to bypass his subcommittee.
There is still work for the 112th congress to do aside from the “fiscal cliff” and sequestration. H.R. 5977, the Collectible Coin Protection Act, still needs to be acted upon. The Collectible Coin Protection Act will allow collectors, dealers, and grading services to bring legal actions that are much more effective, with much stronger remedies than previously existed. It will allow those harmed to work with the Justice Department to bring criminal actions, where appropriate.
Now that congress is in their lame duck session, the only way H.R. 5977 can become law, is to have it considered under suspension of the rules and force an up or down vote. In order for the bill to be considered under suspension of the rules will be to have members of congress co-sponsor the legislation. At the time of this writing, there are 11 co-sponsors from both sides of the aisle. I urge all of my readers to support H.R. 5977 by asking their representative to co-sponsor H.R. 5977. If you can help, read the information I wrote for the posting “ANACS Revelation Shows We Continue to Have Counterfeit Problems” that describes how to contact your member of congress.

Bibiana Boerio was nominate to be the Director of the U.S. Mint.
Another bit of business left for the lame duck Senate is the nomination of Bibiana Boerio to be the 39th Director of the United States Mint. Although there has been no report of problems with her nomination, the partisanship battles in the Senate could cause a senator to threaten a filibuster to put her confirmation on hold. If Boerio is not confirmed by the final adjournment of the 112th Congress, President Obama will have to resubmit her nomination to the 113th Congress after it is seated on January 3rd.
An issue that will probably be deferred to the 113th congress will be the report to congress that is required under the Coin Modernization, Oversight, and Continuity Act of 2010, (Public Law No: 111-302 [Text] [PDF]). The law requires the U.S. Mint to produce a report about the metals used for coinage and alternatives two years from enactment. Since the law was signed by the president on December 14, 2010, the U.S. Mint is required to submit their report by December 14, 2012.

Adolph A. Weinman’s Winged Liberty Head “Mercury” Dime effigy to be used on the new palladium bullion coin.
Another issue that will also probably be deferred to the 113th congress will be the study of the viability of issuing palladium bullion coins. Under the American Eagle Palladium Bullion Coin Act of 2010 (Public Law No: 111-303 [Text] [PDF]), the U.S. Mint is supposed to study whether it is viable to produce palladium coins as specified under the Act. That report is also due to congress on December 14, 2012.
Although there is no report from the U.S. Mint as to the status of either report, it would be reasonably certain that the U.S. Mint will submit both reports by December 14. However, it would also be reasonably certain that the House Financial Services Subcommittee on Domestic Monetary Policy and Technology will leave it for the next congress’s agenda.
Nov 18, 2012 | coins, commemorative, legislative

Mark Twain in his gown (scarlet with grey sleeves and facings) for his D.Litt. degree, awarded to him by Oxford University
Under suspension of the rules, the House of Representatives voted 408-4 to pass H.R. 2453, Mark Twain Commemorative Coin Act. The bill has been officially enrolled and sent to the president for his signature.
When the bill becomes law, the Twain commemorative will be in 2016 to sell 100,000 $5 gold coins and 350,000 silver dollars whose designs “shall be emblematic of the life and legacy of Mark Twain.” There will be the usual $35 surcharge for the gold coin and $10 for the silver dollar that will be distributed evenly to:
- Mark Twain House & Museum in Hartford, Connecticut
- University of California, Berkeley for the benefit of the Mark Twain Project at the Bancroft Library
- Elmira College, New York, to be used for research and education purposes
- Mark Twain Boyhood Home and Museum in Hannibal, Missouri
After looking at the list, I could not imagine why Elmira College is on the list until I discovered the Center for Mark Twain Studies. Twain was married in February 1870 to the former Olivia Langdon in Elmira. While Twain and his family lived in Hartford, Connecticut, he summered at Quarry Farm in Elmira, the hole of Susan Crane, Olivia’s sister.
Twain would be amused by the commemorative. While he had a love for science and technology, Twain did not embrace his celebrity as much as some do today. Even after he faced financial troubles from bad investments and the depression from the death of his daughter Susy of meningitis, friends pushed Twain to the lecture circuit. His lectures were humorous bordering on an early form of stand-up comedy full of self-deprecating humor. Part of his talks marveled how people would pay to hear his speak or seek him out for advice.

Samuel L. Clemens stamp, 1940
Twain always marveled at the concept of celebrity for the sake of being famous. He thought that the great thinkers and inventors should have been more revered. Twain befriended Nikola Tesla understanding that Tesla was a far greater innovator that people gave him credit for. At the same time, he become friends with Henry Huttleston Rogers, a principal of Standard Oil, who largely stayed out of the limelight while company founder John D. Rockefeller remained the face of the corporation.
Mark Twain, or Samuel Longhorne Clemens as he was born, was an interesting character in United States culture. It would be interesting to see if the design of his commemorative would honor his humor and character or go the safe route by honoring his writing. Using Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn as themes would be safe designs. Basing a design on his humor would be more daring and fun.
Images courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.
Nov 2, 2012 | coins, commemorative, legislative, policy
Public Law 112-181: Lions Clubs International Century of Service Commemorative Coin Act
Sponsor: Rep. Peter Roskam (R-IL)
Signed by the President on October 5, 2012
See this bill at http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/112/hr2139
H.R. 6571: Korean Immigration Commemorative Coin Act
Sponsor: Rep. Robert Andrews (D-NJ)
To require the Secretary of the Treasury to mint coins in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the beginning of Korean immigration into the United States.
Introduced and referred to the House Committee on Financial Services 10/12/12
Track this bill at: http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/112/hr6571
Oct 11, 2012 | Baltimore, coins, commemorative, news, US Mint
On the heels of their success in the London 2012 Olympic Games, Michael Phelps and other Olympic athletes from Maryland including Katie Ledecky of Bethesda and Suzanne Stettinius of Parkton were presented with a Star-Spangled Banner Commemorative Coin at a celebration held on Monday, September 10, 2012 at Baltimore’s Inner Harbor.

Michael Phelps, second from right, joins other Olympic athletes from Maryland, including Katie Ledecky, left, windsurfer Farrah Hall, second from left, and Suzanne Stettinius, third from right, and Baltimore County Executive Kevin Kamenetz, right, during a celebration of the achievements of Maryland Olympians. (Steve Ruark/AP Photo)

Olympian Michael Phelps shows his Star-Spangled spirit and receives a new piece of “metal” from Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley.
Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley, Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, Baltimore County Executive Kevin Kamenetz, and Michael Phelps spoke at a ceremony honoring the achievements of Maryland Olympians. Following the remarks, Gov O’Malley present each athlete with a silver 2012 Star-Spangled Banner Commemorative Coin in honor of their hard work and determination at the Olympic Games.
“Our Maryland Olympians’ resolve to work hard, train and excel embodies the spirit of our state,” said Gov. Martin O’Malley. “It’s only fitting that we honor them with these 2012 Star-Spangled Banner Commemorative Coins, which pay tribute to Maryland’s vibrant people and extraordinary history.”

Star-Spangled Banner Commemorative held by the referee that was used at the Ravens-Browns game on September 10, 2012.
In addition, a Star-Spangled Banner Commemorative Coin was used for the coin toss at the Baltimore Ravens’ season home opener at M&T Bank Stadium. The Ravens beat the Bengles 44-13
“As we celebrate a variety of sports on Monday, the Star-Spangled Banner Commemorative Coin will serve as a symbol to our local athletes of Maryland’s historic tie in defending our freedom during the War of 1812,” said Ann Beegle, executive director of Star-Spangled 200 Inc., the non-profit affiliate of the Maryland War of 1812 Bicentennial Commission prior to the game. “Baltimore is home to the Star-Spangled Banner and we are pleased to recognize these athletes’ dedication with a historic symbol of our state.”
The 2012 Star-Spangled Banner Commemorative Coins, created in honor of the bicentennial of the War of 1812, exemplify the Star-Spangled Banner flag and Francis Scott Key’s poem, “The Defence of Fort McHenry” that became our national anthem. These are two of America’s most enduring icons. Coin sales will continue through December 17 and are only available through the United States Mint. The Star-Spangled Banner Commemorative coins can be purchased through the United States Mint website, at United States Mint kiosks in Washington, DC (Union Station, 50 Massachusetts Ave. NE and United States Mint Sales Counter, 801 9th Street NW) and at the Baltimore Visitor Center located at 401 Light Street, Baltimore, MD 21202.
Proceeds from the sales ($35 for each gold coin and $10 for each silver coin) to support the Maryland War of 1812 Bicentennial Commission. The commission will use these funds to support its bicentennial activities, educational outreach, and preservation and improvement of the sites and structures related to the War of 1812. Help support the commission’s activities by purchasing a commemorative coin today!
Scott’s coin:
Credits
- AP photo courtesy of reachforthewall.com.
- O’Malley/Phelps and Referee Coin images are courtesy of Star-Spangled 200, Inc.
- Coin images courtesy of the U.S. Mint.
- Image of Scott’s coin is owned by the author and covered under CC BY-NC-ND 3.0 license.
Oct 3, 2012 | coins, commemorative, legislative, policy
The following is a summary of the coin-related legislation whose status was changed in September 2012:
H.R. 2139: Lions Clubs International Century of Service Commemorative Coin Act
Sponsor: Rep. Peter Roskam (R-IL)
Passed the House On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended 9/10/12
Passed the Senate by unanimous consent 9/22/12
Presented to the President 9/25/12
Track this bill at: http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/112/hr2139
H.R. 2453: Mark Twain Commemorative Coin Act
Sponsor: Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-MO)
Passed the Senate with amendments by unanimous consent 9/22/12
Message on Senate action sent to the House 9/24/12
Track this bill at: http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/112/hr2453
S. 3612: Commemorative Coins Reform Act of 2012
Sponsor: Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC)
A bill to prohibit the payment of surcharges for commemorative coin programs to private organizations or entities.
Introduced and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs 9/21/12
Track this bill at: http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/112/s3612
Sep 18, 2012 | coin design, coins, commemorative, poll, US Mint
Every week, Heritage Auctions sends out an email newsletter from their various auctions. Saturdays, they send out a newsletter about their coin auctions. While the newsletter is mostly about their upcoming auction and tips for using their website, there are some interesting tidbits that make it worth reading. One of the interesting features is the interactive section toward the end of the note.
Up until recently, the interactive section was more of a numismatic trivia-type of section where they asked two questions. You selected your answers and clicked through to their site to see how you did compared to others. Recently, Heritage changed the section to be a poll. This week’s question (copied so you can participate):
This got me thinking as to why were these coins chosen out of all of the possible modern commemoratives. Two are based on classic designs: 1999 George Washington Commemorative $5 gold coin was based on the design that Laura Gardin Fraser submitted for the design of the 1932 Washington Quarter that was turned down by then Secretary of the Treasury Andrew Mellon, a known misogynist; the 2001 American Buffalo Commemorative Silver Dollar was based on James Earle Fraser’s Type 1 Buffalo Nickel design. James Earle Fraser and Laura Gardin Fraser were husband and wife.
The 1992 Olympic Silver Dollar features a baseball pitcher that is similar to the image of Nolan Ryan that appeared on the 1991 Fleer baseball card. Although designer John Deecken denied the connection, the coin is sometimes referred to as the “Nolan Ryan Commemorative.”
One of the significant attributes of the 1999 Dolley Madison Silver dollar is that the coin was designed by Tiffany & Co., the famous jewelry company, whose moniker “T&Co” appears on the coin as the designer. It marks the first time that a private company’s name appears on a United States coin.
Finally, the 2000 Library of Congress $10 Bimetallic Commemorative Coin is the only coin featuring this type of bimetallic composition. The coin features an outer ring made of gold surrounding a center made from platinum.
As I looked at the list, I knew that the 2001 Buffalo Dollar would be the most popular even though I think the 2000 Library of Congress Bimetallic commemorative is the most unique. But why these coins? The U.S. Mint has issued a lot of commemorative coins with great designs since restarting the commemorative coin program with the 1982 George Washington Half Dollar with the 2012 Star Spangled Banner coins being the most recent.
Since I am not a collector of commemorative coins, I was thinking that if I had to choose five coins what would I have chosen and why. Here is my list (in date order):
- 1982 George Washington Half Dollar because it is the first of what we consider the modern commemorative period.
- 2000 Library of Congress $10 Bimetallic Commemorative Coin because it is the only bimetallic coin of its type made by the U.S. Mint.
- 2001 American Buffalo Commemorative Silver Dollar because it is similar to the design of the Buffalo nickel, one of my favorite coins.
- 2008 Bald Eagle Half Dollar with the obverse showing two baby eaglets and an egg in an eagle’s nest with the reverse an image of the Bald Eagle “Challenger.” This coin shows the continuing of the Bald Eagle like the continuing of the nation. I love the symbolism.
- 2012 Star Spangled Banner Silver Dollar screams “United States of America!”
I do own a 2012 Star Spangled Banner Proof Silver Dollar.
Sep 11, 2012 | commemorative, silver, US Mint, video
As we look at remembering those who died 11 years after the attacks on New York, Washington, and those who brought that plane down in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, the U.S. Mint published a video where they interviewed members of the die and polishing department about their part in the making of the 2011 September 11 National Medal.
As you heard in the video, you can still purchase the medal from the U.S. Mint with either the “P” or “W” mintmark for $66.95 each. The medals are one troy ounce of fine silver and the price includes a $10 surcharge that will be paid to the National September 11 Memorial & Museum at the World Trade Center in lower Manhattan.
It may also be time for congress to do something bipartisan and create a medal to raise funds for the Flight 93 National Memorial that will be erected in Shanksville. With the museum in New York and The National 9/11 Pentagon Memorial, it will complete the honor of those who died on that day. Then we can work on a memorial to honor the military who have shouldered the burden since.
Sep 2, 2012 | coins, commemorative, news, policy
The following is a summary of the coin-related legislation whose status was changed in August 2012:
Public Law No. 112-169: National Infantry Museum And Soldier Center Commemorative Coin Surcharges
H.R. 3187: March of Dimes Commemorative Coin Act of 2012
H.R.4104: Pro Football Hall of Fame Commemorative Coin Act
S.3517: Panama-Pacific International Exposition and Panama Canal Commemorative Coins Act
H.R. 6331: Panama-Pacific International Exposition and Panama Canal Commemorative Coins Act