February 26th, 2010 — Coin News
The US Mint began sales of the first commemorative coin program of the year on February 25, 2010. The coins are issued to honor the service of disabled veterans who survived the ordeals of war and made enormous personal sacrifices to defend the principles of democracy.
The 2010 American Veterans Disabled for Life Silver Dollars are issued in proof and uncirculaed versions, both produced at the West Point Mint. There is a maximum authorized mintage of 350,000 coins across both options.
The obverse of the coin features the legs and boots of verans, with one visibly on crutches. An inscription on a ribbon above reads "They Stood Up for Us". The reverse of the coin features a wreath oak branches with a forget me not flower at the base. A central inscriptions reads "Take This Moment to Honor Our Disabled Defenders of Freedom".
While I will purchase a pair of these coins for my collection, I would have liked to see a different obverse design. A similar legs and shoes theme was recently used on the Little Rock Silver Dollar just three years ago.
January 5th, 2010 — Coin Series
The second commemorative coin program of 2010 will be issued for American Veterans who became disabled for life. Their enormous personal sacrifices made for their country will be honored with a silver dollar commemorative coin.
The 2010 American Veterans Disabled for Life Silver Dollar has an obverse design which features the legs and boots of three veterans. One is noticeably on crutches. An inscription above reads "They Stood Up for Us". The reverse of the coin features a wreath of oak leaves and branches with a forget me not flower at the base. The central inscription reads "Take this moment to honor our disabled defenders of freedom."
The 90% silver dollar coins will be issued in a maximum quantity of 350,000. A surcharge added to the cost of the coins will be for the construction of the American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial in Washington DC. The coins are expected to go on sale at the US Min in February 2010.
January 4th, 2010 — Coin Series
This year the United States Mint will have two different commemorative coin programs. One of them will celebrate the centennial of the founding of the Boy Scouts of America. A silver dollar will be issued with a maximum mintage of 350,000 coins.
The 2010 Boy Scouts Centennial Silver Dollar features an obverse design of three scouts saluting. This includes one cub scout, one boy scout, and one female venturer. The inclusion of the female has frankly caused confusion for many people at first glance since the topic of the coin is the Boy Scouts. The female is part of the venturing program, which allows both males and females to join. The reverse of the coin features the universal logo of the Boy Scouts of America.
The coins will be minted in proof and uncirculated with a composition of 90% silver and 10% copper. The maximum mintage is 350,000 coins. The expected release date is March 2010.
December 15th, 2009 — Coin News
On Friday, December 11, 2009 sales of this year's Louis Braille Silver Dollar Commemorative Coin officially ended at the United States Mint. The coins had gone on sale March 26, 2009.
The obverse coin design has a portrait of Louis Braille designed by Joel Iskowitz and sculpted by Phebe Hemphill. The reverse of the coin features a scene of a child reading Braille in front of a bookcase. Readable Braille characters are also featured with the letters "BRL". This is the first time that readable Braille has appeared on a United States Coin. The reverse was designed by Susan Gamble and sculpted by Joseph Menna.
Recent figures indicate that about 220,000 coins have been sold out of the maximum 400,000. Surcharges added to the cost of each coin ill be paid to the Natoinal Federation of the Blind for programs to promote Braille literacy.
This year, the US Mint issued commemorative coins for Louis Braille and Abraham Lincoln. Next year commemorative coins will feature the Boy Scouts of America and Disabled American Veterans.
July 10th, 2008 — Coin News
This month the US Mint officially unveiled the designs for the upcoming 2009 Louis Braille Coins. This is a commemorative coin issue for the 200th anniversary of Louis Braille's birth and his contribution of the Braille system.
The unveiling took place at the 2008 National Convention of the National Federation of the Blind. US Mint Director Edmund Moy did the honors.
The United States Mint is proud to present the 2009 Louis Braille Bicentennial Silver Dollar coin design. I am looking forward to presenting the design for this unprecedented coin, and I am pleased that the United States Mint is playing a role in the cause of bringing literacy to all blind and visually impaired Americans.
The reverse design of the coin is notable since it is the first US coin to include readable Braille characters. It includes the Braille letters "BRL" which is short for "Braille." Prior US coins have featured Braille characters, but they have been too small to be considered readable. These include the Alabama State Quarter and the 1995 and 1996 Paralympic Silver Dollars.
A prototype of the Braille Commemorative Coin reverse design is included below.
