United States Mint’s First Palladium Proof Coin Goes on Sale on September 6
WASHINGTON – The United States Mint will begin accepting orders for the 2018 American Eagle One Ounce Palladium Proof Coin (product code 18EK) on September 6 at noon ET.
The palladium proof coin is the first collector version of the official United States Mint American Eagle One Ounce Palladium Bullion Coin introduced in 2017. Each coin contains one ounce of 99.95 percent palladium.
The obverse (heads) design of the coin features a high-relief likeness of “Winged Liberty” from the Mercury Dime obverse by Adolph Weinman. In keeping with the original coin, inscriptions are “LIBERTY,” “IN GOD WE TRUST,” “2018,” and Weinman’s initials.
The reverse (tails) design features a high-relief version of the 1907 American Institute of Architects Gold Medal reverse, also by Weinman, which includes an eagle and a branch. Inscriptions are “UNITED STATES of AMERICA,” “$25,” “1 OZ. Pd (the chemical symbol for Palladium) .9995 FINE,” and “E PLURIBUS UNUM.”
Each encapsulated coin arrives packaged in a gray leatherette presentation case with satin lining. A Certificate of Authenticity is included.
Pricing for the American Eagle One Ounce Palladium Proof Coin is determined according to the range in which it appears on the United States Mint’s (Mint) “Pricing of Numismatic Gold, Commemorative Gold, Platinum, and Palladium Products” table. Click here for the most current pricing information.
The Mint will accept orders at catalog.usmint.gov/ or 1-800-USA-MINT (872-6468). Hearing- and speech-impaired customers with TTY equipment may order at 1-888-321-MINT. Information about shipping options is available at catalog.usmint.gov/customer-service/shipping.html.
The Mint has limited orders to one coin per household across all sales channels for the first 24 hours of sales, after which the Mint will remove the limit. This coin will not be available for purchase via the bulk program. The mintage and product limits are 15,000 units.
United States Mint Launches 44th America the Beautiful Quarters® Program Coin
KINGSLAND, Ga. – The United States Mint (Mint) joined the National Park Service today to launch the quarter honoring Cumberland Island National Seashore in Georgia. This latest coin is the 44th release in the Mint’s America the Beautiful Quarters® Program and the fourth release of 2018.
“Georgia’s Cumberland Island National Seashore is made up of pristine coastlines and more than 9,000 acres of wilderness,” said U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke. “The site offers great opportunities to camp, fish, bike, and kayak. It’s a perfect addition to the America the Beautiful quarter series.”
The reverse (tails) design of the Cumberland Island National Seashore quarter depicts a snowy egret perched on a branch on the edge of a salt marsh, ready for flight. Inscriptions are “CUMBERLAND ISLAND,” “GEORGIA,” 2018,” and “E PLURIBUS UNUM.” The obverse (heads) design features a restored 1932 portrait of George Washington by John Flanagan. Inscriptions are “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,” “LIBERTY,” “IN GOD WE TRUST,” and “QUARTER DOLLAR.”
Camden County High School students Jalen Johnson and Nicole Thompson led the ceremony, while the school band ensemble and choral group Volume One entertained the crowd of more than 800 students and residents. Guest speakers included the Mint’s Acting Deputy Director David Croft; Cumberland Island National Seashore Superintendent Gary Ingram; Andrew Blascovich, senior field representative for U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson; Sam Tostensen, Southeast Georgia field representative for U.S. Senator David Perdue; and Emmitt Nolan, caseworker and field representative for U.S. Representative Buddy Carter. Donna Weaver, an artist in the Mint’s Artistic Infusion Program, received recognition for her Cumberland Island National Seashore quarter design and the customary coin exchange rounded out the event.
Mr. Croft remarked, “Just as thousands of migratory birds pass through this wildlife wonderland, so too will these quarters pass from hand to hand, reminding people of the spectacular natural beauty of Georgia’s Golden Isles.”
The Mint is offering assorted numismatic products containing Cumberland Island National Seashore quarters. Visit catalog.usmint.gov/ or call 1-800-USA-MINT (872-6468) to place an order.
The America the Beautiful Quarters Program is a 12-year initiative that honors 56 national parks and other national sites authorized by Public Law 110-456. Each year, the public will see five new national sites depicted on the reverses (tails sides) of the America the Beautiful Quarters coins. The Mint is issuing these quarters in the order in which the national sites were officially established.
United States Mint Unveils Designs for American Legion 100th Anniversary Commemorative Coin Program
MINNEAPOLIS – The United States Mint (Mint) joined the American Legion today at its national convention at the Minneapolis Convention Center to unveil designs for the 2019 American Legion 100th Anniversary Commemorative Coin Program.
The artists in the Mint’s Artistic Infusion Program created the designs that will appear on gold, silver, and clad coins as mandated by Public Law 115-65, the legislation authorizing this coin program. The Mint’s Sculptor-Engravers executed the designs.
$5 Gold Coin Obverse Design
Designer: Chris Costello
Sculptor-Engraver: Phebe Hemphill
This design commemorates the inception of the American Legion and its mission to serve America and its war veterans. The outer geometric rim design from the American Legion emblem, the Eiffel Tower, and V for victory represents the formation of the organization in Paris in 1919 at the end of World War I. Inscriptions are “IN GOD WE TRUST,” “LIBERTY,” “1919,” and “2019.”
$5 Gold Coin Reverse Design
Designer: Paul C. Balan
Sculptor-Engraver: Joseph Menna
This design depicts a soaring eagle, a symbol of the United States during times of war and peace alike. The American Legion emblem is depicted above the eagle. Inscriptions are “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,” “$5,” and “E PLURIBUS UNUM.”
Silver Dollar Coin Obverse
Designer: Paul C. Balan
Sculptor-Engraver: Renata Gordon
This design depicts the American Legion emblem adorned by oak leaves and a lily, commemorating the founding of the American Legion in Paris, France. Inscriptions are “LIBERTY,” “IN GOD WE TRUST,” and “2019.”
Silver Dollar Coin Reverse
Designer: Patricia Lucas-Morris
Sculptor-Engraver: Michael Gaudioso
The design represents the founding of the American Legion in Paris in 1919. Above the crossed American and American Legion flags is a fleur-de-lis and the inscription “100 Years of Service.” Additional inscriptions are “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,” “1919,” “2019,” “$1,” and “E PLURIBUS UNUM.”
Clad Half Dollar Coin Obverse Design
Designer: Richard Masters
Sculptor-Engraver: Phebe Hemphill
This design depicts two children standing and reciting the Pledge of Allegiance, the little girl proudly wearing her grandfather’s old American Legion hat. Inscriptions are “LIBERTY,” “2019,” “IN GOD WE TRUST,” and “I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG…”
Clad Half Dollar Coin Reverse Design
Designer: Richard Masters
Sculptor-Engraver: Joseph Menna
The design completes the phrase from the obverse “I pledge allegiance to the flag… of the United States of America.” It depicts an American Flag waving atop a high flagpole as seen from the children’s point-of-view from the ground below. The American Legion’s emblem is featured just above the flag. Additional inscriptions are “E PLURIBUS UNUM and “HALF DOLLAR.”
The authorizing legislation for the American Legion 100th Anniversary Commemorative Coins also calls for the Mint to collect surcharges from coin sales—$35 for each $5 gold coin, $10 for each silver dollar coin, and $5 for each half dollar clad coin. The surcharges are authorized to be paid to the American Legion to support the Legion’s programs for veterans, members of the Armed Forces, and other purposes specified by the authorizing legislation.
The Mint will announce the release date and additional pricing information for this coin program prior to its release in early 2019.
ACEF receives IRS approval, now public charity
The IRS has granted the Anti-Counterfeiting Educational Foundation final approval as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and designation as a public charity.
“IRS final approval allows ACEF to move forward in many different directions to raise funds,” said ACEF President Scott Spitzer, CEO of Manfra, Tordella & Brookes.
ACEF was formed in January 2018 and has been operating under provisional status for the purpose of receiving contributions from individuals, other 501(c)(3) organizations, local and regional coin clubs, grants, eBay for Charities, and government agencies to support the work of the Industry Council for Tangible Assets Anti-Counterfeiting Task Force.
The task force’s primary mission is to educate law enforcement officials about the threat counterfeits pose to the marketplace and to the public. It provides education, expertise, and other resources to law enforcement to assist in curtailing the manufacture, importation, marketing, and sale of counterfeit coins, fakes of precious metals products, and counterfeit security packaging. The task force also provides training and educational materials to dealers, private mints, sovereign mints, and the public.
The foundation’s board of directors is comprised of seven members, who review and approve project proposals from the task force to ensure that they meet IRS 501(c)(3) regulations.
For those wishing to make a charitable tax donation, please make checks payable to the Anti- Counterfeiting Educational Foundation and mail to ICTA, P. O. Box 237, Dacula, GA 30019. For information about donating, contact Kathy McFadden at 410-626-7005 or kathy.mcfadden@ictaonline.org.
American Numismatic Association Donates $55,000 to Fight Counterfeiting
The American Numismatic Association (ANA) has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting efforts to fight coin and bullion counterfeiting with a $55,000 contribution to the Anti-Counterfeiting Educational Foundation (ACEF), the non-profit organization that receives contributions to fund the work of the Industry Council for Tangible Assets’ Anti-Counterfeiting Task Force (ACTF). The donation was made during the August 18 ANA board of governors meeting at the Philadelphia World’s Fair of Money®.
ANA President Gary Adkins (right) pledges a $50,000 donation from the national hobby organization to ICTA Executive Director Kathy McFadden and Greg Allen, chair of the Anti-Counterfeiting Task Force.
“Counterfeiting is a serious problem that poses a threat to the entire numismatic marketplace,” says ANA President Gary Adkins. “The issue is urgent, and the ANA is pleased to continue its support of ACTF’s efforts to assist law enforcement in quickly identifying counterfeit coins.”
The combined efforts of the American Numismatic Association, Professional Numismatists Guild (PNG) and Industry Council for Tangible Assets (ICTA) led to the formation of the ACTF. Since its inception in January 2017, ACTF has provided education, expertise and other resources to law enforcement to assist in curtailing the manufacture, importation, marketing and sale of counterfeit coins, related fakes of precious metals products, and counterfeit packaging. Key accomplishments have included:
- Inducing the U.S. Customs & Border Protection Service and Homeland Security to value counterfeits at market value rather than face value in assessment of potential victim harm, leading to more investigations and awareness of the extent of coin counterfeiting.
- Successfully connecting law enforcement agencies within the federal government to facilitate their working together on cases involving counterfeit coins, bars and packaging.
- Assisting law enforcement in more than a dozen cases, one in particular which would have flooded the U.S. market with counterfeits valued at more than $48 million.
- Persuading the U.S. Customs & Border Protection Service to increase the number of coin packages inspected, resulting in thousands of counterfeit coins and bullion bars being seized before they enter the country.
- Creating a volunteer nationwide network of more than 90 numismatic experts to support federal, state and local law enforcement agents, allowing them to move quickly in the investigation of cases.
- Working with the U.S. Customs & Border Protection and Secret Service to determine the most effective and efficient means of providing training to agents in the field, nationwide.
According to ICTA Executive Director Kathy McFadden, counterfeiting isn’t new to numismatics. “What is new are the quality and quantity of counterfeits entering the United States and other countries around the world,” she says. “The fact that Great Britain demonetized its one-pound coin less than two years ago and replaced it with a coin containing highly sophisticated anti-counterfeiting technology serves as a prime example of the reality we face.”
“During the last 18 months, we have discovered that products minted by the United States Mint as well as those produced by many sovereign mints and private mints have been counterfeited,” says ICTA Director of Anti-Counterfeiting Beth Deisher. “We have further discovered that packaging, grading services slabs, and certificates of authenticity are also being counterfeited.”
“Education, training and research are key components in mobilizing law enforcement to act against counterfeiting,” says Deisher, who coordinates the work of the 44-member ACTF. “ANA’s funding support comes at a pivotal time in the task force’s development of educational materials for law enforcement as well as for dealers and collectors. It allows us to move forward with producing high-quality media to educate and assist those on the front lines of the battle against counterfeit coins and other numismatic collectibles.”
ANA President Adkins agrees that education is key. “Thanks to the leadership of Kathy McFadden and Beth Deisher, ACTF continues to make significant inroads in thwarting the import of counterfeits. The numismatic community has benefitted greatly from the work of the task force.”
The $55,000 contribution from the American Numismatic Association is from the Numismatic Guaranty Corporation board designated fund ($50,000) and the David L. and Kathy Ganz endowment restricted fund ($5,000). Both funds are earmarked for educational programs.
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