Coin Collectors News

NOW AVAILABLE – 2018 Happy Birthday Currency Note

Jan 16, 2018 | Announcements, Bureau of Engraving and Printing

First Day of Sale: January 16, 2018 (8:00 a.m. ET) – The Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) is pleased to introduce the 2018 Happy Birthday Currency Note, featuring a $1 note with a serial number beginning with “2018.” The note is protected by a clear, acid-free polymer sleeve in an attractive folder. The 2018 Happy Birthday Currency Note is $5.95.

Please visit our website for additional product information at www.moneyfactorystore.gov.

U.S. Mint Video: Pictured Rocks AtB B-Roll

Jan 11, 2018 | U.S. Mint, video

This b-roll video shows the inspiration, design and production of the 2018 Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore coin, part of the America the Beautiful Quarters collection.

U.S. Mint Video: Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore (2018)

Jan 11, 2018 | U.S. Mint, video

Sculptor-Engraver Michael Gaudioso discusses his work on the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore coin, the first in the 2018 America the Beautiful Quarters collection.

United States Mint Begins Sales of 2018 WWI Commemorative Silver Dollar and Companion Medal Sets on January 17

Jan 11, 2018 | Announcements, U.S. Mint

WASHINGTON – The United States Mint (Mint) will open sales for the 2018 World War I Centennial Silver Dollar and the World War I Centennial Silver Dollar and Medal Sets on January 17 at noon Eastern Time. Product information is below.

Product Option	Product Code	Intro. Price	Reg. Price
Proof	18CA	$51.95	$56.95
Uncirculated	18CB	$48.95	$53.95
Army Special Set Coin & Medal	18CC	N/A	$99.95
Air Service Special Set Coin & Medal	18CD	N/A	$99.95
Marine Corps Special Set Coin & Medal	18CN	N/A	$99.95
Navy Special Set Coin & Medal	18CM	N/A	$99.95
Coast Guard Special Set Coin & Medal	18CP	N/A	$99.95

The introductory sales period ends on February 20, 2018, at 3 p.m. ET, when regular pricing takes effect. Product descriptions are below.

World War I Centennial Silver Dollar

The obverse (heads), titled “Soldier’s Charge,” depicts an almost stone-like soldier gripping a rifle. Barbed wire twines are featured in the lower right-hand side of the design. Inscriptions are “LIBERTY,” “1918,” “2018,” and “IN GOD WE TRUST.”

The wire design element continues onto the reverse (tails), titled “Poppies in the Wire,” which features abstract poppies mixed in with barbed wire. Inscriptions include “ONE DOLLAR,” “E PLURIBUS UNUM,” and “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.”

Public Law 113-212 authorizes the bureau to mint and issue up to 350,000 silver dollar coins. Customer demand will determine the ratio of proof to uncirculated coins minted within the authorized mintage limits.

The price of each coin includes a $10 surcharge, which the law authorizes to be paid to the United States Foundation for the Commemoration of the World Wars, to assist the World War I Centennial Commission in commemorating the centenary of World War I.

In support of the coin program, the Mint has created special companion medals honoring each of the branches of the U.S. Armed Forces that were active during the War. Each World War I Centennial Silver Dollar and Medal Set includes a proof silver dollar and a proof 90 percent silver World War I Centennial Medal. The medals are available only in these sets. Medal descriptions are as follows:

World War I Centennial Army Medal – West Point Mint

The obverse depicts a soldier cutting through German barbed wire, while a second soldier aims a rifle amid a shattered landscape of broken trees and cratered earth. A shell explodes in the distance. The reverse features the United States Army emblem, which was also in use during World War I, with the inscriptions “OVER THERE!,” “CENTENNIAL OF WORLD WAR I,” “2018,” and “UNITED STATES ARMY.”

World War I Centennial Marine Corps Medal – San Francisco Mint

The obverse depicts the aftermath of the Battle of Belleau Wood. One Marine stands guard as the other kneels to pay respect to the fallen. The inscription quotes a report to the American Expeditionary Forces: “WOODS NOW U.S. MARINE CORPS ENTIRELY.” The reverse features the World War I-era version of the Eagle, Globe, and Anchor emblem with the inscriptions “CENTENNIAL OF WORLD WAR I,” “2018,” “OVER THERE!,” and “BATTLE OF BELLEAU WOOD.”

World War I Centennial Navy Medal – Philadelphia Mint

The obverse depicts a U.S. Navy destroyer on escort duty after deploying a depth charge in defense of a convoy. Above the destroyer, kite balloons provide Navy personnel a platform to spot submarines and other dangers. The inscription “OVER THERE!,” appears at the bottom of the design. The reverse features an Officer’s Cap Device* used in World War I. Inscriptions are “UNITED STATES NAVY,” “2018,” and “CENTENNIAL OF WORLD WAR I.” (*Note: An official, uniform seal of the United States Navy had not been adopted at the time of World War I.)

World War I Centennial Air Service Medal – Denver Mint

The obverse depicts the iconic SPAD XIII, a World War I fighter flown by many Americans and valued for its speed, strength, and firepower, viewed from the top and side. The inscription “SPAD XIII” identifies the aircraft. The reverse design features the Military Aviator Insignia with the inscriptions “CENTENNIAL OF WORLD WAR I,” “2018,” “OVER THERE!,” “AIR SERVICE,” and “AMERICAN EXPEDITIONARY FORCES.”

World War I Centennial Coast Guard Medal – Philadelphia Mint

The obverse depicts a lifeboat from the Coast Guard Cutter USCGC Seneca heading out in heavy seas toward the torpedoed steamship Wellington. The reverse features the World War I-era Coast Guard emblem, with the inscriptions “CENTENNIAL OF WORLD WAR I,” “2018,” and “OVER THERE!”

The coin and medal sets are limited to 100,000 units across all five product options and can be ordered only between noon on January 17, 2018, and 3 p.m. on February 20, unless the limit is reached prior to that date. Production will be limited to the orders received within this window. Fulfillment of these sets will begin in late May 2018.

Orders will be accepted at catalog.usmint.gov/ and at 1-800-USA-MINT (872-6468). Hearing- and speech-impaired customers with TTY equipment may order by calling 1-888-321-MINT (6468). Information on shipping options is available here.

Educational Activities and Events Highlight 2018 National Coin Week Celebration

Jan 10, 2018 | ANA, Announcements

2018 Theme Celebrates Unity Across Borders

To recognize the role of numismatics in building bridges and promoting unity and reconciliation, the American Numismatic Association (ANA) selected “Connecting Cultures: From Many, One” as the theme for the 95th annual National Coin Week, April 15-21. The theme was provided by ANA member Linda Mosvick.

The Association will host a variety of National Coin Week activities online and at the Edward C. Rochette Money Museum in Colorado Springs, Colo. Events and educational content focuses on U.S. and world coins throughout history, commemorative medals, monetary unions, designs on euro notes, and more.

ANA-sponsored activities for National Coin Week include:

A writing contest open to ANA members about how numismatics creates unity. Topics can be historical and research based, or personal experiences about people coming together through numismatics. Winning and high-quality entries will be featured on the ANA National Coin Week blog and webpage. Selected entries qualify for prizes.

An online trivia challenge. Every day from April 15-21, a new question will be released on the ANA’s social media channels and www.NationalCoinWeek.org. Participants submit their answers online for a chance to win proof sets and one-year memberships to the ANA.
The annual coin club trivia challenge, where ANA member clubs test their numismatic knowledge and compete for prizes.
A youth activity, “Bridges on Coins.” Children are provided close-up illustrations of bridges featured on coins and paper money, and challenged to identify the objects.
Online resources on www.NationalCoinWeek.org, including articles from The Numismatist, promotional documents, links and suggestions from the ANA library and more.
An open house at the Money Museum in Colorado Springs on Saturday, April 21, which will include free admission, activities for children and adults, and the minting of the 2018 National Coin Week medallette in the museum’s Mini-Mint.

“Symbolism is often an important part of designs on coins and currency,” said Andy Dickes, ANA collections manager and coordinator of the 2018 National Coin Week. “For example, the first coins struck for circulation at the United States Mint in 1793 were large copper cents about the size of today’s quarter-dollars, and the “tails” side design on those cents depicted a chain with 13 links forming a circle. It symbolized the unity of the 13 original colonies.”

For additional information, e-mail ncw@money.org, call 719-482-9814, or visit www.NationalCoinWeek.org.

The American Numismatic Association is a congressionally chartered, nonprofit educational organization dedicated to encouraging the study and collection of coins and related items. The ANA helps its 25,000 members and the public discover and explore the world of money through its vast array of instructional and outreach programs, as well as its museum, library, publications and conventions. For more information, call 719-632-2646 or visit www.money.org.