Final Coin in Three-Year Series Honors Judicial Branch of United States Government

WASHINGTON - The United States Mint began accepting orders for the 2008 American Eagle Platinum Uncirculated Coins on July 1, at 12:00 noon (ET). There is no household limit for these options.

The 2008 coin’s reverse features the final design in the three-year series entitled, “The Foundations of American Democracy.” This final design honors the Judicial branch of the United States Government. The image depicts a rendition of Lady Justice, a classic symbol dating back to the ancient Greeks and Romans. The scales, suspended from a finger of her right hand, represent the delicate balance of the law. A sword, held in her left hand, represents the power of reason, which can be wielded in either direction. The bald eagle-our Nation’s symbol of courage and freedom-casts a watchful eye over our solid foundation of democracy.

The coin’s reverse was sculpted by United States Mint Artistic Infusion Program Master Designer Joel Iskowitz and engraved by United States Mint Sculptor-Engraver Charles Vickers.

The obverse of the 2008 American Eagle Platinum Uncirculated Coins, designed and engraved by United States Mint Sculptor-Engraver John Mercanti, bears the image of Lady Liberty who has graced the coins since their introduction in 1986. (more…)

Playing Card Money Series and Crystal Raindrop showcase unique new coins; popular offerings continue

Ottawa, Ontario – History and innovative design combine to produce yet another outstanding series of Royal Canadian Mint (RCM) collector coins with the introduction of fine silver rectangular coins emulating a long-lost currency of our past: New France’s playing card money. The innovation and design creativity continues with a new crystal-embedded fine silver raindrop coin, a new Royal Effigies Series coin featuring King Edward VII, as well as gold and silver coins celebrating yet another Canadian Achievement, the world-famous IMAX film standard, among several others captivating themes.

“As the Royal Canadian Mint celebrates its centennial and as Canada celebrates other historical milestones such as the 400th anniversary of the city of Quebec, we are proud that our collector products are telling the story of Canada in fascinating new forms”, said Ian E. Bennett, President and CEO of the Royal Canadian Mint.

“Our artisans and experts have once again succeeded in creating outstanding treasures in silver and gold which capture the imagination of coin collectors and gift givers everywhere”.

$15 PLAYING CARD MONEY SERIES – JACK OF HEARTS The days when Canadian legal tender displayed the effigies of anonymous kings and queens are a fascinating twist of Canadian history. As New France found itself short of circulation coinage in 1685, the government of the day demonstrated classic Canadian resourcefulness by seizing all playing cards in the colony and issuing officially signed cards as currency. This temporary measure continued until the British conquest of 1759. The RCM rekindles the “can do” aura of playing card money with a $15 sterling silver Jack of Hearts, the first in a new series of painted rectangular collector coins featuring a selectively gold-plated rim. Only 25,000 of these treasures of our past have been carefully crafted and designed from artwork preserved by Library and Archives Canada. This coin retails for a suggested $89.95 CDN. (more…)

The second release from The Perth Mint’s innovative Orbit and Beyond Series celebrates Yuri Gagarin, Soviet cosmonaut and national hero, who became the first human in space and the first to orbit the Earth on 12 April 1961.

Struck by The Perth Mint, the coin comprises 1oz of 99.9% pure silver with a central core made of non-precious metal.

Coloured Reverse Design

The coin’s reverse comprises the border inscription 1961 FIRST MAN IN SPACE – YURI GAGARIN and a montage of coloured images symbolising his epic journey. Blasting-off in Vostok 1 from Baikonur in Soviet central Asia, Gagarin completed a single orbit of the Earth in 108 minutes before re-entering the atmosphere and parachuting back to the Soviet Union.

Unique ‘Orbital’ Coin Construction

Thanks to the coin’s unique construction, these design elements literally ‘orbit’ around a coloured representation of Earth. (more…)

TAMPA - A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit by a Palm Harbor scholar who is suing the U.S. Treasury secretary for neglecting to circulate coins with the images of the 10 men he says were presidents before George Washington.

Stanley Klos, 54, a scholar of rare historical documents, sued Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson in May citing the Presidential Coin Act, which directs the Treasury secretary to issue $1 coins depicting the presidents of the United States and to mint the coins until each president has been honored.

Klos claimed that failing to recognize these men harms his children and all students in America by misleading them about “the existence and identity of the earliest founders and the presidents of the United States.”

U.S. District Judge Steven D. Merryday ruled that because the Presidential Coin Act only issues coins commemorating presidents beginning with George Washington, who took office in 1789. It does not recognize the presidents under the 1777 Articles of Confederation as holding the same post as Washington or presidents that followed. The Articles of Confederation served as a constitution for the original colonies until it was replaced by the U.S. Constitution in 1788.

Most historians also dismiss Klos’ arguments, saying these 10 men did not have the same powers and authority as the presidents from Washington forward. The title of their office may have been similar, but the post was not the same, the historians say. They weren’t commander in chief, did not have decision-making powers and couldn’t veto legislation. (more…)

Design Candidates for 2009 American Eagle Platinum Proof Reverse Slated for Review

Public Invited to Share Opinions in Open Forum

The Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC) will hold a public meeting at 9:00 a.m. (EDT) on Friday, August 1, 2008, at the Baltimore Convention Center at One West Pratt Street, Baltimore, MD, 21201, the site of this year’s American Numismatic Association’s World’s Fair of Money. The purpose of the meeting is to conduct business related to the CCAC’s responsibility to advise the Secretary of the Treasury on themes and designs pertaining to United States coinage.

“Every year the members of the CCAC look forward to meeting at the ANA convention, because it’s a great opportunity to interact with the numismatic community,” noted CCAC Chairman Mitch Sanders. “We hope that any interested numismatists will come to our meeting and forum to see the coin design process in action, and especially to let us know their opinions about American coin design.”

Agenda (subject to change):

* Review design candidates for the reverse of the 2009 American Eagle Platinum Proof Coin and privy mark candidate designs for the series
* Public Forum to hear comments and suggestions will immediately follow meeting
* Other general business. (more…)