Second Product in United States Celebration Series Features American Buffalo and American Eagle Gold Uncirculated Coins

Washington – The second special numismatic product in the United States Mint Celebration Series will be available for purchase beginning noon Eastern Time on August 1, 2008. The 8-8-08 Double Prosperity Set, priced at $1298.95, features one 24-karat American Buffalo One-Half Ounce Gold Uncirculated Coin and one 22-karat American Eagle One-Half Ounce Gold Uncirculated Coin.

The United States Mint Celebration Series, launched in February 2008, is a new initiative to explore the feasibility of introducing various numismatic coin products that are packaged and positioned to celebrate special gift-giving occasions and celebratory events.

The number “8″ is traditionally associated with prosperity in Asian cultures. The triple “8″ date is highly significant as it occurs only once every 100 years.

The American Buffalo One-Half Ounce Gold Uncirculated Coin is one of the newly released fractional weight options in the expanded American Buffalo Coin Program. The coin bears the classic portrait of a Native American in profile on the obverse and the magnificent American Buffalo, or bison, on the reverse. Noted American sculptor James Earle Fraser, a student of Augustus Saint-Gaudens, originally prepared both images for the redesigned five-cent coin (nickel) released in 1913.

The American Eagle One-Half Ounce Gold Uncirculated Coin displays Augustus Saint-Gaudens’ enduring full-length figure of Liberty with flowing hair, holding a torch in her right hand and an olive branch in her left. The coin’s reverse, by Miley Busiek, bears the endearing image of a male eagle clutching an olive branch while soaring above a nest containing a female eagle and her hatchlings.

Both coins in the 8-8-08 Double Prosperity Set are legal tender with a nominal face value designation of $25. But their gold metal content and artistry make them worth far more. Inscriptions on the coins include the “W” mint mark for the United States Mint at West Point, the date, the fineness and the weight. The coins are packaged in an attractive hardwood box with a Certificate of Authenticity signed by United States Mint Director Ed Moy. (more…)

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…)