The 90% silver coin features a portrait of Louis Braille on the obverse, which was designed by Joel Iskowitz and sculpted by Phebe Hemphill. The reverse of the coin features a young child reading a book in Braille. In the background is a bookcase filled with Braille books and featuring the word "Independence." The letters "BRL" the abbreviation for the word "Braille" is included prominently in the upper field of the reverse of the coin. The reverse was designed by Susan Gamble and sculpted by Joseph Menna.
The Louis Braille Commemorative is notable because it is the first US coin, which includes readable Braille characters. Braille characters have appeared on other US coins, however the characters were too small to be considered readable. The other coins included the 2003 Alabama State Quarter and the 1995 Paralympics Commemorative coin.
The US Mint will offer the Louis Braille coin in both uncirculated and proof versions. The introductory pricing for the coins is $37.95 and $31.95 for proof and uncirculated versions respectively. After April 27, 2009 the regular prices of $41.95 and $33.95 will be put into effect. The uncirculated version of the coin will also be offered in an "Easy-Open Capsule" for anyone wishing to read the Braille characters of the coin by touch.
The maximum authorized mintage is 400,000 coins across all options. The US Mint also states that a special set containing the coin will be available later this year with an allocated mintage limit of 25,000 coins.
This will be the second commemorative coin program launched by the US Mint during 2009. The previous program featured the 2009 Abraham Lincoln Commemorative Silver Dollar, which is still available for sale.
What do you think of the upcoming Louis Braille Commemorative? Rate and review this coin at Coin Review!
I had to cringe when I saw “Easy-Open Capsule.” I get enough coins from the Mint floating freely around in their boxes, I can just imagine how many coins are going to free themselves enroute to buyers that don’t want to ‘read’ them.
ReplyDeleteRegarding what Ben mentioned, I have to agree. I too have received many encapsulated coins that have worked themselves loose in their boxes in transit. I can see a lot of these coins arriving completely loose from their capsule and scratched, among shards of shattered plastic capsule! Plus, who is really going to want to touch their coin's surface anyway? If you wear cotton gloves to protect it, the feel of "reading" it would be pretty much lost. It's basically just a really BAD idea.
ReplyDeleteMight make a great POCKET and CONVERSATION piece! At least that's why I'm getting one. Just think of all the wonderful women you could attract if you let them touch your Braille. You could even charge them for it!
ReplyDeleteMichael you have a typo on the initial price of the proof version. It should be $37.95.
ReplyDeletesorry about that... fixed.
ReplyDeleteThe mint shows both a regular uncirculated and an uncirculated in an easy open capsule on their website. Therefore, I think the concerns of collectors has been heard.
ReplyDeleteRegarding "The US Mint also states that a special set containing the coin will be available later this year with an allocated mintage limit of 25,000 coins." Do we know if this is proof or uncirculated?
ReplyDeleteAccording to Numismaster, the special set will contain the Uncirculated version of the coin.
ReplyDeleteI haven't seen any details released besides this.