Thread: United States Mint Announces Selected Designs for Little Rock Central High School Des

The United States Mint, in accordance with Public Law 109-146, is proud to introduce its second commemorative coin for 2007. These silver dollars recognize and pay tribute to the strength, the determination and the courage displayed by African-American high school students in the fall of 1957.
In the landmark 1954 decision of Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas, the United States Supreme Court declared racial segregation in the public schools of the United States of America was, indeed, unconstitutional. The events in Little Rock, Arkansas in 1957, was an important step in the country’s quest for racial equality in public education.
The Act directs the Secretary of the Treasury to mint up to 500,000 silver dollars in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the desegregation events at Little Rock Central High School, in Little Rock, Arkansas during the 1957-1958 school year. So important was the successful integration of this school to the American Civil Rights movement that Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. personally attended the 1958 commencement for the school’s first African American graduate.
The obverse of this coin features a simple, yet powerful design depicting students, accompanied by an armed United States soldier, walking to school. The design includes nine stars, each symbolic of those who faced the violence and hatred of a segregated society unwilling to live by the words of its most important declaration, that "all men are created equal."
The reverse design for the Little Rock Central High School Desegregation Silver Dollar depicts the image of the school circa 1957. Designated a National Historic Site in 1998, the impressive structure still operates as an educational institution, dedicated to preparing today’s children to be tomorrow’s leaders.
"According to the Act, "e;[s]urcharges collected through the sale of these coins are authorized to be paid to the Secretary of the Interior for the protection, preservation, and interpretation of resources and stories associated with Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site, including site improvements at Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site, development of interpretive and education programs and historic preservation projects, and the establishment of cooperative agreements to preserve or restore the historic character of the Park Street and Daisy L. Gatson Bates Drive corridors adjacent to the site."
Mint Facility: Philadelphia
Weight: 26.73 grams nominal
Diameter: 1.500 inches (+/- .003 inches)
Composition: 90% silver, 10% copper
Mintage Limit: 500,000 (across all product options)

I'm surprised no one else has commented on this coin. For me I think they may have made a mistake in the design here.

If you just showed this coin to someone who doesn't know anything about the history of this subject in fifty years, just from looking at the coin they would probably assume the desegregation happened in 2007, not in 1957-1958 because the only date on the coin is 2007.

Also the coin shows the students walking over the words Desegregation in Education. I don't think that is a good design to have as a symbol.

Still, it is an interesting coin, but it misses the date 1957 above the students to be sure.

CentDime:
I agree that the design is misleading.
Good catch.

Nice reverse, wouldn't mess with that. But is it just me, or does that obverse with just a bunch of people's feet look downright stupid? Maybe if it was commemorating the March of Dimes or something it would be appropriate, but I don't get how it is supposed to represent desegregation. Heck, use the same picture, but show their faces! And put something on there to indicate it's the 50th annivarsary of the event being commemorated.

Not buying this one if it's released looking like this.

This coin is ugly. It looks like people are walking over desegregation in education. I don't think that's what the artists wanted or were thinking. I will buy one proof and unc, and that's all. I had hoped for something more inspiring which is what this is suposed to commemorate. Instead, all we get is an ugly coin, one of the ugliest I have ever seen.

Originally Posted by ozland tiger

This coin is ugly.

It looks like people are walking over desegregation in education. I don't think that's what the artists wanted or were thinking. I will buy one proof and unc, and that's all. I had hoped for something more inspiring which is what this is suposed to commemorate. Instead, all we get is an ugly coin, one of the ugliest I have ever seen.

I partially agree...

I don't know that its ugly, its definitely not the best design I have seen thats for sure, I think all coins are atleast somewhat pretty cool... IMHO...

I agree about the feet walking on the desegregation logo, thats kind of a hoaky design and could be mis-inturpeted like mentioned above and end up causing a lot of heart burn...

Also I really think that they should have the date the event the coin is commemorating, in, above or below the design for sure... Otherwise, how would the uninformed know...


Like you I'll most likley order one of each Proof and Uncirc for my collection...


Unless they change the design a bit, I don't think many people will buy either version...