One Step Closer to Moon Landing Coins

Why do they have to be convex or have some other odd shape?

 

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I don't know what non-American scientists and engineers (I don't even know what American ones, for that matter) are talking about, but I do think that in my lifetime man will walk on Mars. I don't, however, think the first human to walk there will be American.

 

I would oppose it, for the reason that a commemorative coin program is woefully lacking in providing the recognition that the Moon Landing achievement deserves. Only coin collectors and a few others would ever see the coins.

Instead, there should be a permanent circulating dollar coin issued in 2019 and beyond that has an Apollo 11 design. That way, a lot more people would see it, especially if they stopped printing one-dollar bills and the other dollar coins.

 

There already is a small dollar coin with the moon landing design and has been since 1979.


Susie goes to the moon

People just don't want to use them.

 

I wonder if creating a circulating coin that specifically commemorates the Apollo 11 landing would cause a problem. I would assume you would depict some part of the landing with astronauts. Two of the Three Apollo 11 astronauts (including one who walked on the moon) are still living. And, (some say for controversial reasons???)...the only images that exist from that moon walk are of Aldrin, who still lives. So, any depiction based on those events could be argued are of a living person.

 

On a sadder note, John Glenn died today. Still, given what he and the Nation accomplished in his lifetime, I think it is fair to celebrate.

John Glenn was the first American to orbit the Earth in February 1962 (two Soviet Cosmonauts orbited the Earth before him). It's weird, but his flight is quite literally the first thing I remember (I was 3 years old at the time).

Up until Glenn's flight, American's felt that they were out of the game compared to the Soviet Union, which had racked up a large number of space firsts. Glenn's flight gave the American people a chance to celebrate, and feel that they were back in the game.

Glenn was the last of the Mercury 7, and in one of those weird twists of fate, the one with the earliest birthdate (e.g. he was the oldest of the Seven).

Godspeed John Glenn.

Here's a picture of the Mercury 7. From left: Carpenter, Cooper, GLENN, Grissom, Schirra, Shepard, Slayton.


As you might imagine, it is difficult to find anything flown from Friendship 7. I have one Friendship 7 flown piece in my collection. Remains from the Atlas booster rocket that launched Glenn were found in South Africa in late February 1962. The piece was about 3 feet by 2 feet in size, and weighed about 3 pounds. The piece had serial numbers on it that were confirmed to be from the 109-D Atlas rocket (e.g. Glenn's Atlas). The piece was cut up into smaller sections and given to people who had helped make the flight successful. The piece I have was given to Deke Slayton, who became head of the Astronaut office. He kept the piece on his desk.

 

On a lighter note, it is now known that at least 69 Senators favor the Apollo 11 Commemorative coinage act, so the bill will pass with the super majority needed.

 

I believe the law, requiring a design "based" on the specific photograph would override the general prohibition on depicting a living person.

The Mint is going to have a hard time holding a design completion, engraving the dies and producing the coins in 2017 - let alone by the right date in July.

And based on the rest of the recent design, I have limited hopes - far too often the designs look nice in their shaded renderings and much less nice in hand.

 

That's certainly an interesting view point on it. I really like the idea of the commemoratives for it and if done well will be the first ones I have been excited for since the baseball ones. But if it meant replacing the awful dollar coins with some sort of space series I would be all for that.

 

I always thought the 1988 America in space medal set the mint released would have been cooler being actual coins. With the weight and specs though the gold and silver are pretty much identical to a $5 gold and silver dollar commemorative. Too bad as they both would have made nice coins imo and would probably have more interest from collectors if so.

 

I'm surprised there haven't been any comments bout he fourth coin proposed in this bill. A 3 inch diameter silver $1? (An Ike dollar is 1 1/2 inches in diameter) In 90% silver that would make it about 106 grams with 3 oz of silver in it.

 

Here is the design that I proposed for actual circulation. I struck these over "golden" President dollars and sent samples to NASA and my Congressional Representatives:

 

Those would have been wholly appropriate. Start out looking golden and after a few years they would have become nasty brown - just like we let the space program go.

 

DC, that coin looks amazing. I'd rather see "One Dollar" spelled out...but I think you did a fine job.

Wow, totally disagree.

 

I was a teenager working the night shift in a hospital, and snuck into an unconscious patient's room to watch Neil take that first step. I would love to have a coin that memorialized that event (not the sneaking in part ).

 

Still no comments on the monster sized dollar?

 

I think it would be interesting...but the oversized stuff isn't really my thing. I never bought any of those 5oz pucks...I just don't care for it.

 

I like the idea, its new and different for the mint. May end up being a disaster but could also be hugely popular like the first year of the pucks were

 

Apparently it's just going to be a puck but with a $1 denomination and proof finish

(4) PROOF SILVER $1 COINS.—Not more than 100,000 proof $1 silver coins which shall—

(A) weigh 5 ounces;

(B) be struck on a planchet having a diameter of 3 inches; and

(C) contain .999 fine silver.

https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/2726/text