Hey Folks, I need your help with a project I am working on for the Smithsonian Numismatic Collection. The resulting display (note: it will get carted out and be presented with a docent) will allow children and the visually impaired to learn about US coins, hold large examples in their hand, and have fun. The exhibit is also intended to be shipped to schools for the visually impaired in order to allow for those who cannot get to the Smithsonian to have access to the coins. What do I need from you? I need very specific descriptions of the obverse and reverse of coins. When I say specific, I mean down to the number of diamonds and feathers on the IHC. The idea is that a visually impaired person can read your description and trace their fingers along the coin and follow along. Most visually impaired folks only understand our denominations based on the size and weight of the coin as the designs are too small to be felt. (Imagine the only way you could look at the coin was with closed eyes and are using a script to tell you what you are feeling) I also need the history of the coin. Specifically, when it was minted, perhaps any varieties like metal composition changes, and maybe why the coin was minted. What is in it for you? Besides the awesome opportunity to bring the joy of numismatics to children and the visually impaired, you get the opportunity to put your name or a dedication to a loved one at the bottom of your description. I will ensure they are printed on every sheet and those who read your description will know who it came from or to whom it is dedicated. Once I receive your inputs, I will be working with a visually impaired friend of mine to print these on a single sheet of paper, half print, half Braille. This will keep the document versatile for the kids and the visually impaired. If you have any coin you are interested in providing the description for, please post here so we can keep track of who is working on what. I will, of course, message you privately to work out details. Donations are always appreciated. That can come in terms of excess 3" replicas of these coins that you have, or funds to purchase more and cover the cost of printing documents in Braille. It would be great to have duplicates of every coin and description so more than one person can examine the coin at once. I will provide a full accounting of every donation received whether it be print, coin, or funds (I will leave anonymous donor names off of the accounting but the amount will remain). I will also provide updates as the project moves along. Please note that I am only requesting US Coins because of the accessibility I have to them. If you want to participate and have a 3D replica of a world coin you would like to donate, please do not hesitate! As of yet, I have spent $59.48 on acquiring one of each of the replicas. I have also received a donation of an 1877 IHC replica from @Mad Stax Thank you so much for helping with the cause! Oh, and if you have access to a 3D scanner and want to help me scan these and make even bigger designs (I have access to 3D printers, just not good scanners) please let me know! Thank you for your time and attention! Brandon Here are the coins (medals) I have now; they are 3" in diameter.
Good job! It's a great thing you're doing here, I'm glad to see you're making good progress with this project. If youd like me to provide information on a specific coin PM me, and I'll do some research.
Contact NGC. They have done extensive work with our National Collection. Or you can PM me and I'll get a contact for you in a day or two.
It's honestly a rough start as I've had to scale back my huge plans to print plate-sized 3D models of the coins (no 3D scanner). I've only gotten through the easiest part, now is the part where I need people to volunteer personal time (something I know is a premium for all of us) to keep it rolling. I'm hoping this will be complete by February!
Great news! We have volunteers for the following coins already: Flying Eagle Cent Indian Head Cent St. Gaudens $20 Gold Walking Liberty That means we still need volunteers for the following coins: 1909 S VDB Wheat Cent 1972 S Lincoln Memorial Cent 1877 Shield Nickel 1885 Liberty Head Nickel 1913 S T2Buffalo Nickel 1937 D 3 Legged Buffalo Nickel 1985 Jefferson Nickel 1916 D Mercury Dime 1965 Roosevelt Dime 1927Standing Liberty 1972 Washington Quarter 1976 Bicentennial Quarter 1963 Franklin Half Dollar 1964 Kennedy Half Dollar 1976 Bicentennial Half Dollar 1884 Morgan Dollar 1922 Peace Dollar 1971 Eisenhower Dollar 1976 Bicentennial Dollar 1882 Liberty $20.00 Gold 2000 Sacagawea "Golden" Dollar Get 'em while you can!
I guess I should add a photo or two of my visually impaired friend reviewing coins at the National Numismatic Gallery. The Smithsonian was very welcoming and interactive with us. They allowed us some time to view some coins and replicas that he was actually allowed to touch and that's how we got the idea of making this display. I shot these photos for his blog: http://blindcoincollector.com/2016/11/13/national-numismatic-collection-at-the-smithsonian/
Okay, another volunteer took the '65 Rosie, here's what's left: 1909 S VDB Wheat Cent 1972 S Lincoln Memorial Cent 1877 Shield Nickel 1885 Liberty Head Nickel 1913 S T2Buffalo Nickel 1937 D 3 Legged Buffalo Nickel 1985 Jefferson Nickel 1916 D Mercury Dime 1927Standing Liberty 1972 Washington Quarter 1976 Bicentennial Quarter 1963 Franklin Half Dollar 1964 Kennedy Half Dollar 1976 Bicentennial Half Dollar 1884 Morgan Dollar 1922 Peace Dollar 1971 Eisenhower Dollar 1976 Bicentennial Dollar 1882 Liberty $20.00 Gold 2000 Sacagawea "Golden" Dollar Keep the volunteership (it's a word now, just go with it, it makes sense in German) coming!
I just got another volunteer. Keep them coming! Here's what's left: 1909 S VDB Wheat Cent 1972 S Lincoln Memorial Cent 1877 Shield Nickel 1885 Liberty Head Nickel 1985 Jefferson Nickel 1916 D Mercury Dime 1927Standing Liberty 1972 Washington Quarter 1976 Bicentennial Quarter 1963 Franklin Half Dollar 1964 Kennedy Half Dollar 1976 Bicentennial Half Dollar 1884 Morgan Dollar 1922 Peace Dollar 1971 Eisenhower Dollar 1976 Bicentennial Dollar 1882 Liberty $20.00 Gold 2000 Sacagawea "Golden" Dollar
Noble cause there! Kudos to you all. Wonder if coinfacts would be interested , and let you use their reference material? http://www.coinfacts.com/
The info is great and I appreciate the link, but it unfortunately doesn't provide the detail of exactly what we are looking at. "Wreath" hardly gives the detail a blind person would really need to understand the coin. We need something like (1793 half cent) "the numbers 1 over 200 with a line between them are bottom center with ribbon streaming down both sides of it. The words UNITED STATES OF AMERICA are written in all capitals around the coin starting bottom left and going to bottom right. In the very center of the coin are the words HALF and CENT with a dot separating them. Between HALF CENT and UNITED STATES OF AMERICA is a wreath that has two branches one going each direction with 14 leaves on each branch. There are little strings with beads that appear to be fruit or seeds strung along them. The two branches are tied together with a ribbon at the bottom"
You know, it seems to me that presenting several photos of coins -- or anything else -- and saying "describe these in enough detail that another person could draw a picture of them" would be an excellent class project. My wife is a technical director at a K-8 school; I'll try to remember to discuss it with her.