SF Mint Produces first curved coin

funman1

New Member
http://news.msn.com/pop-culture/san-francisco-mint-to-produce-1st-curved-coin

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) The United States Mint in San Francisco will soon produce an unusual coin in honor of baseball, the nation's favorite pastime.


Like so many great baseball pitches, the new coin will feature a curve.

The bowl-shaped currency is the result of a 2012 law the National Baseball Hall of Fame Commemorative Coin Act ordering the U.S. Treasury to manufacture the coin to commemorate the Hall of Fame, which celebrates its 75th anniversary in 2014.

According to the text of the law, the coin's striking shape is intended to be similar to the 2009 International Year of Astronomy coin issued by Monnaie de Paris, the French mint.






The coin will come in $5, $1 and half dollar denominations and will feature a baseball on one side and a baseball glove on the other.

The baseball is to be depicted on the convex side, to complement its round shape, and the glove is shown on the coin's concave side, to complement its cupped shape.

The glove-and-ball design is the creation of 28-year-old Cassie McFarland, an artist and photographer who submitted it as part of a contest.

McFarland's entry was chosen from among 178 submissions by sculptor-engravers and designers at the mint and members of the Hall of Fame.

According to the mint's website, McFarland said she entered the competition because she was fascinated by the notion that America's coins could reflect the personality and history of its people.

It also appealed to her, she said, because of her fond childhood memories of attending Los Angeles Dodgers baseball games with her father, even though she now roots for the San Francisco Giants.
 
The only things i don't like about the baseball coins is that the coins are not .9999 for the gold or .999 for the silver. they are only 90% gold and silver. I'll pass.
 
I expect the coins need to be an alloy to give strength to the curved shape. They'd be no good if a simple squeeze bent them in.
 
JoeFromNorthCarolina said:
The coin(s) will be in a capsule, And if they can do the gold buffalo in .9999, They can do these as well.



Gold buff is not a domed coin. The alloy is much more likely included due to the complications of manufacturing a domed coin rather than someone's hand potentially crushing the coin.


Besides, why would .9999 be enough and not .99999999999 ????? Also, by that same measure, you'd have to scoff at American Gold Eagles which are a lousy .916 gold.

:rolleyes:


.
 
You have much more chance of a .900 piece getting carbon spots than a piece that is .9999. I've been in the business for over 45 years. That is my personal opinion though. The .10 alloys ( copper and or silver ). They can dome a coin in .9999.
 
Here's a pic of the Silver one
I really like it!!

2014sfbb.jpg
 
Looks cool. How does this differ from the Constellation coins from the Royal Australian mint? It is kinda curved in a way as well. And prices haven't really appreciated much.
 
@ Joe,

From what I recall reading last year about the Baseball coin's initial trial production problems, is that they were having more success with the minting process with alloy coins and so that's why I believe that these coins are not .9999 pure.



.
 
Altima said:
Looks cool. How does this differ from the Constellation coins from the Royal Australian mint? It is kinda curved in a way as well. And prices haven't really appreciated much.


Constellation coin in Australia vs Baseball coin in America.....need I say more about why there's a big difference. :)



.
 
A bit dubious calling it the first curved coin, same advertising blurb was used by the Australians when they made the first curved coin as well. When you read the description you see it is only the furst curved coin produced by that particular mint.

I have a Byzantine cupped coin which I am sure pre dates the modern equivalents.

It is not bad to look at though, would go nicely with my
basketball-450x224.jpg

Source:
 
Back
Top