November 16, 2011 -
Congressional Gold Medal Presented to Apollo 11 Astronauts and First American to
Orbit the Earth
WASHINGTON - The New Frontier Congressional Gold Medal was presented today
to astronauts John Herschel Glenn, Jr.; Neil A. Armstrong; Edwin E. "Buzz"
Aldrin, Jr.; and Michael Collins during a ceremony in the Rotunda of the
U.S. Capitol. The medal, designed and struck by the United States Mint, is
in recognition of these astronauts' significant contributions to our
Nation. John Glenn became the first American to orbit the Earth on
February 20, 1962, helping pave the way for the first lunar landing. As
mission commander for Apollo
11, Neil Armstrong gained the distinction of being the first astronaut
to land a spacecraft on the moon and the first to step on its surface on
July 21, 1969. Buzz Aldrin joined Armstrong in piloting the lunar module, Eagle,
to the surface of the moon and became the second person to walk on the lunar
surface. Michael Collins piloted the command module, Columbia,
in lunar orbit and helped his fellow Apollo 11 astronauts complete their
mission on the moon.
The medal's obverse (heads side) depicts the portraits of Apollo 11
astronauts Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins facing left, and Friendship
7 astronaut John Glenn
facing right, representing the two historic missions. The design also
features a partial view of the Earth from orbit, as well as a horizon line
with an astronaut walking on the lunar surface facing the flag. The names
of the four astronauts are inscribed along the outer rim. The obverse was
designed by United States Mint Artistic Infusion Program Master Designer
Joel Iskowitz and sculpted by United States Mint Sculptor-Engraver Phebe
Hemphill.
The medal's reverse (tails side) design features the Lunar Excursion
Module orbiting the moon and the Friendship
7 mission capsule orbiting
the Earth with the inscription WE
CAME IN PEACE FOR ALL MANKIND. The reverse was designed by Iskowitz
and sculpted by United States Mint Sculptor-Engraver Don Everhart.
November 16, 2011 - United States Mint
Launches 10th America the Beautiful Quarters® Coin
SULPHUR, Okla. - The century-old ornamental flowerbeds of Flower Park served as
the backdrop today for the United States Mint's official launch ceremony of the
new quarter honoring the Chickasaw National Recreation Area. The coin's reverse
(tails side) design depicts the Lincoln Bridge, built of limestone and dedicated
in 1909 to celebrate the centennial of Abraham Lincoln's birth. The bridge is
the first constructed improvement in the national recreation area and a favorite
scenic spot. Inscriptions are CHICKASAW, OKLAHOMA, 2011 and E PLURIBUS UNUM.
"When Americans receive this quarter depicting the Lincoln Bridge in their
change," said United States Mint Associate Director for Sales and Marketing B.
B. Craig, "they will hold a piece of our American story in their hands, this one
about the beauty and history of a special place conserved for them in Oklahoma."
The ceremony was co-hosted by Craig and Chickasaw National Recreation Area
Superintendent Bruce Noble, with Oklahoma State Representative Wes Hilliard
serving as master of ceremonies. Dr. Amanda Cobb-Greetham, administrator of the
Chickasaw Nation Division of History and Culture, also participated. The event
culminated with a coin exchange where members of the public swapped their
currency for rolls of the Chickasaw National Recreation Area quarter.
In addition to the ceremony today, the United States Mint also hosted a coin
forum at the Travertine Nature Center Auditorium last evening where local
residents gathered to discuss U.S. coinage and to learn about United States Mint
initiatives and programs.
The Chickasaw National Recreation Area quarter is the 10th coin in the United
States Mint's America the Beautiful Quarters® Program. The Federal Reserve Bank
released the new quarter to the public on November 14. At noon Eastern Time the
same day, circulating quality Chickasaw National Recreation Area quarters,
packaged in collectible bags and rolls, became available for purchase at the
United States Mint's secure Web site,
http://www.usmint.gov/catalog, and at 1-800-USA-MINT (872-6468). The bureau
is also accepting orders at 1-888-321-MINT (6468) from hearing- and
speech-impaired customers using TTY equipment. For information about additional
products featuring the Chickasaw National Recreation Area quarter, visit the
online catalog.
A landmark in natural resource conservation, the Chickasaw National Recreation
Area is the first and only national park area in the United States established
at the request of an Indian Tribe, the Chickasaw Nation. For more than 100
years, the park has been a refuge for outdoor tradition, a protected niche of
parkland. Native Americans, early settlers of the surrounding plains, and
present day Americans all have sought recreation here in shaded woodlands,
threaded by clear-running streams and dotted with mineral and freshwater
springs. It was established as a national site in 1902.
November 10, 2011 - James Garfield Presidential $1 Coin Rolls
Available November 17
WASHINGTON - The Presidential $1 Coin honoring James Garfield
will be released on November 17, 2011. At noon Eastern Time (ET) the same day,
the United States Mint will begin accepting orders for collectible rolls of 25
circulating quality coins each. Each roll contains coins from either the United
States Mint at Philadelphia or Denver priced at $39.95 each. They are wrapped in
specially designed paper that displays the mint of origin ("P" or "D") and
"$25," the face value of its contents.
The obverse (heads side) of the James Garfield Presidential $1 Coin was designed
and sculpted by United States Mint Sculptor-Engraver Phebe Hemphill. In addition
to President Garfield's portrait, the obverse includes the inscriptions JAMES
GARFIELD, IN GOD WE TRUST, 20th PRESIDENT and 1881. The reverse (tails side),
featuring the iconic Statue of Liberty, was designed and sculpted by United
States Mint Sculptor-Engraver Don Everhart. It includes the inscriptions UNITED
STATES OF AMERICA and $1. The inscriptions 2011, E PLURIBUS UNUM and a mint mark
designating the mint of origin are edge-incused.
