posted 03-01-2014 02:12 PM               

...the CCAC voted unanimously to suggest in its annual report that the 50th anniversary of the 1969 Moon Landing by Apollo 11 astronauts should be marked with a commemorative coin in 2019.

That recommendation will go to Congress, which legislatively decides what commemorative coins the Mint should issue.

posted 06-16-2015 04:30 PM               

Lawmakers call for golden curved coins to mark Apollo 11 golden anniversary

The United States Mint may strike gold curved coins to commemorate the golden anniversary of the first moon landing, if a new bill is signed into law.

A bipartisan group of five members of Congress on June 10 introduced legislation that would direct the Secretary of the Treasury to mint the coins to mark five decades since Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins launched to the moon in July 1969. The "Apollo 11 50th Anniversary Commemorative Coin Act" (HR 2726) calls for gold, silver and half-dollar clad coins to be struck in 2019.

"The United States remains the only country to have ever landed humans on a celestial body off the Earth," stated Representative Bill Posey (FL-08), who co-sponsored the bill and was a member of the Apollo launch team in 1969. "Honoring that great feat and recognizing [the] astronauts ... is what our bipartisan legislation is all about."

posted 08-17-2016 12:35 AM               

Public support urged for Apollo 11 curved coins legislation

The 50th anniversary of the first moon landing is still three years away, but the opportunity for the United States Treasury to issue coins commemorating the Apollo 11 mission's half-centennial is now fleeting.

...in the year since the bill's introduction, the "Apollo 11 50th Anniversary Commemorative Coin Act" has gained nearly 300 cosponsors — more than enough to pass if put up for a vote in the House. But on the Senate side, the situation is different.

The companion bill was introduced only three months ago and has just four cosponsors. With the Senate's scheduled recesses between now and December, there are only 43 days remaining for the act to be passed before the whole process would have to start over with the next Congress.

posted 09-20-2016 03:36 PM               

For the Apollo coin to be successful we must have the support of 67 additional Senate sponsors no later than Friday, Sept. 23rd. We already have the necessary support of the House of Representatives, so we just need to focus on the Senate Bill. The legislature will adjourn in advance of the November elections so time is critical here.

To be successful, we need you to reach out to the Senators listed here. The spreadsheet lists the email for legislative liaisons and the main office phone number.

Time is short so we need you to reach out to as many Senators as possible on this list. We need to reach our goal of 67 additional Senate sponsors by the September 23 deadline.

In addition to a phone call and email, those of you on Twitter can provide much needed visibility by tweeting something like this: Thanks @JerryMoran for supporting #Apollo50thcoin and college scholarships thru @AstroScholarFdn for STEM studies. #astroscholars

Also, reach out to them on their Facebook page with the same message, even if you comment on one of their existing posts.

Here are some suggested talking points if you need them when talking to the Senator’s office:

• The 50th anniversary of the Apollo Moon landing will come only once. This bill is time critical.

• It has been 50 years since the entire world paused to see America achieve what others could only dream of – safely landing a man on the Moon and returning him to Earth.

• By supporting this bill, you have an opportunity to affirm your support for a program that encourages the next generation of scientists, engineers and entrepreneurs who will ensure America’s status as the leader in science, technology, engineering and math – disciplines critical to the safety and security of the nation.

• ASF has awarded scholarships to more than 425 Astronaut Scholars across the country. These men and women are working and conducting research in a wide range of fields, including national defense, homeland security, energy and health care.

• This bill presents an opportunity to reignite that same sense of pride and encourage college students to pursue STEM studies.

• The Astronaut Scholarship Foundation selects only the best and brightest students who have proven their potential, awarding scholarships to college students who are juniors or seniors.

• These scholars benefit from personal mentoring relationships with astronauts as they conduct research or being working in technologies that benefit the nation.

• The world is an increasingly competitive place. For America to retain its technological edge, we must encourage and develop students like the Astronaut Scholars.

• There are two other coins being considered during this same legislative session: one for the basketball hall of fame and one the football hall of fame. Those organizations would use any proceeds to maintain or expand facilities.

• Only the Apollo 11 50th Anniversary Commemorative Coin is investing in people. Investing in men and women who possess the drive, passion and knowledge to excel in technology and help ensure American security.

posted 11-15-2016 12:15 AM               

Apollo 11 astronauts call on lawmakers to mint coins for moon landing 50th

Legislation calling for the U.S. Mint to issue coins commemorating the 50th anniversary of the first moon landing has gained the support of the surviving astronauts who flew on the historic mission.

Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins, who lifted off to the moon in July 1969 with the late Neil Armstrong, have each sent letters to Congress urging for the passage of the Apollo 11 50th Anniversary Commemorative Coin Act. The bill, which was first introduced in 2015, needs to be approved by both the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate before Congress adjourns next month for the coins to be ready in time for the anniversary in 2019.

posted 12-05-2016 04:15 PM               

House of Representatives approves bill to mint coins for moon landing 50th

The United States Mint is now somewhere between a "small step" and a "giant leap" closer to striking coins for the 50th anniversary of the first moon landing.

The U.S. House of Representatives on Monday (Dec. 5) approved the "Apollo 11 50th Anniversary Commemorative Coin Act," calling for the Mint to strike curved coins in gold, silver and clad to mark the five decades since astronauts Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins launched on the first lunar landing mission.

posted 12-10-2016 09:05 AM               

'Go' for the moon (coins): US Mint to strike Apollo 11 commemoratives

The United States Mint will recognize the 50th anniversary of the historic first moon landing in 2019 by striking domed coins bearing an iconic image from the Apollo 11 mission.

The Senate late on Friday (Dec. 9) passed the legislation for the new commemorative coinage, days after the House of Representatives approved the same. The bill, the Apollo 11 50th Anniversary Commemorative Coin Act, will now go to the White House for the President to sign into law.

posted 04-14-2017 02:55 AM               

US Mint to launch design contest for moon landing 50th anniversary coins

The United States Mint is launching an art competition for the design of its 2019 coins marking the 50th anniversary of the first moon landing.

As signed by President Barack Obama on Dec. 16, 2016, Public Law 114-282 authorizes the Secretary of the United States Treasury to strike and issue curved gold, silver and clad metal coins in recognition of the 1969 Apollo 11 lunar landing.

...the law stipulates a specific design be used for the convex reverse of each coin, but calls for the concave obverse, or front, to be selected by the Treasury Secretary based on a juried public competition. That contest, the "Apollo 11 50th Anniversary Commemorative Coin Design Competition," is set to begin on May 1.

posted 05-01-2017 03:00 PM               

US Mint launches public art competition to design Apollo 11 moon landing coins

What should be depicted on the front of the United States coins that will commemorate 50 years since the first moon landing?

To answer that question, the United States Mint launched a public design competition on Monday (May 1). Interested artists have until June 29 to submit their portfolio to vie for a chance to propose a design for the coins.

...collectSPACE spoke with April Stafford, chief of the Mint's Office of Design Management, to learn more details about the 2019 Apollo 11 50th Anniversary Commemorative Coin Design Competition.

posted 05-19-2017 08:03 AM               

NASA Astronaut Peggy Whitson and the United States Mint invite artists in a competition to design the Apollo 11 50th Anniversary commemorative coin due out in 2019.

posted 06-20-2017 08:00 AM               

US Mint reveals draft designs for 'tails side' of Apollo 11 50th anniversary coins

The United States Mint has taken its first "small steps" toward striking coins to commemorate a half-century since the first moon landing.

...on Thursday (June 15), the Mint revealed three proposed designs for the coins' reverse, or "tails side," at a meeting of the Commission of Fine Arts (CFA) in Washington, D.C.. The CFA advises the government on issues of design and aesthetics.

posted 06-22-2017 11:34 AM               

First, and most important, if you buy a coin (both regular design and curved) in original US government packaging (e.g. from the Mint) you will open the box and see the obverse side facing you. This side will have the date on it.

posted 10-27-2017 08:05 PM               

US Mint reveals artists' designs for 'heads-side' of Apollo 11 50th anniversary coins

The United States Mint has revealed the candidate designs for the "heads-side" of its planned coins for the 50th anniversary of the first moon landing in 2019.

The 18 designs for the Apollo 11 50th Anniversary Commemorative Coin program were reviewed by the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC) at a meeting on Oct. 18 and by the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts (CFA) the following day.

posted 10-28-2017 08:05 PM               

quote:

---

Originally posted by Cozmosis22:
...showing the Saturn V during liftoff with the five main engines blazing.

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posted 06-27-2018 09:54 AM               

• October 11, 2018, 10:30 a.m. EDT
  National Air and Space Museum, Washington, DC
  Coin Unveiling with Special Guest Apollo Astronaut Walt Cunningham

• January 24, 2019, 12:00 p.m. EST
  Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, Florida
  Coin Launch

posted 10-11-2018 10:47 AM               

US Mint reveals design of first moon landing 50th anniversary coins

The United States Mint has taken "one small step" towards the striking of new coins to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the first moon landing with the reveal of the design for its 2019 commemoratives.

David Ryder, director of the U.S. Mint, presided over the unveiling, which took place at the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC on Thursday (Oct. 11).

posted 12-14-2018 12:00 AM               

US Mint marks 'first strike' of Apollo 11 50th anniversary curved coins

The U.S. Mint has struck its initial coins commemorating the 50th anniversary of the first moon landing.

You could say it was one small strike for the Mint, one not-so-giant press for Apollo history.

The coins were stamped as part of a "first strike" ceremony held Thursday (Dec. 13) at the Mint's Philadelphia facility. In attendance were Mark Armstrong, Andy Aldrin and Ann Starr, representing their respective fathers, Apollo 11 astronauts Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins.

posted 12-14-2018 09:39 AM               

1. I think that gold coins are usually struck at the West Point mint. Is this where the $5 coins will be struck in 2019?

2. As far as the silver coins go, is Philadelphia the only mint producing them?

3. Will any of the coins bear mint marks?

posted 12-14-2018 09:13 PM               

...in 1999, 12 specially-minted 22k gold Sacagawea dollar coins were carried into orbit aboard the space shuttle Columbia to commemorate the flight of Eileen Collins, the first female U.S. astronaut to command a spaceflight.

In 2006 two coins from the U.S. Mint's 50 State Quarters Program were launched aboard the interplanetary space probe New Horizons. The Maryland and Florida quarters were chosen to honor the states that designed and launched the spacecraft, and have acted as spin balance weights during the trip.

In 2009, two Louis Braille Bicentennial Silver Dollars flew on space shuttle Atlantis' mission to the Hubble Space Telescope and in 2012, a rare 1909 U.S. penny flew to Mars with the Curiosity rover as one of its calibration targets.