Louis Braille
2009 Louis Braille Silver Dollar Commemorative Coins
The Louis Braille
Commemorative Silver Dollar, of 2009, has the
distinction of being the very first United States Coin with readable Braille
lettering minted onto the surface of the coin!
The coin, released in 2009 to mark the 200th anniversary of Louis Braille's birth, was authorized by Congress under H.R. 2872 Louis Braille Bicentennial Braille Literacy Commemorative Coin Act. The coin authorized the United States Mint to release 400,000 of the coins during 2009. The coin was to be representative of the life and legacy of Louis Braille.
The coin, released in 2009 to mark the 200th anniversary of Louis Braille's birth, was authorized by Congress under H.R. 2872 Louis Braille Bicentennial Braille Literacy Commemorative Coin Act. The coin authorized the United States Mint to release 400,000 of the coins during 2009. The coin was to be representative of the life and legacy of Louis Braille.
2009 Louis Braille Silver Dollar Commemorative Coins
Issued as a second
bicentennial coin from the United States Mint was the 2009 Louis Braille Silver
Dollar Commemorative. These
silver coins were available in two different finishes, but in four different
U.S. Mint product options — an individual proof silver dollar, as part of a special Louis Braille Education
Set.
2 Euro -200th Birthday of Louis Braille (2009)
Unlike the Lincoln Silver Dollar also
issued in 2009, however, interest in the Braille commemorative coins did not
lead to their a sell-out despite a lower maximum mintage of 400,000 across all
product options. Still, the unique fact that these silver dollars contained the
first readable Braille on a United States Mint coin makes them a definite
collectible.
Born on January 4, 1809, Louis Braille lost
his site while still a young child due to an accident with a blunt awl. With a
thirst for knowledge and learning, he was dissatisfied with the few books
available for a blind person at the time. They simply featured text containing
large embossed letters to enable one to feel each character.
But, by the age of 15, and with the help of
a blunt awl (the same style of tool responsible for his blindness), Braille
developed a new system of readable characters which used no more than six
raised dots in a maximum of two columns to represent each letter. This
relatively easy to produce and to read system is still in use today, adding to
the quality of life for millions of visually impaired individuals.
Stuck to commemorate the bicentennial of
his birth Louis Braille Silver Dollar Commemorative coins were originally
released on March 26, 2009. It was available initially at the introductory
price of $37.95 for the proof coin or $31.95 for the uncirculated coin. The
uncirculated silver coin shipped in either the traditional Mint packaging or in
a special easy-open capsule, buyer’s choice.
On October 8, 2009, the Mint released the
special Braille Education Set which also included an uncirculated silver dollar
along with special packaging that had genuine Braille text. This set sold for
$44.95.
The obverse of the silver dollar
commemorative coin was designed by Joel Iskowitz and sculpted by Phebe Hemphill
to show a portrait of Louis Braille. Surrounding his image are the inscriptions
LIBERTY
On the silver dollar reverse, a young boy
is shown reading Braille. The word "Braille" is included in actual
Braille code above the image making the first time a coin of the US Mint has
contained Braille text. Also shown are the inscriptions INDEPENDENCE , UNITED STATES
OF AMERICA
2009 Braille Silver Dollar Coin Specifications
2009 Braille Silver Dollar Coin Specifications
| Face Value: | $1 |
| Composition: | 90% silver, 10% copper |
| Total Estimated Mintage: | 400,000 across all product options |
| Diameter: | 1.5 inches |
| Weight | 26.73 grams |
| Edge: | Reeded |
| Minting Facility: | Philadelphia (P) |
| Obverse Design: | Portrait of Louis Braille |
| Obverse Designer / Sculptor: | Joel Iskowitz / Phebe Hemphill |
| Reverse Design: | Image of boy reading |
| Reverse Designer / Sculptor: | Susan Gamble / Joseph Menna |
2 Euro -200th Birthday of Louis Braille (2009)
| Series: | Commemorative 2 Euro |
| Weight : | 8.50 grams |
| Diameter: | 25.75 mm |
| Material | Nickel Brass (inside), Copper-Nickel (external) |
| Inscriptions | Louis Braille |
| Occasion | Before issuing a 2 euro in Italy Journal |
| thermoforming packaging dedicated to 200 years after the birth of Louis Braille. | |
| Circulation | 15,000 copies. |
New commemorative Coins - Bhagat
Singh and Louis Braille.
India Government
Mint, Kolkata has made arrangements for the sale of Commemorative Coins in
Proof & Uncirculated varieties on the occasion "BIRTH CENTENARY OF
SHAHEED BHAGAT SINGH" and "BIRTH ANNIVERSARY
OF LOUIS BRAILLE".
Birth Centenary of
Shaheed Bhagat Singh ( 2 coin set - Rs 100 + Rs 5 ) Proof and Uncirculated
Variety.Birth Anniversary of Louis Braille ( 2 coin set - Rs 100 + Rs 2 ) Proof
and Uncirculated Variety.Booking Period 10 Jul 2009 to 31 Oct 2009.
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