Braille Education Set

The United States Mint created a special product offering related to the 2009 Louis Braille Bicentennial Silver Dollar coins. The set incorporates the coins and additional information about the system of reading and writing for the blind and visually impaired.

The Braille Education Set went on ale at the US Mint on October 8, 2009. Each set contains one uncirculated 2009 Louis Braille Silver Dollar coin, educational information about the Braille system, and an example of readable Braille. The coin and materials are contained within an illustrated tri-fold holder with a protective case.

This special set has ben limited to production of 25,000 units. The Louis Braille Silver Dollar contained within the set is limited to an overall mintage of 400,000 coins across all product options.

The sets are priced at $44.95 and are currently on sale at the United States Mint. An initial ordering limit of one set per houeshold has been placed on the sets.

As of June 2009, sales have been strong and approach the half way mark for the maximum authorized mintage. The sales totals for the Louis Braille Commemorative as of mid-June 2009 are as follows:

The price of the Louis Braille coins was recently raised after the end of the pre-issue discount period. The coins were available for $31.95 for the uncirculated versions and $37.95 for the proof versions. After April 27, 2009, the prices were raised to $33.95 for the uncirculated coins and $41.95 for the proof coins.

The ceremony was attended by NFB President Marc Mauer and the Director of the United States Mint Edmund Moy. Additional attendees included the Assistant Administrator for NASA Education Dr. Joyce Winterton and inventor Abraham Nemeth.

Edmund Moy stated:

For the first time in history, the United States has a coin with readable Braille. The 2009 Louis Braille Bicentennial Silver Dollar honors the developer of Braille, a tactile code that has been instrumental in the literacy and independence of the world’s blind people.

The coin is now available for sale directly from the United States Mint. The uncirculated version of hte coin is priced at $31.95 and the proof version is priced at $37.95 during the initial discount period. After April 27, 2009, the regular prices of $33.95 and $41.95 will go into effect.

A special easy open capsule is available for the uncirculated version of the coin for those wishing to take the coin out of the holder and read the Braille characters on the reverse of the coin.

2009-P Proof Louis Braille Silver Dollar

The designer of the obverse of the coin was Joel Iskowitz and the sculptor/engraver was Phebe Hemphill. It depicts a portrait of Louis Braille. The designer of the reverse of the coin was Susan Gamble and the sculptor/engraver was Joseph Menna. The reverse depicts a young child reading a Braille book and the Braille characters “BRL”. The characters are large enough so that they can be read by touch.

2009-P Uncirculated Louis Braille Silver Dollar

The Louis Braille Coins will be minted in quantities of up to 400,000. Each coin will contain one ounce of silver and have a face value of one dollar. The actual price for the coin will be greater, likely around the $35 to $40 range. Details regarding pricing and ordering have not yet been released by the United States Mint.

The Louis Braille Coin will share the spotlight with the US Mint’s other 2009 dated commemorative coin, the Abraham Lincoln Commemorative. This coin will be released several weeks earlier on February 12, 2009 to coincide with Lincoln’s birthday. It will also be minted as a one ounce silver dollar coin.

Representatives of the NFB will be on hand to introduce the organization to coin collectors and provide a demonstration of reading using the Braille system. You can learn more about the organization on their website NFB.org.

The 2009 Louis Braille Coin will be minted in a quantity of up to 400,000 coins. Each coin will contain 90% silver and be considered a legal tender numismatic item. The previously unveiled design will feature a portrait of Louis Braille on the obverse and an image of a child reading Braille from a book on the reverse. The reverse will also feature readable Braille characters, which will be a first for any United States coinage.

This will be one of two commemorative coin programs which will take place during 2009. The other program will be feature the Abraham Lincoln Commemorative Coin.

The ceremony took place at AT&T Plaza at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, TX to open the 2008 National Convention of the National Federal of the Blind. At the ceremony, Edmund Moy said:

The United States Mint is proud to present the 2009 Louis Braille Bicentennial Silver Dollar coin design. It will be the first coin ever minted in the history of our country to contain readable Braille characters.

I am looking forward to presenting the design for this unprecedented coin, and I am pleased that the United States Mint is playing a role in the cause of bringing literacy to all blind and visually impaired Americans.

The obverse design features a portrait of Louis Braille facing the viewer. Inscriptions read “Liberty,” “In God We Trust,” “Louis Braille,” and the bicentennial years 1809 and 2009.

The reverse design features a young child reading Braille from a book. Incscritions include “United States of America,” “E Pluribus Unum,” and “One Dollar.” Also prominently featured on the reverse is the word “Braille” written in Braille Code for the letters “BRL.” This is the first time that a US coin has included readable Braille characters. As a side note, the Alabama State Quarter included Braille, but it was too small to be considered readable.

The authorizing legislation known as H.R. 2872 Louis Braille Bicentennial Braille Literacy Commemorative Coin Act was first introduced on June 13, 2005. The bill passed votes in both the House of Representatives and Senate and was signed into law by the President on July 27, 2006.

The legislation specifically authorizes the mintage and issuance of up to 400,000 Silver Dollar coins. Ecah coin will have a diameter of 1.5 inches, a weight of 26.73 grams, and a composition of 90% silver and 10% copper. The coins will be legal tender and considered numismatic items.

The design of the commemorative coin is intended to be emblematic of the life and legacy of Louis Braille. The obverse of the coin will include an image of Louis Braille. The reverse design will emphasize Braille literacy and include the word for “Braille” written in Braille code. Inscriptions will be included on the coins designating the value, the year of issuance, and the words “Liberty,” “In God We Trust,” “United States of America,” and “E Pluribus Unum.”

The final designs for the Louis Braille Coin will be selected by the Secretary of the Treasury. He will consult with the Commission of Fine Arts and the National Federation of the Blind. Additionally, the Citizen’s Coinage Advisory Committee will review the design.

Coins will be available for sale from January 1, 2009 to December 31, 2009. The price of each coin will include a surcharge which will be distributed to the National Federation of the Blind to further promote Braille literacy.