The US Mint launched the Braille Education Set on Thursday, Oct. 8, at noon ET, and it has just released opening sales figures through to Sunday.
Collectors are not spurring after the offering with any degree of excitement, as is expected with the soon to be released Lincoln Coin and Chronicles Set. A total of 2,719 Braille sets have been sold.
The set has a mintage of 25,000 and is priced at $44.95 with a one per household order limit. That leaves 22,281 more for the US Mint to sell.
The set includes an uncirculated Braille Silver Dollar with special packaging that has genuine Braille text — a first time event for the US Mint, much like the silver dollar is the first ever coin with readable Braille.
45,627 uncirculated Braille Silver Dollars have also sold individually, with another 20,539 within an easy-open capsule for "those who wish to experience the tactile features on the coin." Combining the three offerings, collectors have purchased 68,885 uncirculated dollars. They have also purchased 123,899 proof versions.
Orders for the special Louis Braille Education Set or the individual silver coins may be placed directly on the United States Mint Web site at http://www.usmint.gov/, or by calling its toll-free number 1-800- USA-MINT (872-6468). Hearing- and speech-impaired customers may order by calling 1-888-321-MINT (6468).
$10 surcharges from the sale of each Braille coin is authorized to be paid to the National Federation of the Blind to further its programs to promote Braille literacy.
Born in France, Louis Braille lost the sight in his left eye at the age of three from an accident with a tool in his father’s workshop. By age four he was blind due to an infection that spread to his right eye. He later invented the Braille system, which is used today by the blind to read and write.
