Clad half-dollars will sport the same curved shape as companion silver dollar and $5 gold 2014 National Baseball Hall of Fame Coins, the United States Mint announced this week.
All three denominations will now feature a convex and common reverse (tails) design that resembles the surface of a baseball and a concave and common obverse (heads) design that will be selected from a design competition that kicked off on April 12.
Public Law 112-152, the National Baseball Hall of Fame Commemorative Coin Act, had only stipulated a strong desire for the silver dollar and $5 gold coin to feature a convex/concave shape, which is a first for the U.S. Mint.
"We’re happy to not only meet, but also exceed, Congress’s expectations by minting the half-dollar clad coin in the same unique shape as the other National Baseball Hall of Fame Commemorative Coins to accommodate the broadest range of our customers at the most affordable price," said Acting Director Dick Peterson.
"Our commitment to innovation in coin design and manufacturing goes hand-in-hand with our commitment to providing the best value and customer service possible."
As for the coins’ obverse designs, the Baseball Coin Design Competition underway is open to U.S. citizens and permanent residents, ages14 and older, but just one day remains. The competition ends tomorrow, May 11, at noon ET. For more details, visit batterup.challenge.gov.
In related coin news, the National Baseball Hall of Fame has announced its judges in the Baseball Coin Design Competition. All five are former major league players who have been elected to the Hall of Fame. The judges are:
- Joe Morgan (second baseman, elected 1990);
- Brooks Robinson (third baseman, elected 1983);
- Ozzie Smith (shortstop, elected 2002);
- Don Sutton (pitcher, elected 1998); and
- Dave Winfield (outfielder, elected 2001)
United States Mint and Bureau of Engraving and Printing judges include:
- Don Everhart (Acting United States Mint Lead Sculptor-Engraver);
- Joseph Menna (Unites States Mint Sculptor-Engraver);
- Phebe Hemphill (United States Mint Sculptor-Engraver); and
- William Krawczewicz (Banknote Designer at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing)
The Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC), the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts (CFA) and the National Baseball Hall of Fame will review the finalist designs. The U.S. Mint will then put forward a recommended design to the Treasury Secretary for selection.
