The U.S. House on Monday, Dec. 5, overwhelming passed legislation that would authorize the United States Mint to strike curved coins for 2019 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the first manned landing on the moon.
Named the Apollo 11 50th Anniversary Commemorative Coin Act and numbered H.R.2726, the bill seeks a maximum of:
- 50,000 $5 gold coins in not less than 90% gold,
- 400,000 silver dollars in at least 90% silver,
- 750,000 clad half-dollars, and
- 100,000 $1 silver coins in 5 ounces of .999 fine silver
The first three coin types would be issued in collector qualities of proof and uncirculated and feature the same size and weight specifications as other modern commemorative coins. The 5-ounce coin would have the same size and weight specifications as the U.S. Mint’s series of America the Beautiful Five Ounce Silver Coins but issued in proof only.
Coin obverse (heads side) would share a common design selected by competition — one that is emblematic of the United States space program leading up to the first manned moon landing, while coin reverses would offer a rendition of the famed "Buzz Aldrin on the Moon" photograph taken July 20, 1969.
All of them would be curved in shape like the popular 2014 National Baseball Hall of Fame Commemorative Coins, with reverses convex to more closely resemble the faceplate of the astronaut’s helmet and obverses concave to provide a more dramatic display of the winning design.
In addition the bill states, to the extent possible without significantly adding to their prices, that the coins should be minted with their reverse design continuing over what would otherwise be their edges and extend all the way to their obverse design.
Sales prices of the commemorative coins would include surcharges of $50 per 5-ounce $1 silver coin, $35 per gold coin, $10 per silver dollar, and $5 per half-dollar. Collected funds would be shared between the Smithsonian Institution’s National Air and Space Museum’s “Destination Moon” exhibit; the Astronauts Memorial Foundation; and the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation.
H.R.2726 was introduced in June 2015 and had 298 cosponsors prior to its passage in the House. The U.S. Senate introduced a similar bill, S. 2957, in May 2016. It currently has 17 cosponsors. For either bill to become law, it must pass in the House, the Senate and get signed by the President.
Wow a curved 5 oz coin? That’ll be a novelty. I hope the designs are worthy of this achievement.
Do you think that’s going to make the baseball coins more popular? People that get the 2nd curved coin will surely want the first one also. I hope I’m still around get the moon coins I bet they will be great.
After I read this article the second time is the 5oz coin going to be curved also?
This legislation only has 17 co-sponsors in the US Senate since it was introduced 7 months ago! Sad thing. Email your US Senators & let them know if you want them to support this important coin legislation. This should be a no-brainer.
-NumisDudeTX
As it isn’t already enough the people who don’t believe in the moon landing are offended by this coin series, the ‘flat earth society’ folks are upset at the coins’ curvature.
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Anyone else here recall where they were when they heard the news that Neil Armstrong had set foot on the moon? I was in an airliner flying over the Atlantic.
I just pray the designs on the coins are worthy and not worthless. Why bother to even make clad coins. Wonder what the limit per person will be? Probably one per person. Done right, with the low number go be minted, should hopefully be very collectable.
A friend at MCM told me the reason for the delay of the Silver Kruegerrands is that the first batch didn’t turn out the way they wanted. But, the Gold ones have been released dated 1967 with a 50 and 2017 Privy mark. Cost, just under $3,000.00 in a Proof like striking.
DrWho7
They should also have done a coin for the 50th Ann. of the Apollo 1 tradgedy & have coins honoring all the US astronaut who have died in flight or flight preparation…..just a though…or maybe a MEDAL? No they give them to the dali lama…..
Nice. Looking forward to this one.
I agree that the clad coins should be dropped from the roster. The large mintage is weakening the hobby.
This I will get.
If the designs don’t suck, in 2+ years I’ll be a buyer of the 5oz silver & 22k gold 1/4oz.
I remain quite happy with 2014 Curved Baseball 22k proofs I bought from the Mint.
No US Mint purchases for me in 2017.
when will they be available for viewing, And BUYING ? 🙂
want one !
Mammoth, to answer your question, I was in the fifth grade. The teacher pulled out the cart with the television on it and the whole class watched the amazing feat, no pun intended, when Neil Armstrong first stepped on the moon. I will collect these coins because they will be put with my Apollo ll collection. That is a memory I will never forget.