Boy Scouts of America Silver Dollar Centennial Commemorative Coin
A new House bill recently introduced to celebrate the centennial of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) with the minting of a commemorate silver dollar has exceptionally strong bipartisan support.
Rep Pete Sessions [R-TX] introduced the new bill on April 22, 2008. The bill looks to be soundly popular with an already 296 cosponsors lined up to provide their early signature for the "100 Years of Scouting" commemorative coin.
Rep. Sessions commented,
“Boy Scouts are a significant part of American culture, shaping the values, citizenship, and skills of millions of young men,” Sessions stated. “As an Eagle Scout with four generations of Boy Scouts in my family, I strongly value the Boy Scouts’ history of instilling a sense of duty to God, country, and self.”
Not altogether surprising, in the 110th Congress, 248 members of the House of Representative and the Senate have participated in Boy Scouts of America as Scouts or adult leaders.
The bill, H.R. 5872, is entitled the Boy Scouts of America Centennial Commemorative Coin Act and calls for 350,000 silver $1 coins to be minted in 2010. The collector coin would contain 90% silver and 10% copper.
Given the history of the organization and the support of congress, this bill would seem a likely candidate for passage. It is now under consideration in the House Committee on Financial Services.
In addition to the commemorative coin initiative, Sessions is also building support for a U.S. postage stamp to celebrate “100 Years of Scouting.” Currently, Sessions has garnered the support of over 320 Senators and Members of Congress for a letter to the U.S. Postmaster General, requesting a commemorative stamp for the 100th anniversary of Boy Scouts of America.
In 1960, the United States Postal Office celebrated the Boy Scouts of America’s 50th Anniversary with the introduction of the 4 cent commemorative stamp depicting a Scout holding up the Scout sign.
Boy Scouts of America History
The Boy Scouts of America was founded on February 8, 1910. Since then, over 111 million youth have enjoyed one of the many Scouting programs.
According to the BSA website,
The Scouting movement is composed of 1.2 million volunteers, whose dedication of time and resources has enabled the BSA to remain the nation’s leading youth-service organization. Serving more than 4.6 million young people between 7 and 20 years of age, with more than 300 councils throughout the United States and its territories, the BSA is the nation’s foremost youth program of character development and values-based leadership training.
The mission of the Boy Scouts of America is to:
" prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law."
Scouting members and leaders pledge with their Scout Oath to:
"On my honor I will do my best, To do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law; To help other people at all times; To keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight."
In similar fashion, their Scout Law states a Scout must be:
"Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, Friendly, Courteous, Kind, Obedient, Cheerful, Thrifty, Brave, Clean, and Reverent."
Surcharges for the Boy Scouts commemorative coin
Commemorative coins normally have a surcharge and the proposed Boy Scouts of American coin is no different. Should H.R. 5872 become law, each commemorative coin sold would include a $10 surcharge for the National Boy Scouts of America Foundation.
The foundation supports Scouting in ways that complement efforts of local councils and other Scouting organizations. Their objective is to:
"… financially support the mission, values and programs of local councils of the Boy Scouts of America and Scouting organizations throughout the world by promoting and soliciting gifts, grants, and matching funds from individuals, corporations, and foundations interested in supporting Scouting both nationally and internationally."
The text of H.R. 5872: Boy Scouts of America Centennial Commemorative Coin Act
110th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 5872
To require the Secretary of the Treasury to mint coins in commemoration of the centennial of the Boy Scouts of America, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 22, 2008
April 22, 2008
Mr. SESSIONS (for himself, Mr. ABERCROMBIE, Mr. ACKERMAN, Mr. ADERHOLT, Mr. AKIN, Mr. ALEXANDER, Mr. ALLEN, Mr. ANDREWS, Mr. ARCURI, Mr. BACA, Mrs. BACHMANN, Mr. BACHUS, Mr. BAIRD, Mr. BARRETT of South Carolina, Mr. BARTLETT of Maryland, Mr. BARTON of Texas, Mr. BECERRA, Mrs. BIGGERT, Mr. BILBRAY, Mr. BILIRAKIS, Mr. BISHOP of Utah, Mr. BISHOP of Georgia, Mr. BISHOP of New York, Mrs. BLACKBURN, Mr. BOEHNER, Mr. BONNER, Mrs. BONO MACK, Mr. BOOZMAN, Mr. BOREN, Mr. BOUSTANY, Mr. BOYD of Florida, Mr. BRADY of Texas, Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania, Mr. BROUN of Georgia, Mr. BROWN of South Carolina, Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida, Mr. BUCHANAN, Mr. BURGESS, Mr. BURTON of Indiana, Mr. BUTTERFIELD, Mr. BUYER, Mr. CALVERT, Mr. CAMP of Michigan, Mr. CAMPBELL of California, Mr. CANNON, Mr. CANTOR, Mrs. CAPITO, Mr. CARDOZA, Mr. CARNAHAN, Mr. CASTLE, Mr. CHABOT, Mr. CHANDLER, Mr. CLAY, Mr. COBLE, Mr. CONAWAY, Mr. COOPER, Mr. COSTA, Mr. COSTELLO, Mr. COURTNEY, Mr. CRENSHAW, Mr. CROWLEY, Mrs. CUBIN, Mr. CULBERSON, Mr. CUMMINGS, Mr. DAVIS of Illinois, Mr. DAVID DAVIS of Tennessee, Mr. DAVIS of Kentucky, Mr. LINCOLN DAVIS of Tennessee, Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia, Mr. DEAL of Georgia, Mr. DEFAZIO, Mr. DELAHUNT, Mr. DENT, Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida, Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida, Mr. DICKS, Mr. DINGELL, Mr. DONNELLY, Mr. DOOLITTLE, Mr. DOYLE, Mrs. DRAKE, Mr. DREIER, Mr. DUNCAN, Mr. EHLERS, Mr. ELLSWORTH, Mrs. EMERSON, Mr. ENGEL, Mr. ENGLISH of Pennsylvania, Mr. ETHERIDGE, Mr. EVERETT, Ms. FALLIN, Mr. FEENEY, Mr. FERGUSON, Mr. FLAKE, Mr. FORBES, Mr. FORTENBERRY, Mr. FORTUN.AE6O, Mr. FOSSELLA, Mr. FOSTER, Ms. FOXX, Mr. FRANKS of Arizona, Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN, Mr. GALLEGLY, Mr. GARRETT of New Jersey, Mr. GERLACH, Mr. GILCHREST, Mr. GINGREY, Mr. GOHMERT, Mr. GOODE, Mr. GOODLATTE, Ms. GRANGER, Mr. GRAVES, Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas, Mr. HALL of Texas, Mr. HAYES, Mr. HELLER of Nevada, Mr. HENSARLING, Mr. HERGER, Mr. HILL, Ms. HIRONO, Mr. HOBSON, Mr. HOEKSTRA, Mr. HOLDEN, Mr. HOLT, Mr. HULSHOF, Mr. HUNTER, Mr. INGLIS of South Carolina, Mr. ISRAEL, Mr. ISSA, Mr. JACKSON of Illinois, Mr. JEFFERSON, Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas, Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia, Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas, Mr. JOHNSON of Illinois, Mr. JONES of North Carolina, Mr. JORDAN of Ohio, Mr. KANJORSKI, Mr. KELLER of Florida, Mr. KENNEDY, Mr. KILDEE, Mr. KIND, Mr. KING of New York, Mr. KING of Iowa, Mr. KINGSTON, Mr. KIRK, Mr. KLINE of Minnesota, Mr. KNOLLENBERG, Mr. KUHL of New York, Mr. LAHOOD, Mr. LAMBORN, Mr. LAMPSON, Mr. LANGEVIN, Mr. LARSEN of Washington, Mr. LARSON of Connecticut, Mr. LATHAM, Mr. LATOURETTE, Mr. LATTA, Mr. LEWIS of California, Mr. LEWIS of Georgia, Mr. LEWIS of Kentucky, Mr. LINDER, Mr. LIPINSKI, Mr. LOBIONDO, Mr. LUCAS, Mr. DANIEL E. LUNGREN of California, Mr. LYNCH, Mr. MACK, Mr. MAHONEY of Florida, Mrs. MALONEY of New York, Mr. MANZULLO, Mr. MARCHANT, Mr. MARSHALL, Mr. MATHESON, Mr. MCCARTHY of California, Mr. MCCAUL of Texas, Mr. MCCOTTER, Mr. MCCRERY, Mr. MCHENRY, Mr. MCHUGH, Mr. MCINTYRE, Mr. MCKEON, Mrs. MCMORRIS RODGERS, Mr. MCNULTY, Mr. MEEKS of New York, Mr. MICA, Mrs. MILLER of Michigan, Mr. GARY G. MILLER of California, Mr. MILLER of Florida, Mr. MOLLOHAN, Mr. MOORE of Kansas, Mr. MORAN of Kansas, Mr. TIM MURPHY of Pennsylvania, Mr. MURTHA, Mrs. MUSGRAVE, Mrs. MYRICK, Mrs. NAPOLITANO, Mr. NEAL of Massachusetts, Mr. NEUGEBAUER, Mr. NUNES, Mr. OBERSTAR, Mr. OLVER, Mr. ORTIZ, Mr. PASCRELL, Mr. PASTOR, Mr. PAUL, Mr. PEARCE, Mr. PENCE, Mr. PERLMUTTER, Mr. PETERSON of Minnesota, Mr. PETRI, Mr. PICKERING, Mr. PITTS, Mr. PLATTS, Mr. POE, Mr. POMEROY, Mr. PORTER, Mr. PRICE of Georgia, Ms. PRYCE of Ohio, Mr. PUTNAM, Mr. RADANOVICH, Mr. RAMSTAD, Mr. REGULA, Mr. REHBERG, Mr. REICHERT, Mr. RENZI, Mr. REYES, Mr. REYNOLDS, Mr. RODRIGUEZ, Mr. ROGERS of Michigan, Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky, Mr. ROHRABACHER, Mr. ROSKAM, Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN, Mr. ROSS, Mr. ROYCE, Mr. RUPPERSBERGER, Mr. RYAN of Wisconsin, Mr. RYAN of Ohio, Mr. SALI, Ms. LINDA T. SANCHEZ of California, Ms. HERSETH SANDLIN, Mr. SAXTON, Mr. SCHIFF, Mrs. SCHMIDT, Mr. SENSENBRENNER, Mr. SERRANO, Mr. SHADEGG, Mr. SHAYS, Mr. SHIMKUS, Mr. SHULER, Mr. SHUSTER, Mr. SIMPSON, Mr. SKELTON, Mr. SMITH of Washington, Mr. SMITH of New Jersey, Mr. SMITH of Texas, Mr. SMITH of Nebraska, Mr. SNYDER, Mr. SOUDER, Mr. SPRATT, Mr. STEARNS, Mr. STUPAK, Mr. SULLIVAN, Ms. SUTTON, Mr. TANCREDO, Mr. TAYLOR, Mr. TERRY, Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi, Mr. THOMPSON of California, Mr. THORNBERRY, Mr. TIAHRT, Mr. TIBERI, Mr. TURNER, Mr. UDALL of Colorado, Mr. UDALL of New Mexico, Mr. UPTON, Mr. VAN HOLLEN, Mr. WALBERG, Mr. WALDEN of Oregon, Mr. WALSH of New York, Mr. WALZ of Minnesota, Mr. WAMP, Mr. WEINER, Mr. WELCH of Vermont, Mr. WELDON of Florida, Mr. WELLER of Illinois, Mr. WESTMORELAND, Mr. WHITFIELD of Kentucky, Mrs. WILSON of New Mexico, Mr. WILSON of South Carolina, Mr. WOLF, Mr. WU, Mr. WYNN, Mr. YOUNG of Florida, and Mr. YOUNG of Alaska) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Financial Services
A BILL
To require the Secretary of the Treasury to mint coins in commemoration of the centennial of the Boy Scouts of America, and for other purposes.
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Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
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This Act may be cited as the `Boy Scouts of America Centennial Commemorative Coin Act’.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
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The Congress finds as follows:
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(1) The Boy Scouts of America will celebrate its centennial on February 8, 2010.
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(2) The Boy Scouts of America is the largest youth organization in the United States, with 3,000,000 youth members and 1,000,000 adult leaders in the traditional programs of Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, and Venturing.
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(3) Since 1910, more than 111,000,000 youth have participated in Scouting’s traditional programs.
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(4) The Boy Scouts of America was granted a Federal charter in 1916 by an Act of the 64th Congress which was signed into law by President Woodrow Wilson.
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(5) In the 110th Congress, 248 members of the House of Representative and the Senate have participated in Boy Scouts of America as Scouts or adult leaders.
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(6) The mission of the Boy Scouts of America is `to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law’.
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(7) Every day across our Nation, Scouts and their leaders pledge to live up the promise in the Scout Oath–`On my honor I will do my best, To do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law; To help other people at all times; To keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight’–and the Scout Law, according to which a Scout is `Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, Friendly, Courteous, Kind, Obedient, Cheerful, Thrifty, Brave, Clean, and Reverent’.
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(8) In the past 4 years alone, Scouting youth and their leaders have volunteered more than 6,500,000 hours of service to their communities through more than 75,000 service projects, benefiting food banks, local schools, and civic organizations.
SEC. 3. COIN SPECIFICATIONS.
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(a) $1 Silver Coins- The Secretary of the Treasury (hereafter in this Act referred to as the `Secretary’) shall mint and issue not more than 350,000 $1 coins in commemoration of the centennial of the founding of the Boy Scouts of America, each of which shall–
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(1) weigh 26.73 grams;
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(2) have a diameter of 1.500 inches; and
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(3) contain 90 percent silver and 10 percent copper.
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(b) Legal Tender- The coins minted under this Act shall be legal tender, as provided in section 5103 of title 31, United States Code.
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(c) Numismatic Items- For purposes of sections 5134 and 5136 of title 31, United States Code, all coins minted under this Act shall be considered to be numismatic items.
SEC. 4. DESIGN OF COINS.
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(a) Design Requirements-
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(1) IN GENERAL- The design of the coins minted under this Act shall be emblematic of the 100 years of the largest youth organization in United States, the Boy Scouts of America.
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(2) DESIGNATION AND INSCRIPTIONS- On each coin minted under this Act, there shall be–
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(A) a designation of the value of the coin ;
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(B) an inscription of the year `2010′; and
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(C) inscriptions of the words `Liberty’, `In God We Trust’, `United States of America’, and `E Pluribus Unum’.
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(b) Selection- The design for the coins minted under this Act shall be–
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(1) selected by the Secretary, after consultation with the Chief Scout Executive of the Boy Scouts of America and the Commission of Fine Arts; and
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(2) reviewed by the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee.
SEC. 5. ISSUANCE OF COINS.
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(a) Quality of Coins- Coins minted under this Act shall be issued in uncirculated and proof qualities.
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(b) Mint Facility- Only one facility of the United States Mint may be used to strike any particular quality of the coins minted under this Act.
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(c) Period for Issuance- The Secretary may issue coins under this Act only on or after February 8, 2010, and before January 1, 2011.
SEC. 6. SALE OF COINS.
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(a) Sale Price- The coins issued under this Act shall be sold by the Secretary at a price equal to the sum of–
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(1) the face value of the coins;
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(2) the surcharge provided in section 7 with respect to such coins; and
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(3) the cost of designing and issuing the coins (including labor, materials, dies, use of machinery, overhead expenses, marketing, and shipping).
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(b) Bulk Sales- The Secretary shall make bulk sales of the coins issued under this Act at a reasonable discount.
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(c) Prepaid Orders-
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(1) IN GENERAL- The Secretary shall accept prepaid orders for the coins minted under this Act before the issuance of such coins.
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(2) DISCOUNT- Sale prices with respect to prepaid orders under paragraph (1) shall be at a reasonable discount.
SEC. 7. SURCHARGES.
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(a) In General- All sales of coins issued under this Act shall include a surcharge of $10 per coin .
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(b) Distribution- Subject to section 5134(f) of title 31, United States Code, all surcharges received by the Secretary from the sale of coins issued under this Act shall be paid to the National Boy Scouts of America Foundation, which funds will be made available to local councils in the form of grants for the extension of Scouting in hard to serve areas.
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(c) Audits- The Comptroller General of the United States shall have the right to examine such books, records, documents, and other data of the National Boy Scouts of America Foundation as may be related to the expenditures of amounts paid under subsection (b).
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May 2nd, 2008 at 10:24 am
I’m not a coin collector, but I am a Scout volunteer, and I think this is a wonderful way to celebrate 100 years of the Boy Scouts of America. Rep. Sessions is also sponsoring a letter to the Postal Service asking them to issue a 100th Anniversary of BSA commemorative stamp.
2010 will certainly be a special year for the Boy Scouts of America!
May 2nd, 2008 at 11:15 am
Well said, Ted. With only 350,000 minted, and millions of Scouters nationwide, this is sure to be a popular issuance.
May 16th, 2008 at 6:54 pm
As a professional Scouter I am estatic to hear about the minted coin. The idea of a commemorative stamp is also a great idea too. 100 years strong and many more years to come!
May 18th, 2008 at 2:21 pm
I can hardly wait until the sale begins. Hopefully I will be one of the lucky 350,000. As a Scouter, I look forward to purchasing this peace of history. I am also eager to purchase the commerative stamps–to save for the future and to place on mail to show support for this great organization.
May 18th, 2008 at 4:54 pm
Being quite involved in Scouting and not a collector, nor having any idea how the distibution would go, how would one purchase these coins. They would be great gifts for scouts acheiving the rank of Eagle.
May 18th, 2008 at 6:30 pm
I have been a scouting volunteer for twenty one years and cannot wait for our one hundredth anniversary!!! It is wonderful for congress to recognize such an outstanding organization for our youth!!!
Kudos to Congress and our wonderful volunteers!!
May 19th, 2008 at 9:07 am
I hope I can obtain 5 - one for each opf the Eagles in our Family
My two brothers and I - and my two sons !
May 19th, 2008 at 2:25 pm
The House of Representatives passed the bill on May 15!
Check out:
House Backs Boy Scouts Commemorative Coin with Passage of H.R. 5872.
May 19th, 2008 at 4:20 pm
I have been a Scout leader for 10+ years and as a youth for 3. I hope that BSA will be able take advantage of this marketing oppurtunity to make more youth and adults aware of this great program. THANK YOU to all of the Representatives that voted in support of this program. THANK YOU TO ALL SUPPORTERS OF THIS GREAT PROGRAM!!!!!!!!!
THANK YOU TO OUR FUTURE LEADERS.
May 20th, 2008 at 3:33 pm
I am so proud of the BSA to be recognized in this manner. I have an Eagle scout and he ‘lives and breathes’ scouts and is 43 years old! He is the one who sent me this website! He goes to all of the national jamborees and is active with his council and attends the international jamborees, as well, the last one was held in England the home of Baden Powell. His home is adorned with paintings, and all of the scouting items from all over the world. And to think, I sent him on his bike to a fire station with just five other boys when he was 14 and he came home saying, “I can be an Eagle and I found something I can do with just myself,” the badges, seemed to interest him the most.
May 26th, 2008 at 6:47 pm
As an actice Scouter and as an Eagle Scout I am very happy with the creation of this new coin. I hope that Scouters and Scouts nation wide purchase this new coin.
May 27th, 2008 at 8:29 am
While I appreciate its value for coin collectors, that’s what it is..a collector’s piece. It won’t be in general circulation like other coins…less advertising for the movement and most Americans will never see one let alone hold one. I think the centennial stamp gives more bang for the buck as stamps are everyplace and there are no $10 surcharges on them.
May 27th, 2008 at 9:09 am
John, do you have any info on the centennial stamp?
May 30th, 2008 at 12:54 pm
Both my wife and I have been involved in Scouting for almost 30 years and there is never enough positive said in the media regarding the importance of the National Scouting program. This commemorative coin for Scouting is a great way to help advertise the organization
June 24th, 2008 at 8:40 am
I think that it is a wonderful Idea to commemorate Scouting with a coin. My Husband and I are the proud parents of 2 Eagle Scouts. What better way to show a positive look on Scouting.
July 6th, 2008 at 11:23 am
Wonderful idea.
I would hope that every Scout and Scouter would be able to obtain one. With a max of 350,000 it seems very unlikely. Perhaps a “special” issuance for current and past registered scouts and scouters would work.
August 5th, 2008 at 3:44 pm
Great idea - I wilkl propse toi iour Twin River Council Camporee to be held at Fort Ticoderoga Oxcrovwe 3 - 5 - that we obtain a few of the commorative coins to recognize Fistrictive Scout and Scouters (catagories to be determined.