Coins celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing are one step closer to reality. Just five days after the House gave its approval, the Senate on Dec. 10 passed legislation seeking coins to commemorate the semicentennial.
If President Obama signs the bill, numbered H.R.2726 and dubbed the Apollo 11 50th Anniversary Commemorative Coin Act, the United States Mint in 2019 will produce and sell collector coins that:
- bear unique edges,
- are curved in shape like the 2014-dated HOF Baseball coins,
- feature a common obverse design selected by competition, and
- share a reverse depiction of the visor and part of the helmet from the famous photo of Buzz Aldrin on the moon.
These coins would be offered in varying quantities, collector finishes, denominations, and compositions. Some of the details include:
- Up to 50,000 proof and uncirculated $5 gold coins in at least 90% gold
- Up to 400,000 proof and uncirculated silver dollars in at least 90% silver,
- Up to 750,000 proof and uncirculated clad half-dollars, and
- Up to 100,000 proof $1 silver coins in 5 ounces of .999 fine silver.
In addition to their concave/convex shape, their edges to the extent possible would be manufactured such that their reverse design extends all the way to the obverse design.
CoinNews will discuss the coins in more detail after the bill’s expected signing into law.
