Comments on: Mark Twain Commemorative Coins Approved in House

By: george glazener

george glazener — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 17:22:03 +0000

Good man! I appreciate the info. I shall therefore commence my campaign for a 2015 Appomattox Court House Surrender Commemorative Coin Program. It’ll give my congressmen something important to do for a change!

By: RonnieBGood

RonnieBGood — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 17:09:38 +0000

Approx 4 simple steps can bring a coin idea to reality:
Step 1) Select an event or person you would like represented in coin.
Step 2) Select the appropriate representative(s) in the appropriate states.
Step 3) Set pen to paper or fingers to keyboard.
Step 4) Mail / E-mail. Better if done in number.
Shake, stir and if lucky bill becomes law and law becomes coin.

By: george glazener

george glazener — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 15:47:34 +0000

And there really ought to be a JKF Commem for 2013.
Then an Appomattox Commem for 2015 to celebrate the END of the Civil War. Just imagine the iconic image of Grant & Lee sitting at that table signing the surrender papers on a Brilliant Silver Proof Coin..!! Whoa baby..!!

By: jim

jim — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 14:15:18 +0000

We have been on a big military oriented run lately. What non-military commemoratives? See http://moderncommemoratives.com/ for a list of all the modern issues. The vast majority have not been military/war related – it’s only these last years (2010-2013) that there’s been a heavy concentration. The Girl Scouts will be honored (silver only) next year, Civil Rights in 2014 and US Marshals (not really military) in 2015.

Can’t pick on waste haters for the 4 votes – the coins are priced to pay for themselves at no cost to the gov and if they make only to order there’s no excess.

By: george glazener

george glazener — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 20:48:23 +0000

Funny you should ask…..strictly speaking, the current 2012 Star Spangled Banner coin honors the 200th anniversary of an event (battle) that actually occurred in 1814, not 1812. But that’s splitting hairs I suppose. I agree with you though, I’d like to see more Great American commems, like Patrick Henry, Henry Ford, Babe Ruth, Benedict Arnold….(after all, he DID help win the battle of Saratoga before he turned to the Dark Side). They could give him just a bronze commem, not a silver!

By: Alan

Alan — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 20:04:36 +0000

Sweet! I’m all in favor of a Mark Twain coin. Actually, any commemorative of a non-military theme that honors American culture and artists would be welcome!

It’s interesting that this commemorative would not be tied to any usual anniversary date. I wonder what other commemorative coins have no particular anniversary related to their issue?

By: george glazener

george glazener — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 14:39:32 +0000

Official Summary
7/7/2011–Introduced.Mark Twain Commemorative Coin Act – Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to mint and issue $5 gold coins and $1 silver coins emblematic of the life and legacy of Mark Twain. Limits issuance of such coins to calendar year 2016. Requires specified surcharges in the sale of such coins, which shall be promptly paid, in specified percentages, to:
(1) the Mark Twain House & Museum in Hartford, Connecticut, to support the continued restoration of the house and grounds, and ensure continuing growth and innovation in museum programming to research, promote, and educate on the legacy of Mark Twain;
(2) the Mark Twain Project at the Bancroft Library of University of California, Berkeley, California, to support programs to study and promote Mark Twain’s legacy;
(3) the Center for Mark Twain Studies at Elmira College, New York, for the same purposes; and
(4) the Mark Twain Boyhood Home and Museum in Hannibal, Missouri, to preserve historical sites related to Mark Twain and help support study and promotion programs.

The (4) NAY votes were all from Republicans. Possibly they’re taking a stand against Govt. waste. i.e. the curtailment of Presidential dollar coins? Not sure. We could check their individual web pages to see if they explained themselves on this one.

By: jim

jim — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 13:51:09 +0000

2016 isn’t a 100th or 150th anniversary of his birth, death, or any of his books or other works of note. So I wonder why now? Are the beneficiaries of the surcharges really hurting for money right now? And I’m curious why the 4 who voted against the bill did so. Don’t get me wrong, I’m in favor of a Mark Twain commemorative coin like anybody else, I’m just wondering what the incentive is.