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Commems Collection Medals: 1993 Ben Franklin Firefighters Silver Medal

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CCF Master Historian of USA Commemoratives
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commems's Avatar
United States
12253 Posts
 Posted 03/24/2012  2:57 pm Show Profile   Bookmark this topic Add commems to your friends list Get a Link to this Message Number of Subscribers
Here's my favorite modern silver medal struck by the US Mint - the 1993 Ben Franklin Firefighters Medal. I believe it should be collected right along side the modern US commemorative silver dollar series just like the 1925 Norse medal is collected by many who pursue the traditional series of US commemorative coins (1892-1954).

Why do I believe this?

  • The medal followed the same pathway to production as US commemorative coins. Namely, a bill for its minting was introduced into Congress, it was voted on and approved by Congress and ultimately signed into Law (Public Law 102-406) by President George Bush.
  • The US Mint collected surcharges ($15) on the sale of each medal for distribution to private groups to help fund their Franklin-related activities - just like US commemorative coins.
  • The medal was available in Proof and Uncirculated finishes and had a predefined mintage limit (1.5 million) and a predefined minting period (7/1/93 to 6/30/94) - just like US commemorative coins.
  • I'm a Benjamin Franklin fan!

The medal was produced "to commemorate Benjamin Franklin's contributions to the American Fire Service and to recognize the achievements and needs of America's fire services."

All of the medals were struck at the Philadelphia Mint. The Proof version sold for $36.00 ($33.00 during the pre-issue discount period) and the Uncirculated version sold for $32.00 ($29.00 pre-issue).

The medal is slightly larger than a commemorative silver dollar at 1.598 inches in diameter vs. 1.50 inches. Each medal contains one full troy ounce of silver (0.999 fine) vs. a standard U.S. silver dollar which contains 0.77345 ounces of silver (0.900 fine).

In any case, I think they make a great companion piece to the 2006 Franklin Tercentenary commemorative silver dollars.

Enjoy!


1993 Benjamin Franklin Firefighters Medal � Obverse

Commems-Collection-Medals:-1993-Ben-Franklin-Firefighters-Silver-Medal


1993 Benjamin Franklin Firefighters Medal � Reverse

Commems-Collection-Medals:-1993-Ben-Franklin-Firefighters-Silver-Medal

Collecting history one coin or medal at a time! (c) commems. All rights reserved.
Edited by commems
03/24/2012 3:00 pm
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wolfe's Avatar
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 Posted 03/24/2012  4:03 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add wolfe to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
yes,i think that a nice coin
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cptbilly's Avatar
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1962 Posts
 Posted 02/15/2023  09:57 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add cptbilly to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Where can I find the mintage quantities for this (and other US Mint medals ?)

Trying to determine whether to get the UNC or PRF version.

Thanks in advance
" Even a clock that's stopped is right twice a day. "
Edited by cptbilly
02/15/2023 09:59 am
CCF Master Historian of USA Commemoratives
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commems's Avatar
United States
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 Posted 02/15/2023  8:50 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add commems to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
@cptbilly:

The US Mint struck the following numbers of 1993 Benjamin Franklin Firefighter Silver Medals:

Proof: 89,311
Uncirculated: 26,011

TOTAL: 115,322


Which other Mint medals are of interest?


Collecting history one coin or medal at a time! (c) commems. All rights reserved.
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cptbilly's Avatar
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1962 Posts
 Posted 02/16/2023  12:23 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add cptbilly to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
@commems: Thank you for the info and thanks for asking

Other silver medals I'm considering include

88 Astronaut Medal
93 US Mint Bicentennial Medal
2003 National Wildlife Rescue Service Medals ( Have read your excellent thread on these)


My LCS had the S and W 2016 American Liberty Medals (Ungraded, OGP) for $75 + Tax . After searching the CCF archives and learning more about the limited mintage of those medals, I decided to get both. It must have been a frenzy when they were issued.

I'm on the fence re: 2019 Amer Liberty High Relief 2.5 oz. Beautiful medal but my focus for now is 1oz medals only and 1oz dollars. My budget only has room for one rabbit hole at a time.


The one vintage commem that's caught my interest (thanks to the thread you wrote) is the 1936 San Francisco - Oakland Bay Bridge Opening. I was born in SF and grew up nearby.

Thanks again for your help and for your scholarship on the commemoratives segment of the hobby.

" Even a clock that's stopped is right twice a day. "
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Chopped Triumphs's Avatar
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 Posted 02/16/2023  2:38 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add Chopped Triumphs to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Always informative Commems, thanks for sharing..
CCF Master Historian of USA Commemoratives
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commems's Avatar
United States
12253 Posts
 Posted 02/16/2023  5:42 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add commems to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
@cptbilly:

Quote:
93 US Mint Bicentennial Medal

You might find this post of interest:

- 1992-93 US Mint Bicentennial Commemorative



Collecting history one coin or medal at a time! (c) commems. All rights reserved.
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cptbilly's Avatar
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1962 Posts
 Posted 02/16/2023  6:19 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add cptbilly to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Thank you.
" Even a clock that's stopped is right twice a day. "
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