In 2006, the US Mint issued a pair of commemorative silver dollars (SDs) to mark the 300th anniversary of Benjamin Franklin's birth. One focused on his accomplishments as a United States Founding Father, the other on his efforts as a Scientist. The SDs were available individually in Proof and Uncirculated versions, with the Scientist dollar also included in a Coin & Chronicles Set.
One of the US Mint's earliest Coin & Chronicles Sets (the 2004 Chief Justice John Marshall C&C Set was earlier), the 2006 Benjamin Franklin Coin & Chronicles Set combines a 2006 Benjamin Franklin "Scientist" Silver Dollar with four Franklin commemorative stamps from the US Postal Service and a Bureau of Engraving and Printing engraved print of John Trumbull's "Declaration of Independence" painting. It also features a facsimile copy of Franklin's final
Poor Richard's Almanac from 1758 and solid introductory information of Franklin, his life and his accomplishments. (Overall, I think it's my favorite of the Mint's C&C Sets!)
I plan to discuss Franklin in more depth in a follow-up post, but briefly...
Benjamin Franklin was born on January 17, 1706 in Boston, Massachusetts. During his career, he was a printer (after apprenticing for years), a print shop owner, a newspaper publisher
(Pennsylvania Gazette), founder of a library, founder of the American Philosophical Society, a co-founder of the Pennsylvania Hospital, a fire company organizer, a scientist, inventor, politician, Founding Father, US Ambassador to France and signer of the US Constitution. (Whew!) He died in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on April 17, 1790.
The front cover of the Slipcase and the front Panel of the Coin Folder both feature Joseph Siffred Duplessis' painting of Franklin that is part of the National Portrait Gallery within the Smithsonian Institution family of museums. It was painted in 1785, approximately five years before Franklin's death.
Benjamin Franklin Portrait - Joseph Siffred Duplessis 
The front of the Slipcase is dominated by the Duplessis portrait with a segment of the 1783 Treaty of Paris (the treaty that formally ended the American Revolution and recognized US independence from Great Britain) used to frame the portrait at left. The tercentenary dates ("1706 / 2006") anchor the lower left corner.
Benjamin Franklin Coin & Chronicles Set - Slipcase Front Cover
The back of the Slipcase presents the "Certificates of Authenticity" for the Set's various included components.
Benjamin Franklin Coin & Chronicles Set - Slipcase Back Cover
As noted above, the Front Cover of the Coin Folder largely duplicates the graphics of the front of the Slipcase. One notable difference is the upper right cut out that makes the obverse of the embedded Franklin SD visible.
Benjamin Franklin Coin & Chronicles Set - Coin Folder - Front Panel
Visible at the lower right of the inside front panel is the reverse of the Franklin "Scientist" SD. Also embedded are three Franklin commemorative stamps:
Printer, Scientist and
Statesman. The text on the panel begins to tell the story of Franklin's life.
Benjamin Franklin Coin & Chronicles Set - Coin Folder - Inner Front Panel
The lower inside panel includes the
Postmaster stamp, along with a Bureau of Engraving and Printing engraved print of John Trumbull's "Declaration of Independence" painting.
Benjamin Franklin Coin & Chronicles Set - Coin Folder - Inner Back Panel
John Trumbull's "Declaration of Independence"
(Image Credit: Yale University Art Gallery, Trumbull Collection. Public Domain.)The back panel of the Coin Folder discusses the "Legacy of Benjamin Franklin" - he certainly had an amazing and accomplished career - he's my favorite Founding Father. Presented are images based on Charles-Nicolas Cochin's "Benjamin Franklin in a Fur Cap" (see an engraving of the original drawing below) and Benjamin West's "Benjamin Franklin Drawing Electricity from the Sky" painting.
Benjamin Franklin Coin & Chronicles Set - Coin Folder - Back Panel
The C&C Set presents an image of a painting based on the original drawing by Charles-Nicolas Cochin - "Benjamin Franklin in a Fur Cap." The painting is part of the American Philosophical Society's collection. Shown here is an early engraving by Augustin de Saint-Aubin of Cochin's original drawing; note the differences vs. the painting.
Benjamin Franklin in a Fur Cap
(Image Credit: Philadelphia Museum of Art. Public Domain.)Also shown is Benjamin West's "Benjamin Franklin Drawing Electricity from the Sky" painting.
Benjamin Franklin Drawing Electricity from the Sky
(Image Credit: Philadelphia Museum of Art. Public Domain.)Benjamin Franklin printed/published
Poor Richard's Almanac annually from 1732 to 1758. Each
Almanac featured weather forecasts, astronomical/astrological notes and Franklin's own poems and proverbs. It was a popular publication in the American colonies.
Benjamin Franklin Coin & Chronicles Set - 1758 Poor Richard's Almanac Facsimile
All-in-all, a great production from the Mint! (IMO)
For other of my posts about commemorative coins and medals, including stories on other modern US commemorative coins, see:
Commems Collection.
Posted 09/13/2023 2:43 pm
