In 2020, the US Mint changed its nomenclature for its sets directed toward its younger customer base. The former "Young Collector's Set" became the "Kid's Set" within the 2020 Basketball Hall of Fame (HoF) program.
The "Kid's Set" includes a coin folder inserted into an outer slipcase/sleeve. As with the Mint's preceding sets directed at youthful collectors, the Basketball HoF "Kid's Set" makes use of cartoon graphics; its design theme includes a group of young basketball players. (I'm not sure about the level of basketball experience the illustrator had, however, as one of the kids is wearing a pair of glasses that would not be appropriate for the court!)
Also presented are brief descriptions of the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts and basketball's history and present-day status. The back panel of the Coin Folder includes five trivia questions (with answers). IMO, the questions are directed at older fans of the game vs. the young collectors for which the Set is intended.
The included half dollar is of a copper-nickel clad composition, and of standard weight (11.34 grams) and diameter (30.6 mm) for a US half dollar. As with the other coins of the Basketball HoF program, the half dollar is dome-shaped.
There are two distinguishing features of the "Kid's Set":
1) the inclusion of an Enhanced Uncirculated version of the Basketball Hall of Fame Half Dollar - the set was the only way to acquire this coin from the Mint.
2) a clad, fully encapsulated half dollar (in the same capsule as used for the standalone Basketball HoF half dollar coins) inserted into an enclosed, arc-shaped plastic chute that enables a holder to "make a basket" by rocking the Coin Folder back and forth. The rocking motion causes the coin to slide between a player - illustrated in a shooting motion - and the basket.
Regarding the Enhanced Uncirculated finish, the US Mint described it as:
"The coin's finish was created using a new advanced technique to laser polish some of the design elements while preserving the intricate details. Some areas of the enhanced uncirculated finish have a brighter sheen than a standard uncirculated coin but not the full mirror-like appearance of a proof coin."The Set was issued at $45 (USD), with shipping beginning in September 2020; the Set was first offered for sale on June 4, 2020 (along with the other non-colorized versions of the program's coins ). Total sales of the "Kid's Set" amounted to 22,565 units; it outsold the regular, individual Uncirculated coin (13,639 units), but not the regular, individual Proof version (26,584 units).
The front panel of the Coin Folder depicts a large basketball that is superimposed over a basketball court. Four kids are pictured as if standing on the basketball - they are behind a ribbon that states: "2020 BASKETBALL HALL OF FAME KIDS SET".
2020 Basketball Hall of Fame Kid's Set - Outer Sleeve: Front
The back panel of the Outer Sleeve includes the coin's Certificate of Authenticity and Specifications. It also presents the "full team" of five players.
2020 Basketball Hall of Fame Kid's Set - Outer Sleeve: Back
When opened, the Left Flap presents a brief introduction to the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame, and a description of Naismith's early incarnations of the game.
2020 Basketball Hall of Fame Kid's Set - Coin Folder: Interior, Left Flap
The Center Panel of the Coin Folder's Interior features a young girl in the act of shooting the basketball, while two of her friends cheer her on. The plastic chute mentioned above can be seen with the half dollar within it.
2020 Basketball Hall of Fame Kid's Set - Coin Folder: Interior, Center Panel
The interior side of the Right Flap presents the briefest of introductions to basketball's roots and present-day global status.
2020 Basketball Hall of Fame Kid's Set - Coin Folder: Interior, Right Flap 
The Back Cover of the Coin Folder includes five trivia questions, along with an inverted answer key. How many can you get w/o cheating?
2020 Basketball Hall of Fame Kid's Set - Coin Folder: Interior, Back Cover
For more of my stories about commemorative coins and medals, including other Modern US Commemorative Coin stories, see:
Commems Collection.
Posted 08/24/2024 10:09 am
