Commems Collection Modern: 2012 Making American History Coin And Currency Set

The United States Mint (USM) and the Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) shared a booth at the 2012 American Numismatic Association ( ANA) World's Fair of Money, held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in August 2012. A joint project of the pair, the 2012 Making American History Coin and Currency Set was released at the Fair.

Note: The Set was the second time the USM-BEP issued a Coin and Currency Set with an American Silver Eagle ( ASE); the first was the 2000 Millennium Set - Read more here: 2000 US Millennium Coinage And Currency Set.

The Set was produced to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the BEP and the 220th anniversary of the USM. (A 220th Anniversary is not one that traditionally calls for milestone commemoration, but, IMO, the BEP's 150th Anniversary was the driver of the Set.)

Included in the 2012 Set is a 2012 American Silver Eagle (Proof; San Francisco Mint) and a Series 2009 $5 note; each is enclosed in a plastic housing. The Set's numismatic components are incorporated into a Numismatic (Coin/Currency) Folder that is inserted into an Outer Sleeve; both components are printed in full color (i.e., process color). The Set does not include a booklet with historical background information; its informational content is presented on the panels of its Numismatic Folder.

Per the BEP web site: "The Bureau of Engraving and Printing had its foundations in 1862 with workers signing, separating, and trimming sheets of Demand Notes in the Treasury building." In the years that followed, the BEP expanded its role to include engraving and printing of currency, such that in 1877, the BEP assumed the role of sole producer of all United States currency - postage stamps were added to its product line in 1894.

The Series 2009 $5 note features a serial number beginning with "150" to denote its use as a commemorative of the BEP's 150th anniversary.

The USM had humble beginnings. It was established by the US Congress on April 2, 1792; it was constructed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It produced relatively small quantities of copper Half Cents (1793) and cents (1793), silver dimes (1796), quarters (1796), half dollars (1794) and dollar (1794) and gold quarter-eagles (1796), half-eagles (1795) and eagles (1795) in its first years.

The Making History C&C Set had an issue price of $72.95, plus $4.95 postage and handling - the Set was available at the 2012 ANA World's Fair of Money within the joint ANA-BEP booth without the P&H fee.

The Product Limit was set at 100,000, but sales totaled just 60,205 units. Current market pricing for the Set varies; I've seen some selling in the $70 to $80 range, and others as high as $150; they seem to be regularly available. If interested in adding a Set to your collection, I recommend being patient and waiting for a Set available at the lower end of the price spectrum.

The Front Cover of the Outer Sleeve presents a fairly simple design with mostly text inscriptions over muted backgrounds representative of the USM's coins and the BEP's notes.

2012 Making History Coin and Currency Set: Outer Sleeve - Front



The Back Cover of the Outer Sleeve featues a Certificate of Authenticity (COA) each, for the ASE and the $5 Note.

2012 Making History Coin and Currency Set: Outer Sleeve - Back



The Front Cover of the Numismatic Folder features the same artwork as the front of the Outer Sleeve.

2012 Making History Coin and Currency Set: Numismatic Folder - Front Cover



A brief history of the founding of the US Mint and Bureau of Engraving and Printing is found on the Inside Front Cover of the Folder.

2012 Making History Coin and Currency Set: Numismatic Folder - Inside Front Cover



The front of the interior flap of the Coin Folder encloses the 2012 American Silver Eagle, presents its obverse and offers background information on the coin.

2012 Making History Coin and Currency Set: Numismatic Folder - ASE Flap, Front



The back of the Folder's interior flap displays the reverse of the 2012 American Silver Eagle and provides background information on the Bureau of Engraving and Printing and the Series 2009 $5 note.

2012 Making History Coin and Currency Set: Numismatic Folder - ASE Flap, Back



The Note Panel of the Folder showcases the front of the Series 2009 $5 note.

2012 Making History Coin and Currency Set: Numismatic Folder - Note Panel



The back of the Series 2009 $5 note is seen via the Back Cover of the Folder.

2012 Making History Coin and Currency Set: Numismatic Folder - Back Cover



For more of my stories about commemorative coins and medals, including other Coin and Currency Sets, see: Commems Collection.


Note: The images of the panels with the enclosed $5.00 bill were taken with a cell phone camera - my scanner would not allow the notes to be scanned (built-in anticounterfeiting technology).