One of the lesser-known (or at least talked about) special packaging sets of the modern US commemorative coin series is the 2017 Breast Cancer Awareness Coin and Stamp Set.
The 2017 Breast Cancer Awareness Coin program includes a Copper-Nickel (CuNi) Clad Half Dollar, a Silver Dollar and a Rose Gold Half Eagle ($5.00 coin). I posted images of my Uncirculated versions of the three coins here:
2018 Breast Cancer Awareness Coins.
The program was intended to recognize America's ongoing battle against breast cancer, with surcharge funds raised from coin sales going to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation for its use in continued research.
The three denominations were sold individually, and were available in Proof and Uncirculated versions. The Proof version of the CuNi Half Dollar was also available in a
Coin and Stamp Set. The
Set was priced at $39.95 and had a product limit of 25,000 units; the individual Proof Half Dollar had a Regular Issue Price of $32.95. At just $7.00 more than the individual coin, the
Coin and Stamp Set, IMO, was a good deal for interested collectors.
Good deal or not, collectors did not express much interest in the
Set as it sold just 4,452 units. For comparison, the individual Proof Half Dollar had sales of 17,939. I think it's fair to say that neither option was a barn burner.
The
Coin and Stamp Set consists of a six-panel folder that houses the coin and stamp. The folder slides into an outer, open-ended sleeve; the graphic design of the sleeve matches that of the folder. Overall, the
Set's print materials complement the design of the coin, prominently incorporating a butterfly on the front panel of the sleeve and folder. The
Set is geared toward an older collector base vs. the
Young Collector Sets I've presented, as evidenced by the reading level of its content and its more adult-themed presentation style. I can imagine adult cancer survivors being among the
Set's target audiences considered by the Mint's Marketing Team - possibly as a gift?
The Front Panel of the Sleeve includes a butterfly with spread wings. The colors used (light blue and white) give the viewer a sense of looking at the sky with the butterfly flying free. The coin program's title and set name are listed. A small pink Breast Cancer Awareness ribbon is found to the left of the title information. The Back Panel of the sleeve is essentially blank, though the coloring of the sky design is continued.
2017 Breast Cancer Awareness Coin and Stamp Set: Outer Sleeve - Front Panel
2017 Breast Cancer Awareness Coin and Stamp Set: Outer Sleeve - Back Panel
The Front Panel of the Folder duplicates the design of the Front Panel of the Sleeve, and includes all of the same design elements.
2017 Breast Cancer Awareness Coin and Stamp Set: Folder - Front Panel
The Inside Cover of the Front Panel presents "Facts About Breast Cancer in the United States" - some startling and encouraging statistics are presented.
2017 Breast Cancer Awareness Coin and Stamp Set: Folder - Inside Front Panel
The Front of the Coin Flap features an embedded Proof Breast Cancer Awareness Half Dollar (Obverse). It is uncluttered, choosing to keep focus on the importance of continued research with the minimal text incorporated.
2017 Breast Cancer Awareness Coin and Stamp Set: Folder - Coin Flap - Front
The Back of the Coin Flap showcases the coin's reverse and presents discussions of the coin's obverse and reverse designs as well as how the collected surcharge funds were to be used.
2017 Breast Cancer Awareness Coin and Stamp Set: Folder - Coin Flap - Back
The
Set's stamp is found on the Inside Back Panel. Included is a mint/unissued example of the Semi-Postal Breast Cancer Research stamp that was first issued in 1988. To date, the stamp has raised over $95 million for Breast Cancer Research via the surcharge above the First Class rate that is included on the sale price each stamp. (Semi-Postal stamps are close cousins to modern US commemorative coins.)
2017 Breast Cancer Awareness Coin and Stamp Set: Folder - Inside Back Panel
The Back Panel for the Folder presents the coin's Certificate of Authenticity and the Coin Specifications. Of note, the "Mintage Limit" is listed as 750,000 across all Half Dollar options - as a reminder, the
Set's "limit" was 25,000.
2017 Breast Cancer Awareness Coin and Stamp Set: Folder - Back Panel
For more of my topics on commemorative coins and medals, including other Modern series specialty sets, see:
Commems Collection.
Posted 03/20/2023 11:27 am
