Mark Twain Commemorative Coin Designs Unveiled

So the launch of the silver Twain coins will be delayed. An earlier version of the article below said January 27th is the new date, but the article has since been revised to say TBD. Also it currently says "TBD" on the U.S. Mint product schedule for these issues.

http://mintnewsblog.com/2016/01/201...ins-delayed/

1. 0.900 vs. 0.999: The law authorizing the potential switch over was signed December 4, 2015. The Mint has not had enough time to implement the changeover. In fact, it has been striking some 2016 collector coins on 90% planchets for a few months already. While some silver coins may make use of 0.999 planchets this year, my guess is most of the switch will take place with 2017-dated coins.*

2. ASE Planchets: US silver dollar commemoratives are a different size and weight vs. ASEs - they don't/can't share the same planchet. SDs are 38.1 mm in diameter vs. 40.6 mm for ASEs and weigh 26.73 grams vs. 31.103 grams for ASEs.


* It would make for fun varieties, however, if a mix of planchets were used this year. I wonder if the Mint would add some sort of distinguishing mark to the coins struck on the new 0.999 planchets? I would think they would have to in order for collectors to quickly distinguish between the versions.

Without sophisticated technology (or some sort of distinguishing mark on the coins themselves as commems suggests), how would one tell?



Likewise. Some folks have lamented (or wished for) having two silver sets to collect in 2016, but I see that as only a remote possibility. Who knows though. Guess we'll have to wait and see.

Bizy, I know what the red herring phrase means but how are you applying it to this situation?

They will come out with another update soon and blame it on the package from China that has not been completed yet due to their economy crashing......just being facetious here.

Was there ever a 2-coin set announced? I can't find any mention of it.

I'm sorry but the Twain silver $1 is an absolute circus. The obverse looks like it came out of the Sunday comics, and the reverse, with all this imagery from his books, just too cluttered for my taste. The gold is an elegant looking coin!

I feel the Mint has certainly had some classy looking $1 Silver commems, like the 2012 Star-Spangled Banner, the 2009 Lincoln, 2006 Ben Franklin Scientist come to mind. This Twain $1 is just not classy - the design is down right cheesy looking!

How about a conversation on the artistic merits and pitfalls of the Mint's commemorative programs of late?
Here is an article that may be of interest on this topic:
http://www.numismaster.com/ta/numis...icleId=11204


"...The quality of designs remains embarrassingly low, both in the often amateurish character of the artwork and in the generally poor compositions," CFA secretary Tom Luebke wrote on behalf of the commission.

The coins and medals should distill the subject to its essence, Luebke wrote, "rather than present a confusing collage of multiple elements."

The mystery of the delayed Twain silver dollar coins is solved, my dear friends!

It appears the certificates of authenticity (COAs) for each coin had a glaring error: Jim and Huck were noted as being from Adventures of Tom Sawyer when they are really from Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.

The error was noticed late into production, so the Mint will have to produce new COAs for the effected coins.

Still no word on a new release date. If I hear anything, I'll let you all know.