Commems Collection Modern: 2013 Girl Scouts Of USA Centennial

In 2010, the Boy Scouts of America sponsored a commemorative silver dollar for its 100th anniversary that proved to be very popular with collectors, selling out its maximum mintage of 350,000 over the first few months of availability.

Such strong sales were likely reassuring to the the Girl Scouts of USA who had a commemorative silver dollar of their own approved the year before. Companion bills were introduced in the House of Representatives and Senate in January and February, respectively, of 2009. The House bill moved forward in lieu of the Senate bill, and became Public Law 111-86; it authorized 350,000 silver dollars.

In the bill, Congress found:

(1) The Girl Scouts of the United States of America is the world's preeminent organization dedicated solely to girls where they build character and skills for success in the real world.

(2) In 1911, Juliette Gordon Low met Sir Robert Baden-Powell, a war hero and the founder of the Boy Scouts.

(3) With Baden-Powell's help and encouragement, Juliette Gordon Low made plans to start a similar association for American girls.

(4) On March 12, 1912, Juliette Gordon Low organized the first 2 Girl Scout Troops in Savannah, Georgia consisting of 18 members.

(5) Low devoted the next 15 years of her life to building the organization, which would become the largest voluntary association for women and girls in the United States.

(6) Low drafted the Girl Scout laws, supervised the writing of the first handbook in 1913, and provided most of the financial support for the organization during its early years.

(7) The Girl Scouts of the United States of America was chartered by the United States Congress in 1950 in title 36, United States Code.

(8) Today there are more than 3,700,000 members in 236,000 troops throughout the United States and United States territories.

(9) Through membership in the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts, Girls Scouts of the United States of America is part of a worldwide family of 10,000,000 girls and adults in 145 countries.

(10) More than 50,000,000 American women enjoyed Girl Scouting during their childhood--and that number continues to grow as Girl Scouts of the United States of America continues to inspire, challenge, and empower girls everywhere.

(11) March 12, 2012 will mark the 100th Anniversary of the Girl Scouts of the United States of America.

When the bill was first introduced (January 21, 2009) by Representative Jack Kingston (R-GA), it sought a 2011-dated coin to tie into the initial 1911 meeting between Juliette Gordon Low and Sir Robert Baden-Powell (see above). The bill was later amended to reflect a 2013-dated coin to reflect the important formalization of the organization by Low in 1913 (see above). The bill could also have called for a 2012-dated coin to acknowledge the first meeting held by the future organization, but in consideration of the already-approved 2012 National Infantry Museum and Soldier Center commemorative coin (October 8, 2008) and the pending 2012 Star-Spangled Banner commemorative coin, the Girl Scouts coin's sponsor moved forward with "2013" as the centennial year to be celebrated on the coin.

The Girl Scouts of the USA Centennial coin bill was signed into law by US President Barack Obama on October 29, 2009.

The obverse of the coin presents "head shots" of three girls meant to represent the various ages and diversity seen within the Girl Scouts of the USA. Per the Mint, the obverse design was inspired by the Mission Statement of the Girl Scouts: "Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place."

The coin's reverse features the primary logo of the Girl Scouts - a trefoil - with the stylized silhouettes of three Girl Scouts within it. "Trefoil" means "three interlocking circles/leaves." Each of the leaves in the Girl Scouts' trefoil is meant to symbolize one of the elements of the Girl Scout Promise: (1) serve God and country, (2) help people and (3) live by the Girl Scout Law.

The Girl Scout Law:

I will do my best to be
honest and fair,
friendly and helpful,
considerate and caring,
courageous and strong,
and responsible for what I say and do,
and to respect myself and others,
respect authority,
use resources wisely,
make the world a better place,
and be a sister to every Girl Scout.

Barbara Fox, a Designer within the Mint's Artistic Infusion Program (AIP), designed the coin's obverse; Phebe Hemphill, a Medallic Artist within the Mint sculpted the design. The reverse design was created by Chris Costello, also a Designer within the Mint's AIP; it was sculpted by Joseph Menna, at the time, a Medallic Artist within the Mint. (Menna has since been promoted to Chief Engraver.)

The coin was officially launched at the 2013 Girl Scout Women and Girls Leadership Breakfast held on February 28, 2013; the breakfast was held in the Caucus Room of the Cannon House Office Building on Capitol Hill. The event was attended by the Treasurer of the United States, Rosie Rios, the US CEO of the Girl Scouts of the USA, Anna Maria Chávez and several members of the honorary "Troop Capitol Hill" (honorary membership is given to all female members of Congress), Representative Jack Kingston and others of Congress. In addition, 21 Girls Scouts who had received special recognition awards were present.

Sixteen of the girls had received the Girl Scout Gold Award - the highest general achievement award that a Girl Scout can earn. Additionally, five other Gold Award winners who had been selected for the 2013 Young Women of Distinction Award were present. The Distinction Award is an honor "given to Girl Scout Seniors and Ambassadors whose Gold Award projects demonstrated extraordinary leadership, had a measurable and sustainable impact, and addressed a local challenge related to a national and/or global issue." (blog.girlscouts.org)

The dollar was available in Proof and Uncirculated versions beginning on February 28, 2013. The Proof coin had an Introductory Price of $54.95 and a Regular Issue Price (30 days later) of $59.95; prices for the Uncirculated version were $50.95 and $55.95, respectively. A Young Collectors Set was also available for $54.95 (it features an Uncirculated Silver Dollar). The proof coin sold 86,355 units, the Uncirculated coin sales total was 37,462 (31,715 individual + 5,747 Young Collectors Set).

The selling price of each silver dollar included a $10 surcharge that was to be collected by the Mint and paid to the Girl Scouts once the Mint recovered its costs to produce, market and distribute the coins. Unfortunately for the Girls Scouts, the low overall sales volume did not generate enough top line revenue for the Mint to cover its costs. As a result, no surcharges were paid to the Girl Scouts of the USA. (I've written about the surcharge situation here: 2013 Girl Scouts Silver Dollar Surcharges.)

2013 Girl Scouts of the USA Silver Dollar



For more of my topics on commemorative coins and medals, including more on other Modern US Commemorative Coins, see: Commems Collection.

For quick access to the 2013 Girl Scouts of the USA Young Collectors Set, see:

- 2013 Girl Scouts of the USA Young Collectors Set