In 1994, the US Mint struck a three-coin program (Copper-Nickel Half Dollar, Silver Dollar and Gold Half Eagle) in recognition of the first time the soccer World Cup was held in the United States.
(Note: "Soccer" is the most often-used name of the game in the United States - also in Canada - but the game is generally referred to as "Football" elsewhere. the aforementioned commemorative coin program refers to the game as "soccer," so that is the term I use in this post.)The Mint produced a large variety of special packaging options for the 1994 World Cup USA coin program, including those that celebrate each US city in which World Cup games were played.
I've previously posted about such product options here:
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1994 World Cup USA - Striker Set-
1994 World Cup USA - Part II (City Sets)In this post, I'm taking a look at another of the Mint's packaging options: the World Cup USA
Young Collector's Edition (YCE) set.
The
YCE features an Uncirculated CuNi Half Dollar embedded in a colorful, six-panel coin folder illustrated with cartoon characters, including "Striker" - the World Cup mascot.
The obverse design of the Half Dollar portrays a single male soccer player advancing the ball; he's about to kick it further down the pitch/field. He is flanked by large "19" and "94" figures representing the tournament's and coin's date. The design was created by Richard T. LaRoche; US Mint Sculptor-Engraver
John Mercanti served as the modeler for the obverse design. LaRoche's "RTL" and Mercanti's "JM" initials are both found at the rim, just below the player's planted left foot.
1994 World Cup Half Dollar - Obverse
The coin's reverse, common to all three coins of the program, presents the official logo of the 1994 World Cup framed by laurel branches. The design for the coin was prepared by Dean McMullen; the core logo was created by Michael Geircke and James Anderson of Pentagram, a design firm with offices in London (England), New York City, Austin (Texas), and Berlin (Germany).
1994 World Cup Coins - Common Reverse (Illustrated with Silver Dollar)
As its name implies, the 1994 World Cup USA
Young Collector's Edition set was designed for a younger audience - children ages 6 to 10. It uses cartoons (the Jeremiah and Christina characters return from prior sets aimed at young children, but their dog "Charlie" has been replaced by "Striker") and easy-to-understand language to engage kids in the game of soccer, the international World Cup tournament and the US Mint's coins for the event.
The coin folder is inserted into a slipcase with coordinating artwork. The front of the slipcase and folder depicts Jeremiah and Christina engaged in a game of soccer with Striker; the back of the slipcase presents the Half Dollar's specifications and Certificate of Authenticity.
The artwork presented on the front of the coin folder wraps around to its back panel to complete the soccer game scene introduced on the front - the back panel scene include two additional young players with the airplane that is pulling the naming banner presented on the front panel seen flying in the sky above. The folder's educational content is presented on its four interior panels; the back panel does not include any text.
The Set sold 49,999 units out of an announced maximum of 50,000 (it was a sell-out, the one unit difference represents a damaged/unsaleable set); the Set had a "Pre-Issue" price of $10.50 and a "Regular Issue" price of $12.00.
1994 World Cup USA - Young Collector's Edition - Slipcase - Front
1994 World Cup USA - Young Collector's Edition - Slipcase - Back
1994 World Cup USA - Young Collector's Edition - Coin Folder - Front Panel
1994 World Cup USA - Young Collector's Edition - Coin Folder - Back Panel
The Interior Side of the Front Panel introduces Striker, the World Cup mascot, and provides a very brief introduction to the history of soccer - and Charlie joins Striker!.
1994 World Cup USA - Young Collector's Edition - Coin Folder - Front Panel / Interior
The Front Panel of the Interior Flap discusses the World Cup Tournament and commemorative coins in general; the obverse of the US Mint's half dollar is presented.
1994 World Cup USA - Young Collector's Edition - Coin Folder - Interior Flap / Front
The Interior Side of the Back Panel and the Back Panel of the Interior Flap discuss the US Mint, the 1994 World Cup USA Half Dollar and Coin Collecting as a hobby.
1994 World Cup USA - Young Collector's Edition - Coin Folder Back Panel / Interior
1994 World Cup USA - Young Collector's Edition- Coin Folder - Interior Flap / Back
For more of my topics on commemorative coins and medals, including more Modern US Commemorative Coin stories, see:
Commems Collection.
Posted 12/16/2022 10:07 am
