Braille Silver Dollars Sales End Today, 5PM ET

As announced by the United States Mint in early November, all commemorative Braille offerings will go off sale today, Dec. 11, at 5:00 PM ET. The silver coins celebrate the bicentennial birth of Louis Braille, who is most remembered for inventing the Braille system for reading and writing by the blind and visually impaired.

Numismatic proof and uncirculated Braille Silver Dollars first went on sale Mar. 26 at introductory prices of $37.95 and $31.95. One month later they were raised to the current prices of $41.95 and $33.95.

Additionally, on Oct. 8 the US Mint introduced the Braille Education Set for $44.95, which included an uncirculated Braille $1 with special packaging that has genuine Braille text — a first time event for the US Mint, much like the silver dollar is the first ever coin with readable Braille. Along with another option that includes an uncirculated dollar within packaging that can quickly be opened to touch the dollar, that brought the total product options up to four.

The following our the latest sales stats for each, as of Sunday, Dec. 6:

US Mint Braille Silver $1 Coin Sales

(Sales increases compare previous to current Mint figures)

	Previous Sales	New Sales	Unit Increase	% Increase	Mintage Limit
2009 Braille Silver Proof	133,064	135,235	2,171	1.63%	400,000
2009 Braille Silver Uncirculated	48,211	48,863	652	1.35%
Braille Uncirculated in Easy-Open Capsule	22,540	23,078	538	2.39%
Braille Education Set	10,003	10,698	695	6.95%

 

The Louis Braille Bicentennial Braille Literacy Commemorative Coin Act, which became law (Public Law 109-247) on July 2006 and authorized the collectible dollars, actually indicates that the US Mint may issue up to 400,000 the coins until the end of the year. The Mint provided the following explanation as to why today is the deadline date:

The 2009 Louis Braille Bicentennial Silver Dollar products must be issued by December 31st. In order to meet these requirements, the United States Mint is only accepting orders for these products until December 11th at 5:00 p.m. ET. Please note that all credit card and billing issues must be resolved prior to December 11th.

Each product may be ordered directly from the US Mint website at http://www.usmint.gov/, or by calling their toll free telephone number at 1-800-USA-MINT (872-6468). Hearing and speech-impaired customers may order by calling 1-888-321-MINT (6468).

$10 surcharges from the sale of each coin are paid to the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) to further its programs to promote Braille literacy.

The United States Mint first released the Braille designs and a prototype in July 2008 during the NFB annual convention in Dallas, Texas. The unveiling showcased the unique silver dollar design.

“For the first time in history, the United States has a coin with readable Braille," US Mint Director Ed Moy said during the unveiling of the design. "The 2009 Louis Braille Bicentennial Silver Dollar honors the developer of Braille, a tactile code that has been instrumental in the literacy and independence of the world’s blind people.”

The silver coins feature a portrait of Louis Braille on the obverse (heads side) designed by Joel Iskowitz and sculpted by Phebe Hemphill. The reverse (tails side) design depicts a child reading a Braille book. The word INDEPENDENCE is displayed on a bookshelf behind the child and the word Braille, abbreviated BRL in Braille code, is featured in the upper field. The reverse was designed by Susan Gamble and sculpted by Joseph Menna.

Louis Braille Silver Dollar Specifications

Mint: Philadelphia
Condition: Proof or Uncirculated
Weight: 26.730 grams nominal
Diameter: 1.500 inches (+-0.003) or 38.10 mm (+-0.08)
Composition: 90% silver, 10% copper
Mintage Limit: 400,000 (all options)
Obverse Designer & Sculptor: Joel Iskowitz and Phebe Hemphill
Reverse Designer & Sculptor: Susan Gamble and Joseph Menna