Space.com
By Robert Z. Pearlman
posted: 19 July 2005
06:56 am ET
The United States Mint came one step closer this week to striking a new
series of gold and silver coins containing metal that flew on historic
spacecraft.
The coins, to be issued in 2008, are to commemorate 50 years since the
founding of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the
opening of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). Passed July 12 by the U.S.
House of Representatives, the "NASA and JPL 50th Anniversary Commemorative
Coin Act" authorizes the Mint to produce a $50 gold coin with an image of
the Sun and nine $1 silver coins each representing one of the nine planets
in our solar system.
Further, the bill directs that NASA, JPL, the Department of Defense, the
Smithsonian Institution and any other federal agency in possession of flown
spacecraft deliver gold, silver, copper, and other metal samples from the
vehicles to the Mint for "symbolic inclusion" during the production of the
coins. The bill also seek these federal agencies to collect like samples
from privately-held craft.
The flown metal will then be blended with other metals by which all coins
struck can be said to be made in part from the spacecraft.
"Minting coins is a distinctive way to honor 50 years of dedicated service
by the men and women of JPL and NASA," said Representative Adam Schiff, who
was a co- sponsor of the Act and who represents the district where JPL is
located.
The bill calls for the $50 coin to be limited to 50,000 and contain one troy
ounce of fine gold. Opposite its image of the sun on the reverse will appear
"a design emblematic of the sacrifice of the United States astronauts who
lost their lives in the line of duty over the course of the space program."
The edge of the 1.25 inch diameter coins will be inscribed with the names
and dates of the missions on which astronauts were lost.
Likewise, the nine 1.5 inch silver commemoratives will be limited to 400,000
each and contain 90 percent silver and 10 percent copper. The coins will
feature on their reverse different designs that are "emblematic of
discoveries and missions of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory to the planet
depicted on the obverse of the coin." The bill requires the artwork to be
realistic and accurate, as well as sets forth specific details for four of
the coins:
* The "Earth" coin is to "bear images emblematic of, and honoring, the
discoveries and missions of the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration, the Mercury, Gemini and Space Shuttle missions and other
manned Earth-orbiting missions, and the Apollo missions to the Moon."
* "Jupiter" will have "the Galilean moon Europa and depict both a past
and future mission to Europa."
* "Saturn" is to include "the moon Titan and depict both a past and a
future mission to Titan."
* "Pluto" will bear a design that is "emblematic of telescopic
exploration of deep space by the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration and the ongoing search for Earth- like planets orbiting other
stars."
Final selection of the designs will be overseen by the Secretary of the
Treasury in consultation with the NASA Administrator, the Director of JPL,
the Commission of Fine Arts and with review by the Citizens Coin Advisory
Committee.
If and when issued in 2008, the coins will be offered for sale by the U.S.
Mint. The bill permits a $50 surcharge for each $50 gold coin and a $10 fee
for each $1 silver.
The bill also allows for the Mint to strike and sell bronze duplicates of
the gold coins at a price to be determined.
The coins may be sold separately or as a set, presented in a case that
displays the gold coin surrounded by the silver coins in an elliptical
orbit, as specified by the Act.
The first $1 million raised as a result of the sale of these coins will go
to the NASA Family Assistance Fund. This fund provides need-based financial
assistance to the families of NASA personnel who die as a result of injuries
suffered in the performance of their official duties.
Sales exceeding that amount will go the Secretary of the Smithsonian
Institution to be split evenly between the preservation, maintenance, and
display of space artifacts at the National Air and Space Museum, and for the
establishment of a new stand-alone National Museum of Money.
"The astounding discoveries of America's first 50 years in space make it
very likely that when the 100th anniversary NASA/JPL coin set is issued in
2058," said Said Texas Rep. John Culberson, who introduced the Act to the
House in January. "We will be celebrating our first missions into
interstellar space."
Gregory S. Williams
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
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