Celebration Series

[dbl]

24-Karat Gold American Buffalo 2008 Celebration Coin

Gold Coin Offered to Celebrate the Year 2008

24-karat gold coins from the new United States Mint Celebration Series will go on sale at noon on Tuesday, February 5, 2008, in time for the Lunar New Year beginning February 7. The American Buffalo 2008 Celebration Coin is a special numismatic product, featuring a 24-Karat American Buffalo Gold Coin, being introduced in the year 2008 because the number "8" is traditionally associated with wealth and prosperity in Asian-American cultures.

"In many Asian cultures, there is a tradition of buying gold for loved ones to show how much you care for them," said United States Mint Director Edmund C. Moy. The United States Mint Celebration Series is an outreach initiative to Americans who are not already collecting coins. The first special numismatic product in the series, the American Buffalo 2008 Celebration Coin, will be available to all interested purchasers.

"The introduction of the American Buffalo 2008 Celebration Coin will be an exceptional opportunity for both first-time Asian-American buyers, as well as our long-term gold coin collectors," Director Moy continued.

The product will be offered with bullion coins only and will be available directly from the United States Mint. The one-ounce 24-karat gold coin is legal tender with a $50.00 face value and contains .9999 gold. The price for this product is $1,018.88; however, as with all precious metal numismatic products, a future pricing change may be required.

To protect their pristine finish, the coins are packaged in the required protective covering and placed in a bright red plush United States Mint gift box with a specially-decorated red sleeve. A custom-designed certificate of authenticity is enclosed, featuring the signature and chop mark (stamp in Chinese characters) of Director Moy.

The American Buffalo 2008 Celebration Coin is a 2008 American Buffalo Gold Bullion coin, and bears the original designs of the revered Buffalo Nickel of 1913, Type 1. The iconic James Earle Fraser image of an American bison graces the reverse (tails side), and Fraser's classic design of an American Indian is featured on the obverse (heads side), along with the inscription "2008."

The coin has inscriptions of the coin's weight, denomination and fineness incused on the reverse (buffalo side) in the design area commonly known as the "grassy mound." The inscriptions read "$50," "1 OZ" and ".9999 FINE GOLD."

As part of the new United States Mint Celebration Series, the United States Mint will explore introducing various numismatic coin products that are packaged and positioned to celebrate special gift-giving occasions and events. The American Buffalo 2008 Celebration Coin is part of a pilot program to test the viability of this initiative.

There is no set product limit for the American Buffalo 2008 Celebration Coin. Customers may order these coins directly from the United States Mint beginning at noon (ET) on February 5, 2008.

Present price at US Mint: $1,118.88

[dbl]

Double Prosperity Set

American Buffalo and American Eagle Gold Uncirculated Coins

The second special numismatic product in the United States Mint Celebration Series will be available for purchase beginning noon Eastern Time on August 1, 2008. The 8-8-08 Double Prosperity Set, priced at $1298.95, features one 24-karat American Buffalo One-Half Ounce Gold Uncirculated Coin and one 22-karat American Eagle One-Half Ounce Gold Uncirculated Coin.

The United States Mint Celebration Series, launched in February 2008, is a new initiative to explore the feasibility of introducing various numismatic coin products that are packaged and positioned to celebrate special gift-giving occasions and celebratory events.

The number "8" is traditionally associated with prosperity in Asian cultures. The triple "8" date is highly significant as it occurs only once every 100 years.

The American Buffalo One-Half Ounce Gold Uncirculated Coin is one of the newly released fractional weight options in the expanded American Buffalo Coin Program. The coin bears the classic portrait of a Native American in profile on the obverse and the magnificent American Buffalo, or bison, on the reverse. Noted American sculptor James Earle Fraser, a student of Augustus Saint-Gaudens, originally prepared both images for the redesigned five-cent coin (nickel) released in 1913.

The American Eagle One-Half Ounce Gold Uncirculated Coin displays Augustus Saint-Gaudens' enduring full-length figure of Liberty with flowing hair, holding a torch in her right hand and an olive branch in her left. The coin's reverse, by Miley Busiek, bears the endearing image of a male eagle clutching an olive branch while soaring above a nest containing a female eagle and her hatchlings.

Both coins in the 8-8-08 Double Prosperity Set are legal tender with a nominal face value designation of $25. But their gold metal content and artistry make them worth far more. Inscriptions on the coins include the "W" mint mark for the United States Mint at West Point, the date, the fineness and the weight. The coins are packaged in an attractive hardwood box with a Certificate of Authenticity signed by United States Mint Director Ed Moy.

[dbl]

8-8-08 Double Prosperity Set

The present price is: $1,228.88
The packaging for this set on the picture is a prototype.

[dbl]

From the pressroom of US Mint:

August 6, 2008

United States Mint Director Displays 8-8-08 Double Prosperity Set
Journalists Get Special Glimpse Inside United States Mint at San Francisco

SAN FRANCISCO - As the world prepares for the opening of the Games of the XXIX Olympiad in Beijing, China, on August 8, 2008, United States Mint Director Ed Moy invited reporters to the United States Mint at San Francisco, where he introduced the 8-8-08 Double Prosperity Set. This set of two gold coins is the second installment of the United States Mint Celebration Series, meant to provide special numismatic products for gift-giving occasions. The new set features one 24-karat American Buffalo One-Half Ounce Gold Uncirculated Coin and one 22-karat American Eagle One-Half Ounce Gold Uncirculated Coin.

Director Moy discussed the significance of this new set of gold coins, saying, "The
8-8-08 Double Prosperity Set presents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for coin collectors and the general public. The date 8-8-08 (August 8, 2008) occurs only once every 100 years. To mark this occasion, this is also the first time the United States Mint has paired two gold coins in custom-designed packaging, making this set a unique product for the Asian-American community."

Following the presentation, Director Moy and Larry Eckerman, Plant Manager, United States Mint at San Francisco, led reporters and camera crews on a special tour of the United States Mint at San Francisco.

Whole article: http://www.usmint.gov/pressroom/index.c ... ase&ID=938" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;