The U.S. Mint is now accepting orders for 1.5- and 3-inch bronze medals based on the Congressional Gold Medal awarded to the Pueblo of Laguna Tribe in recognition of its contributions to United States military efforts as “Code Talkers” during World War II. The tribe, which is located in New Mexico, received the medal in a tribal ceremony on July 29, 2016.
The 1.5-inch medal costs $6.95, while the 3-inch version costs $39.95; both pieces are struck at the Philadelphia Mint. The Mint’s bronze medals are not given mintage limits and can be discontinued or reissued at any time.
This medal’s obverse was designed by Donna Weaver and sculpted by Renata Gordon. It features a depiction of a Laguna code talker crouching, with the inscriptions K’AWAIKA CODE TALKERS and PUEBLO OF LAGUNA inscribed along the rim of the medal.
The reverse carries a Pueblo of Laguna tribal seal and the inscriptions 43RD BOMBARDMENT GROUP, WORLD WAR II, PUEBLO OF LAGUNA, TSINA HANU (“big turkey”), Y’AAK’A WAASCH’I (“little corn”), and ACT OF CONGRESS 2008. This side of the medal was designed by Donna Weaver and engraved by Jim Licaretz.
Code Talkers were Native Americans who used tribal languages to transmit secret communications for the U.S. military during World War I and World War II. After Navajo Code Talkers received a Congressional Gold Medal in 2001, the Code Talkers Recognition Act of 2008 established a plan to recognize other tribes who served in this capacity. In addition to the Navajo, 33 tribes were selected to be honored with Congressional Gold medals; of those, 31 have received their medals, with 2 scheduled to be awarded theirs in the future.
In other news, all product options that include rolls and bags of 2015’s Blue Ridge Parkway ATB quarters have been declared sold out by the Mint.
For more information on the Code Talkers Recognition Congressional Medals Program, visit the U.S. Mint’s Web site.
MT says
@cagcrisp — In the previous thread you asked, “we will see if the Mint interprets the Congressional bill the same way on ending the 30th Anniversary as they did in allowing NO 2015 ASE’s to be sold in 2016. In other words do All the 2016 ASE’s have to be Sold in 2016?”
@Brad — You stated, “I was wondering the same thing about whether or not the 30th Anniversary Eagles would only be sold during 2016.”
Per the regs (31 CFR 5112(e)) and law (P.L. 114-94), the Mint has the authority to issue products containing the 2016 30th Anniversary Silver Eagles ONLY through Dec 31, 2016, and not one day longer.
It’s interesting to note that, beginning Jan 1, 2017, the Mint also has the authority to re-introduce the eight products containing 2013-2015 dated Silver Eagles (with reeded edges) that were discontinued at noon ET on Dec 30, 2015. Not to say that they will…but they can if they wish.
KCSO says
Let the Games Begin!!!
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Standing-Liberty-2016-Centennial-Gold-Coin-/282120869716?hash=item41afb6d754:g:nXkAAOSwbsBXoLGG
KCSO says
Thanks MT, bet we see some of those past Congratulation sets reappear
KCSO says
I see nothing but risk in attempting to flip the SLQ, though that’s just me
cagcrisp says
@KCSO, “I see nothing but risk in attempting to flip the SLQ,”
I Bet at $999.99 you could Shoulder some of that risk…
KCSO says
Those of you that hung onto your acrylic vaporous “stink up the house” 2013 West Point ASE blue boxes.., well rest easy, you can now put them to good use displaying either side of both silver Liberty medals simultaneously.
Someone recently asked “Why two mint marks?” Well that’s elementary, so you’ll buy 2, not 1, but 2 silver medals at $34.95 to proudly display in your ’13 WP Blue Box! 😉
KCSO says
Why Yes, Cag.., I could.., where might I find the nearest sucker with $999.99 in his pockets?
KCSO says
Though if the mint surprised us with a SLQ mintage of 60,000 or less and a HHL of 2.., my aversion to that risk could lessen considerably, … real quick like
Steve says
Opening week sales for the 2015 Proof Silver Eagle was 267,377……down from the more than 300,000 units in 2014.
earthling says
Is it the hott weather up here in SE Michigan? I don’t know but these US Mint products are not having any appeal with me. Now that latest Code Talkers Medal, the Pueblo of Laguna Tribe, now that’s more like it. I really need to get that one.
The big Bronze Medals are really interesting. The same old, same old PM Widgets, not so much.
Felson says
@MT … “Per the regs (31 CFR 5112(e)) and law (P.L. 114-94), the Mint has the authority to issue products containing the 2016 30th Anniversary Silver Eagles ONLY through Dec 31, 2016, and not one day longer.”
Note: issuing a coin for sale isn’t the same as selling a coin. The Mint can issue (mint) coins until the end of the year, but they can sell them for as long as they like. If the mint has the other coins on the shelf and wants to sell them I’d be surprised, but they can’t manufacture them again.
data dave says
On pre sales in general, I’ve always wondered how many of those transactions get cancelled by one party or the other. I’ve had auctions that I have won with a great deal and the seller will cancel on me. Not sure what the policy is on that but I just let it go.
cagcrisp says
@MT and @ Felson, Here is the Exact wording of the law “SEC. 73002. AMERICAN EAGLE SILVER BULLION 30TH ANNIVERSARY. Proof and uncirculated versions of coins issued by the Secretary of the Treasury pursuant to subsection (e) of section 5112 of title 31, United States Code, during calendar year 2016 shall have a smooth edge incused with a designation that notes the 30th anniversary of the first issue of coins under such subsection.”
I Never never never agreed with the Mint’s interpretation of the law. I always thought the 2015 coins could be Sold in 2016 (not issued or manufactured) but Sold. I also think by the law that the 2016 is open ended. From my interpretation of the law , there is Nothing that precludes the 2016 from being SOLD in 2017.
I always thought (and still do) that the Mint had a point to prove with Congress because the Congress drug their feet on passing the legislation and it has nothing to do with the interpretation of “issued”.
Remember, What is the meaning of “is”?
Felson says
Mr cag, I agree with your take. Issuing legislation at the last hour (December), was a bad idea. I think that disrupted the mints schedule for the year and could very likely prove to be a disaster for the bottom line in 2016. To be honest the mint hasn’t done themselves any favors anyway.
cagcrisp says
It took the United States 8.15 years after John F Kennedy’s speech to put a man on the moon.
It has taken 9 months to put edge writing on a American Silver Eagle.
I’m Not buying it. The Mint has done just Exactly what they wanted to do…
data dave says
OT, Elemetal 2 oz HR Mintages, P3 (Captain) 66,839. This compares well with P1 (Privateer) 70,344 and P2 (Siren) 61,640.
data dave says
ALS1, Grand Canyon, 18,152
ALS2, Liberty Island, 24,490
ALS3, Pearl Harbor, 25,326
Other 2 oz silver HR series from Elemetal
data dave says
The reason I am sharing these other mintages is to illustrate that the Mint has competition and it better up its game!! Collector funds will go somewhere else if they are not careful.
data dave says
Any presidential dollar collectors out there? That series is over now with Reagan coming out. Looks like on the circulating coin side, Lyndon Johnson will be the small man with only 5M sold. On the proof side, 2015 and 2016 issues are both on a pace for about 1.275 million sold. This compares to 3.86 million proof sold in 2007 at the start.
Not sure if these are being pushed on the shopping channels, but both would be very affordable series. It compares well to the state quarters where 400 million was the low issue and between 2M and 4M proofs each year. Maybe if we ever really get rid of the $1 bill, the series will generate interest.
This blog tends to focus on $1000+ issues, but it is nice to get the small budget collectors started some where.
KCSO says
Data Dave – you are dead on! My collector funds have been going else where and love these 2oz HR’s.
Elemental has found a gold mine in these puppies…
Thanks for the mintages, not sure they really matter, though fun to track
KCSO says
Data Dave – I’d like to see a continuation of the Zombucks though done in 2oz HR of World Coins
earthling says
I read a lot of media fluff about ” Pokemon Go”. Seems as if the Merchandising Giants are looking at this new trend as a way to boost their traffic and increase sales.
I wonder if the US Mint has anyone looking into capitalizing on this new thing? Anything that could promote Coins and Coin Collecting might be a good thing… for all of us. As long as we don’t end up with a series of colorized Pokemon $1 Coins.
😉
MT says
@Felson — “Note: issuing a coin for sale isn’t the same as selling a coin. The Mint can issue (mint) coins until the end of the year, but they can sell them for as long as they like. If the mint has the other coins on the shelf and wants to sell them I’d be surprised, but they can’t manufacture them again.”
You are using the words “issue” and “mint” as if they mean the same thing. They do not. The regs use manufacture and minting interchangeably and they use issuing and selling interchangeably. The mint cannot issue (sell) the reeded and smooth edge ASEs for as long as they like. We already saw that play out at the end of last year, when the reeded edge design went off sale on Dec 30th. I bet you’ll see that the same will happen this year with the smooth edge (30th Anniv) design going off sale permanently on or before Dec 31st.
@cagcrisp — “I Never never never agreed with the Mint’s interpretation of the law. I always thought the 2015 coins could be Sold in 2016 (not issued or manufactured) but Sold. I also think by the law that the 2016 is open ended. From my interpretation of the law , there is Nothing that precludes the 2016 from being SOLD in 2017.”
I agree that this hinges on interpretation of the language in the regs and law, but that interpretation has already been made publicly, as reported here on MNB:
https://mintnewsblog.com/2015/12/u-s-mint-shares-end-of-year-updates-last-chance-products/
If you accept that along with what we learned in 2015, then the 30th Anniversary ASE will ONLY be issued (sold) in 2016 (per P.L. 114-94), and issuance (sale) of the default reeded edge design (per 31 CFR 5112(e)) will resume only after Dec 31, 2016. That’s my fairly confident take on how this will play out.
cagcrisp says
@MT, I Agree that the Mint will stop selling the 2016 ASE at the end of 2016. This is the Mint’s hand and they are staying pat. I disagreed with the Mint’s interpretation of the law when all this played out. Just because this is the way the Mint played doesn’t mean it is a correct interpretation of the law. There are laws passed in states all the time that the sponsors of the laws know that they are unconstitutional yet that doesn’t stop them from becoming law. Just because the Mint stopped selling 2015 ASE’s in 2015 doesn’t mean that the Law dictated it.
We will agree to disagree. It’s a moot point because as I said before the Mint is playing this hand exactly the way they want it to play out. The Mint didn’t get the legislation passed when they wanted and they haven’t got the proof ASE’s out when others wanted…
MT says
@cagcrisp — No problem. I understand your point. For what it’s worth, I could not find any example of “issue” meaning or implying anything other than “sell”. I am genuinely interested in your interpretation of the meaning of “issue” in this context. From the reading of the regs and law, it clearly doesn’t mean manufacture, so what is left?
Dave SW FL says
Could issue mean that’s when they are put on sale? Most coins are manufactured ( minted) long before they are issued ( made available to the public.). Some are manufactured and never issued…..yet stolen from the mint by employees! Thus , since they were never issued, they are not legal tender and are still mint property.
Blair J. Tobler says
According to Merriam-Webster’s online dictionary “issue” as a verb means:
: to give (something) to someone in an official way : to give or supply (something) to (someone)
: to make (something) available to be sold or used
: to announce (something) in a public and official way
Therefore, minting the coins is not issuing the coins; selling or distributing the coins is issuing them. The law is very straight-forward and leaves no room for interpretation. The Mint had no choice but to do what they did at the end of 2015. Having said that, there is nothing in the law to prevent them from putting the earlier dates back on sale in 2017, or preventing them from selling the 2016 coins in 2017. It only says that during 2016 they have to be edge lettered.
NC Stacker says
@earthling
I don’t think the Mint would promote any business that way as that would mean that the US government ( the Mint in this case) would endorse a private company. This would open a Pandora’s box.
Now if the government created Pokémon then that is a different story.
MT says
@Dave — Yes, that’s how I see it.
@Blair J. Tobler — “Therefore, minting the coins is not issuing the coins; selling or distributing the coins is issuing them. The law is very straight-forward and leaves no room for interpretation. The Mint had no choice but to do what they did at the end of 2015. Having said that, there is nothing in the law to prevent them from putting the earlier dates back on sale in 2017, or preventing them from selling the 2016 coins in 2017. It only says that during 2016 they have to be edge lettered.”
I followed most of your reasoning, but not that “there is nothing in the law to prevent them from…selling the 2016 coins in 2017. It only says that during 2016 they have to be edge lettered.”
Actually, the law states that coins ISSUED during calendar year 2016 have to be edge lettered. So, since you believe that the law is very straightforward with “issue” meaning “sell,” then by your interpretation it should follow that those anniversary coins CANNOT be sold in 2017, right? After CY 2016, issuance of the default reeded edge (required under 31 CFR 5112(e)) kicks back in.
Erik H says
Data Dave, I collected the Proof Pres. Dollars by purchasing the Silver Proof set. I started buying the Unc. Pres. Sets when they stopped “issuing” them for circulation in hopes that the $1 note will stop circulating one day and dollar coins with start. I also have one “missing edge letting” George Washington. This coin was not officially “issued” so I hope I can keep it, LOL.
Erik H says
Sorry should say “Missing Edge Lettering”
MT says
This video of the West Point Mint’s production of the gold 2016-W Standing Liberty Quarter was mentioned yesterday by cagcrisp. I am including the link…
http://www.coinworld.com/news/us-coins/2016/08/gold-standing-liberty-quarter-centennial-west-point-mint-video.html
Erik H says
Thanks MT, if you look at the picture below the video it appears that the SLQ has some “finning”
Blair J. Tobler says
@MT – I stand corrected and agree.
MT says
Erik, by now hopefully that production issue has been corrected. Time (5 weeks + shipping time) will tell.
Larry says
I probably missed the information somewhere, but is the edge lettering on this years ASE only being done this year? Are they going back to the reeded edge next year? if it is only this year, I might get one.
cagcrisp says
@Larry, yes . 2016 only.. This is for the 30th year…
Doug says
For those interested APMEX has pre-sale on Teddy Roosevelts ATB 5 Oz coins. I got em for $120.95. Are these out anywhere else?
cagcrisp says
@Doug, Gainsville has them for $116+…
Dustyroads says
APMEX has been good with my orders, so I pre-ordered from them today. If job numbers are not what’s expected tomorrow, it could be a good deal.
Peter says
MT
Thanks for the video, very cool. Seems like “struck” should be replaced with “pressed”
Also, I noticed how the coins sort of bounced after being minted. Wonder how many may have reverse imperfections from the hard landing.
Sith says
@Doug – Thank you for the info.
Fmtransmitter says
That HR walk the plank is so cool! Here, I just took a pic…
https://www.dropbox.com/sc/2u3kbietkyfv240/AABX3Bi7HscISJAlZ9k3rsMga
Dustyroads says
Peter,
Good thing for us the rims are not graded.
Dustyroads says
fm,
I have to have an account to view the pics.
Today’s a big day, or not. We could see a bump in Au if job numbers are less than expected. If not, then good for us.
Dustyroads says
Oop’s, I’m late. I see the numbers are already out.
Dustyroads says
Being that Palladium is the the most least affected PM today, who really would want to sink almost a $1,000. into a coin in this environment?
MT says
@Peter — Yes, that bounce against the reverse die made me cringe. As the lower (reverse) die moves up to eject the coin from the press, it is decelerating so quickly that the coin is being thrown upward instead of just being gently lifted.
cagcrisp says
Coin World has a video on FB showing the 2016 ASE proofs being made…
cagcrisp says
Pre-Launch Puck prices are down Considerably this morning with the STRONG USD.
You can get one from Gainsville for $113.65. That’s better than $121.00 quoted yesterday from Another source.
(I’m still not a buyer)…
earthling says
http://www.numismaticnews.net/article/bitcoin-becomes-tangible
Anyone take note of the Bitcoin New?
Seems like they are dreaming of Collectors wanting to collect this nonsense.
I think I’m more interested in collecting McDonalds Pizza boxes.
MT says
Thanks cagcrisp. Here’s the link to the video…
https://www.facebook.com/CoinWorld/videos/10153218026267168/
Zaz says
Yes, but Gainsville has a $4.95 shipping charge per puck, whereas the other “source” offers free shipping, making them about an even wash. Still, a month and five days is a long time to hold on to your funds before delivering your physical silver. Who knows what can happen to silver spot in those 35 days?
Steve says
Gainsville charges $11.50 for shipping two pucks…and they don’t say if they include a capsule.
Baypreciousmetals (they seem to only sell on ebay), usually have one of the lowest pre-sale prices and they include a capsule. They haven’t listed the TR puck yet…it is kinda early for pre-sales as the AP’s can’t even order until around August 29.
Steve says
Zaz, I didn’t see your post before I sent mine…their shipping charges vary….you have to put in your zip code to get a shipping cost…so I must live farther away
Goat says
Watching the video that MT posted at AUGUST 4, 2016 AT 1:31 PM . All coins were double pressed except the one at .30-.35 time. You can hear the press make only one noise.
Keep Calm & Stack On! says
Gift Certificates were available this morning after a hiatus since the 26th, and now they are Not
That website is the most bizarre thing I’ve ever seen. The mint must have been hacked good.
D Rittenhouse says
The Mint issued a press release today about its upcoming presence at the World’s Fair of Money in Anaheim, CA from August 9 to 13, 2016 (see http://www.usmint.gov/pressroom/?action=press_release&id=1811). According to the release:
Give Me Da Money Plz says
I would sure enjoy all the attention that I would get walking down the street with my free U.S. Mint promotional gift bag.
Great way to get mugged.
DBR says
I’m for sure going to the ANA’s World’s Fair of Money. I live in CA. And I’ve been mugged 3 times in my life by criminals in CA, but I’ve been mugged way more times than that by the IRS.