Dolly Parton has followed Dolley Madison into the numismatic limelight when she was guest of honor at an April 10 ceremony that set an eaglet that she named ?Liberty? free at Douglas Lake at the foot of the Great Smokey Mountains near Dandridge, Tenn.
The country singer and entertainer is a supporter of the American Eagle Foundation. She joined its president, Al Cecere, and the U.S. Mint?s associate director of sales and marketing, Gloria Eskridge, at a special ceremony to return the bird to the wild.
Parton gave the eaglet its name. ?Why don?t we name it Liberty since we?re talking about the coins and patriotic things??
The Mint is selling clad half dollars, silver dollars and $5 gold pieces to mark the 35th anniversary of the Endangered Species Act of 1973. Surcharge income from each coin sold is going to support the foundation.
?We are proud to be part of this historic day and the creation of these beautiful commemorative coins that further the recovery efforts of our nation?s symbol of freedom,? said Eskridge.
