The public recently got a look at two new Benjamin Franklin commemorative silver dollars.
A ceremonial striking of the coins, which honor the early and later achievements of Franklin, was held Dec. 19 at the U.S. Mint?s Philadelphia facility.
Franklin was a longtime resident of Philadelphia and is buried there in Christ Church Graveyard.
The coins will go on sale Jan. 17, the 300th anniversary of Benjamin Franklin?s birth in 1706.
The $10 surcharge from the sale of each coin will go to the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia for purposes of the Benjamin Franklin Tercentenary Commission.
On hand at the strike ceremony for the limited-edition coins were Rep. Michael Castle, R-Del., U.S. Mint Acting Director David Lebryk and other invited guests.
The Benjamin Franklin Commemorative Coin Program is authorized by Public Law 108-464. The two silver dollar commemorative coin designs will be produced with a mintage limit of 250,000 coins for each design, limiting the total for the program to 500,000 coins.
In conjunction with the minting of the commemoratives, the Philadelphia Mint will also display Franklin coin-related objects and documents.
