Press Release
June 12, 1972
At White House ceremonies this afternoon, Tricia Nixon Cox received the first copy of the U.S. Mint’s newest publication, titled “Our American Coins,” Mrs. Mary Brooks, Director of the Mint, announced today.
Mrs. Brooks, members of the Washington Youth Numismatic Club and other young people, aged 6 to 16, attended the presentation.
“Our American Coins” is a 24-page illustrated booklet about coins currently in circulation and was written in response to the phenomenal growth of interest by young people in learning more about the historical, cultural and artistic value of coins.
Prepared as a teaching tool for the United States Mint’s Youth Education Program for youngsters aged 6 to 16, the easy-to-read text and accompanying pictures serve as an introduction to United States coinage.
The need to create a national coinage soon after the birth of the Republic and the origin of the symbols and mottos appearing on our coins are explained in the beginning pages. Brief biographies of the six Presidents appearing on the front of the one-cent piece through the new dollar coin follow and contain descriptions of each reverse and data on the sculptor-engraver who executed the designs.
The Bureau of the Mint, an agency of the Department of the Treasury, produces the nation’s coinage and strikes the national medals. When the Mint’s Youth Education program was launched in 1971, bronze miniatures of the 3″ official Presidential medal series were struck to sell for a price affordable by young people and to encourage their interest in medals and coins and the history surrounding them.
“Our American Coins,” at 25¢ a copy, and the bronze miniature Presidential medals, at 50¢ each, are available over-the-counter at the Philadelphia and Denver Mints, the United States Assay Office in
San Francisco (50 Fell Street) and at the Exhibit Hall in the Department of the Treasury, Washington, D. C.
The miniature Presidential medals are also available by mail order at 60¢ each from the Philadelphia Mint, Philadelphia, Pa., 19106, and “Our American Coins” by mail order from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402 (Stock No. 4805-0011) at 25¢ a copy.