March and April looked completely different this year. Normally at this point in April, we would have just got through watching some of the best college basketball games to date and everyone would be talking about the new champion of the NCAA Men’s College Basketball Tournament. While that is not our reality, we did want to continue to clue you in on the United States Mint’s pending schedule of products that were set to release on the Final Four, or April 4th originally. Plans have changed due to obvious reasons but we still wanted to dive into the Basketball Hall of Fame Commemorative Coin Series that celebrates the 60th Anniversary of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
The series has now been halted and added to the “TBD”, or To Be Determined, list of products on the Mint’s schedule. The original date, while odd as it fell on a Saturday, coincided with the “Final Four” start date for the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament. A couple of weeks ago it was moved to April 9th before ultimately being downgraded to unknown at this time.
While we are unsure when these coins will be released at this time, we wanted to give you some more information on what these coins are as there will be seven different releases featuring different strikes and different compositions. All of the coins have the same obverse and reverse designs but their inscriptions are specific to the product.
The obverse design depicts the hands-on action of the game, featuring a scene that displays a struggle for the possession of the ball and the determination and skill it takes to overcome the opponent. The three players on the design are representative of the diverse people around the world who are brought together by a sport like basketball. The design of the arms of the players is “intentionally elongated, just slightly,” to display the physical and mental requirements needed to be successful in the game. Other than the primary figures, there is a rim and net displayed in the background as the inscriptions “LIBERTY,” “IN GOD WE TRUST,” and “2020” can be seen around the upper and side curve of the coin’s rim.
The reverse design features a basketball on its way through a net with “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,” “E PLURIBUS UNUM,” and “HALF DOLLAR” featured along the top portion of the outer edge of the coin.
Basketball Hall of Fame 2020 Enhanced Uncirculated Clad Half Dollar Kids Set
Following suit to some of the Mint’s releases last year like the Rocketship Set and the Explore and Discover Set, there will be a set focusing on young collectors. The limited-edition set will feature a curved Basketball Hall of Fame Half Dollar in an Enhanced Uncirculated condition that will only be available in this particular set. If we have learned anything from the past, that half dollar commemorative will be highly collectible because of its limited nature in the set. Mighty Minters will be featured inside as a basketball quiz will be available to express how the sport has changed over the years alongside its history. Enhanced Uncirculated coins have a “brighter sheen than a standard uncirculated coin but not the full mirror-like appearance of a proof coin” according to the Mint.
$5 for each set sold are authorized to be paid to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame to help contribute to a fund that will help increase its operations as well as its educational programming. Only 75,000 sets will be minted and released with a household limit of 5.
Basketball Hall of Fame 2020 Proof/Uncirculated $5 Gold Coin
Both the Proof and Uncirculated $5 Gold Coins have a limited mintage of 50,000 across all products. The gold coins are minted at West Point and are struck in 90% gold. Surcharges for both the Proof and Uncirculated versions of the $5 Gold Coin will have a surcharge of $35 that has been authorized to be paid into a fund for the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
Basketball Hall of Fame 2020 Proof/Uncirculated Clad Half Dollar
With a limited mintage of 750,000 across all products, the Proof coin will be minted at San Francisco while the Uncirculated version will be produced at Denver. Accompanied by Certificates of Authenticity, a surcharge of $5 for both versions of the Clad Half Dollar commemoratives have been authorized to contribute to the fund for the Hall of Fame.
Basketball Hall of Fame Proof/Uncirculated Silver Dollar
Comprised of 99% silver, both Proof and Uncirculated Silver Dollars are limited to 400,000 across all products and are minted at Philadelphia. A surcharge of $10 per sale of this coin has been authorized to help the fund for the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
