In early April, we talked about the Basketball Hall of Fame Commemorative Coin program from the United States Mint and how it was affected by everything going on in the world right now. It was one of many product releases pushed to “TBD” on the Mint’s production schedule despite its original April 4th release day that was supposed to fall in line with the Final Four of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship. While there are still a majority of unknowns on their schedule, the Mint was finally able to set a date for the release of the coins.
Exactly two months after its original release date, the Basketball HOF Coins will now look to be released on June 4th. While you can only assume their initial release date would have brought them more attention due to the when, where, and why of their release, the fact that they are able to be released after all the anticipation may prove to help their cause. With one of the only things on the U.S. Mint’s production schedule to have a set date and to be released at all during these unfamiliar times, collectors and dealers may be ready to get their hands on something new. As numismatics and the coin hobby goes though, you never know until it happens and that is especially true going into the summer months.
While we have taken the time to outline the series and their releases in detail before, we wanted to share that information once again in eagerness for the early June release.
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.
