A few days ago I ordered the three-coin set of Yellowstone Park, a part of America the Beautiful series of Quarters.
When I had finished ordering, I was asked if I would rate the U.S. Mint service order desk in Washington, DC which I willing did. I had found that the service to be very good and the staff were very knowldgeable.
But a couple of days later I was invited to attend a dinner to honour someone, and got to the venue a bit too early so I browsed around to while away the time.
It just happened that on that date there was coin exhibition in the very same mall, and I being early, started viewing some coins on a table. I noticed a U.S. HALF DOLLAR coin which took my eye. I asked the dealer the price and found it quite reasonable, so I bought the coin and put it in my jacket.
On arriving home after the dinner, I took out the coin to find out what occasion it was commemorating. To my surprise, it was a special Half Dollar coin issued in 1986 to celebrate the centenniaI of the Statue of Liberty. On the reverse side of the coin was an immigrant family on a pier, and above it was inscribed: "A NATION OF IMMIGRANTS.'
That coin said a lot about the United States of AMERICA, because it showed how the U.S. honoured the immigrants that came to America from all around the world, and helped build their new country. This indeed was a magnanimous gesture on the part of the U.S. government, by honouring those that came to make the U. S. of America a great nation.
As Far as I know no country has taken the route of the U.S. in issuing a coin to so honour the immgrants.
This made me realize that the Director of the U.S. Mint and his staff excell in creating beautiful coins, and that they are both dedicated and knowledgIble.
If I praise the people working at the U.S. Mint, it is because they have truly earned and deserved it.
I have written to Mr. E Bennett, President & CEO of the Royal Canadian Mint about creating uniquely Canadian coins with historical meaning, only to be given lame excuses - if not the cold shoulder. Of course, it may be his immediate staff are from Quebec and do not promote Canadian history and so CANADIAN HISTORY lies in limbo for the present.
Yet, I must give due praise to the Royal British Mint and the Royal Australian Mint for creating historical works of art in their respective coinage series.
It could be that they have pride in their history and as such want it known around the world.
Kenneth T. Tellis
