The Louis Braille Commemorative Silver Dollar

BillJones

I recently received this piece as part of my most recent mint order which included the Lincoln Chronicles set. I have read some negative comments about the design of this piece, but I think that this is an attractive coin. It’s certainly better than some past commemorative silver dollars including the Little Rock, Arkansas and the Special Olympics coins. I also prefer the reverse to the Lincoln dollar which is filled with words.

At any rate the surcharge will be going toward a very worthy cause, the teaching of Braille to blind children. Last Tuesday a blind man (his description) addressed our local coin club about this issue. Only 10% of the blind children now know how to read in Braille. As he pointed out if the literacy rate among sighted children was only 10% there would be a national outcry.

The reason that this is happening is that many teachers of the blind don’t teach Braille and don’t even know it themselves. The surcharges from the sale of these coins will be used to fund projects to teach Braille.

I have good vision with glasses, and I’m not getting anything out of the sale of these coins. I just think that this is a worthy cause, and that collectors should consider purchasing one of these coins.

RYK

I have good vision with glasses, and I'm not getting anything out of the sale of these coins. I just think that this is a worthy cause, and that collectors should consider purchasing one of these coins.

I agree completely and purchased one to support a good cause. Not every coin purchase from the Mint is about flipping for an obscene profit.

ClosedLoop

I just recieved my braille education set and I think it's a winner. I like the way the mint raised all features of braille's face on the cover so the blind can see what he looked like.
yes, the coin is uncirculated which you can see through the back of the box but all in all nicely packaged. 25,000 units total this could be a sleeper.

BTW, I would sacrifice this set for the ASE-W series JMO.

kaz

Good post, Bill. your image looks much, much better than the other photos I have seen, which make him sort of goggle-eyed. I believe I will order one also, that is a very worthwhile cause.

ocon4008

Ordered mine awhile ago; I am still waiting for delivery. I read about this on the mint web site when I ordered my Lincoln set, and it is even a more limited edition with only a 25K production run. The bonus is where the proceeds are going to be spent; so I ordered the uncirculated coin as well.

bigmarty58

Bill,

I agree, a very good cause for sure. I purchased one Braille Education Set and one uncirculated and proof silver dollar. I too think that the design is quite unique.

Robert

08HALA20

I ordered 2 education sets.

It is a very good cause.

I couldn't imagine going through life blind.

Joe

Ciccio

I bought one when it come out earlier this year. Love the design, the cause and the fact that it is the first "readable" braille coin ever minted by the US Mint.
The braille writing also appears in a couple of statehood quarter but it is not "readable".

Whatever helps a good cause, it must be considered a winner!

sebrown

I ordered two Braille Education Sets as well. Some good points made here and a great cause indeed.

GritsMan

I actually went to the Mint kiosk in Union Station last week to buy one of the uncs, but all they had were the proofs. I'll probably pick up one from the website. I think the design is just so-so, but it's a neat idea. I'm surprised braille features haven't been included in a lot more of our money.