Q. David Bowers
(10) Three-coin Uncirculated set containing the 1989-D half dollar, 1989-D sil-ver dollar, and 1989-W $5 gold. Pre-issue price (through July 17, 1989) $205, regular price $225. Sets were packaged in a ve1vetlined box. Sales amounted to 15,940 sets through this option.
(11) Six-coin Proof and Uncirculated set containing the 1989-D Uncirculated half dollar, 1989-S Proof half dollar, 1989-D Uncirculated silver dollar, 1989-S Proof silver dollar, and Uncirculated and Proof examples of the 1989-W $5 gold. Pre-issue price (through July 17, 1989) $435, regular price $480. Sets were packaged in a cherry wood box. Sales amounted to 24,967 sets through this option.
(12) Prestige Proof set containing the regular 1989 Proof coins plus the 1989-S Congress Bicentennial half dollar and 1989-S Congress Bicentennial silver dollar. Pre-issue price (through July 17, 1989) $49, regular issue price, $52. Each set was mounted in a brown plastic holder with hinged covers of brown suede with a plaque of the Great Seal mounted on the front cover. The holder and a descriptive card were housed in a brown cardboard box imprinted with the Great Seal. Sales amounted to 211,087 sets through this option.
A "Mint" at the Capitol in Washington
To launch the Congress Bicentennial coins, presses from the Philadelphia Mint were set up on the Capitol grounds in Washington, thus creating a temporary "Washington Mint," a curious footnote in numismatic history. Burnett Anderson, a frequent observer at first-strike ceremonies, filed this report with Numismatic Neuis.(Transcript of original manuscript sent to Numismatic News, June 14, 1989. This ceremony was made possible by special legislation, Public Law 101-36, June 9, 1989. The law was ambiguous (to the present author's eyes) on the question of mintmarks: "Such coins shall bear the mintmark of the mint facility which is designated to strike the coins." The law in question stated: "A first strike ceremony may be conducted at the United States Capitol and on the Capitol Grounds to strike coins authorized by the Bicentennial of the United States Congress Commemorative Coin Act." By one interpretation, the coins should have had a C (for Capitol) or some other special mintmark!)
"On Wednesday, June 14, 1989, members of Congress personally did for the first time what the Constitution authorized them to do 200 years ago: they coined money. At a gala ceremony at the east front of the Capitol, leaders of the House and Senate stepped forward to strike specimens of the 1989 Congress Bicentennial $5 gold piece and silver dollar following the traditional first strike by Nicholas F. Brady, secretary of the Treasury.
"Packed into two reserved sections of seating in a huge tent-measuring 142 by 81 feet-were other members of Congress, of whom no less than 194 had accepted invitations to attend. The backdrop was a riot of color, a bank of 50 U.S. flags behind huge representations of the commemorative coins, measuring 10 feet or more in diameter. Bright red carpeting covered the two-level podium, contrasting with four seven-ton coin presses, freshly painted in a soft blue, arranged two at either end. A Marine Corps orchestra played patriotic music as the crowd assembled. The invited guests had an opportunity to see a rare concentration of the power structure of both houses of Congress, as they filed in only four minutes after the appointed starting time of 10:30 a.m. Among them, newly elected House Speaker Thomas Foley drew particular attention. He had excused himself briefly from a critical caucus where the other new members of the House Democratic leadership were being chosen.
"Mint Director Donna Pope led off the program with introductions of the officials seated on the upper level of the podium and some preliminary remarks emphasizing the historic nature of the occasion. She and others pointed out that the coin striking ceremony not only reflected history, it made history itself as the first time U.S. coins have ever been struck outside the Mint- 'in the front yard of the Capitol.'
"'The coin program we are about to christen will provide funds for the restoration of one of the most recognized buildings in the world-our Capitol which, of course, includes the Statue of Freedom, she said. The program is expected to realize $22 million in surcharges, she added. U.S. Treasurer Katherine D. Ortega followed Mrs. Pope at the microphone and presented the three designers of the coins: John Mercanti of the Philadelphia Mint; William Woodward, a Washington area artist; and Patricia Lewis Verani of New Hampshire. Sen. Robert C. Byrd, president pro tern and chairman of the Senate's Bicentennial Commission, said that 'if the U.S. has one tangible, visible symbol, it is our Capitol. Two hundred years ago Pierre L'Enfant, architect of the city of Washing-ton, described this hill as a pedestal waiting for a monument.' He traced the long history of construction of the Capitol, calling it a 'unifying symbol,' and concluded 'like the Capitol, our form of government has endured.'
"Rep. Lindy Boggs, chairwoman of the Bicentennial Commission of the House, referred to the Constitution's grant of authority to Congress to coin money, pointing out that it had been delegated from the beginning to the executive branch. Treasury Secretary Brady emphasized the importance of preserving and restoring the Capitol building, which, he said, contains more than 800 works of art. Income from surcharges on the coins up to $20 million will be used for that purpose. The U.S. is the first country in all history to celebrate 200 years of democracy, he said, and the Capitol is 'the greatest active symbol of freedom ever built.'
"At precisely 11:11 a.m. Brady pressed the button activating the gold coin press, and shortly held up the first Congress Bicentennial commemorative gold piece to a mass of still and video photographers. He then moved to the opposite end of the podium to strike the first silver dollar. However, the press jammed, and it was necessary to use the back-up press beside it. As he held up the brilliant coin, Mrs. Pope commented: 'This was bound to happen sooner or later. Now you know why we have four presses.' Treasury Secretary Brady commented to her, 'The Treasury is always ready for any emergency.' She also called attention to the fact that the Proof gold coin required only two strikes of the press, whereas the larger silver piece was struck three times.
"Sen. Byrd then struck a gold piece, and Rep. Boggs a silverpiece. In each instance, representatives struck the silver coin which features a representation of the House Mace on the reverse, and senators the gold coin, the reverse of which has an eagle design taken from one in the old Senate chamber. Secretary Brady drew a laugh when he appeared to drop his gold coin when he posed with Byrd and Boggs for a special photograph. Senate Minority Leader Robert Dole roused even louder laughter when, after striking his coin, he immediately put it in his pocket, before placing it in the appropriate tray.
"House Minority Leader Robert H. Michel followed with a strike of the silver dollar, proclaiming it a fine specimen. Also present was Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell, but like Rep. Foley he was forced to leave before striking a coin. Next to strike a silver coin was Rep. Dante Fascell, author of the commemorative coin bill. He was followed by Sen. Jake Gam, with a gold coin. Then Rep. Frank Annunzio, former chairman of the House Subcommittee on Consumer Affairs and Coinage, struck a silver dollar and was followed in turn by Richard Lehman, his successor in the chairmanship. The final silver strike for this part of the program was struck by Rep. John Hiler, ranking minority member of the House Coinage Subcommittee, and the final gold strike by Mrs. Pope.
"At this point, Mrs. Pope announced that Dr. Andrew Cosgarea, associate director of the Mint for production, was on the telephone to West Point and San Francisco directing the mints to begin production of the coins. Marketing had already begun. Most customers on the Mint mailing list had already received the pre-discount offer, and some daily newspapers of June 14 carried a full-page advertisement for the new coins under the headline, 'Proclaiming the Triumph of Democracy.'