Q. David Bowers
Minting and Distribution
Mount Rushmore anniversary half dollars and other coins were first distributed in spring 1991, with production taking place at the Denver and San Francisco mints. A $2.5 million contract for marketing of the Mount Rushmore coins of all denominations was awarded to Kobs & Draft Advertising, Inc., (direct marketing) and to Edelman Public Relations World-wide (publicity).
Ceremonies for the display and presentation of the first coins were held at Ford's Theatre, Washington, D.C., on February 15, 1991, with many dignitaries in attendance including U.S. Treasurer Catalina Vasquez Villalpando, Mint Director Donna Pope, Deputy Secretary of the Treasury John E. Robson, South Dakota Representative in Congress Tim Johnson, and Carolyn J. Mollers (president of the Mount Rushmore National Memorial Society). On the same day the marketing program was launched. Advertisements and brochures gave these ordering possibilities for the various denominations (the entire program is delineated here; half dollars as well as other coins). Discounts were given for orders postmarked no later than March 28, 1991: (An advertisement for the coins in USA Today, February 15, 1991, noted: "The Mint reserves the right to limit quantities and may discontinue accepting orders, should bullion prices increase significantly. We expect deliveries to begin in April and extend for several months.")
(1) Single Uncirculated 1991-D Mount Rushmore half dollar: $6 pre-issue discount price (effective through March 28, 1991); regular price $7. Mounted in Mylar envelope on a plain gray velvet tray within a gray cardboard gift box imprinted in silver "United States Mint" on one side of the bottom and with the Great Seal and the silver imprint "United States Mount Rushmore Anniversary Coin" on the lid.
(2) Single Proof 1991-S Mount Rushmore half dollar: $8.50 pre-issue discount price (through March 28, 1991); regular price $9.50. Mounted in a protective plastic capsule on a gray velvet tray within a gray cardboard gift box imprinted in silver "United States Mint" on one side of the bottom and with the Great Seal and the silver imprint "United States Mount Rushmore Anniversary Coin" on the lid.
(2) Single Proof 1991-S Mount Rushmore half dollar: $8.50 pre-issue discount price (through March 28, 1991); regular price $9.50. Mounted in a protective plastic capsule on a gray velvet tray within a gray cardboard gift box imprinted in silver "United States Mint" on one side of the bottom and with the Great Seal and the silver imprint "United States Mount Rushmore Anniversary Coin" on the lid.
(3) Single Uncirculated 1991-P Mount Rushmore silver dollar: $23 pre-issue discount price (through March 28, 1991); regular price $26. Mounted in a protective plastic capsule on a gray velvet tray within a gray cardboard gift box imprinted in silver "United States Mint" on one side of the bottom and with the Great Seal and the silver imprint "United States Mount Rushmore Anniversary Coin" on the lid.
(4) Single Proof 1991-S Mount Rushmore silver dollar: $ 28 pre-issue discount price (through March 28, 1991); regular price $31. Mounted in a protective plastic capsule on a gray velvet tray within a gray gift box with hinged lid (on top of which is a silver-colored plaque of the Great Seal; on the underside is a silver imprint of the Great Seal and the inscription "United States Mount Rushmore Anniversary Coin"), all within a cardboard box imprinted in silver "United States Mint" on one side of the bottom and with the Great Seal and the silver imprint "United States Mount Rushmore Anniversary Coins [sic; plural]" on the lid, this enclosed in a cardboard sleeve imprinted the same as the cardboard box lid.
(5) Single Uncirculated 1991-W Mount Rushmore $5 gold coin: pre-issue discount price (through March 28, 1991) $185; regular price $210. Mounted in a protective plastic capsule on a gray velvet tray within a gray gift box with hinged lid (on top of which is a gold-colored plaque of the Great Seal; on the underside is a gold imprint of the Great Seal and the inscription "United States Mount Rushmore Anniversary Coins"), all within a cardboard box imprinted in gold "United States Mint" on one side of the bottom and with the Great Seal and the gold imprint "United States Mount Rushmore Anniversary Coins [sic; plural]" on the lid, this enclosed in a cardboard sleeve imprinted the same as the cardboard box lid.
(6) Single Proof 1991-W Mount Rushmore $5 gold coin: pre-issue discount price (through March 28, 1991) $195; regular price $225. Mounted Similarly to Option 5.
(7) Two-coin Uncirculated set containing the 1991-D Mount Rushmore half dollar and 1991-P Mount Rushmore silver dollar: $27 pre-issue discount price (through March 28, 1991); regular price $30. Mounted in protective plastic capsules on a gray velvet tray (on which is a silver colored Great Seal plaque) within a gray cardboard box with "United States Mint" imprinted in silver on one side of the bottom and with the Great Seal and the silver imprint "United States Mount Rushmore Anniversary Coins" on the lid.
(8) Three-coin Uncirculated set containing the 1991-D Mount Rushmore half dollar, 1991-P Mount Rushmore silver dollar, and the 1991-W Mount Rushmore $5 gold coin: $210 pre-issue discount price (through March 28, 1991); regular price $235. Mounted in protective plastic capsules on a gray velvet tray within a gray gift box with hinged lid (on top of which is a gold-colored plaque of the Great Seal; on the underside is a gold imprint of the Great Seal and the inscription "United States Mount Rushmore Anniversary Coins"), all within a cardboard box imprinted in gold "United States Mint" on one side of the bottom and with the Great Seal and the gold imprint "United States Mount Rushmore Anniversary Coins" on the lid, this enclosed in a cardboard sleeve im-printed the same as the cardboard box lid.
(9) Two-coin Proof set containing the 1991-S Mount Rushmore half dollar and silver dollar: $35 pre-issue discount price (through March 28, 1991); regular price $38. Mounted in protective plastic capsules on a gray velvet tray within a gray gift box with hinged lid (on top of which is a silver-colored plaque of the Great Seal; on the underside is a silver imprint of the Great Seal and the inscription "United States Mount Rushmore Anniversary Coins"), all within a cardboard box imprinted in silver "United States Mint" on one side of the bottom and with the Great Seal and the silver imprint "United States Mount Rushmore Anniversary Coins" on the lid, this enclosed in a cardboard sleeve im-printed the same as the cardboard box lid.
(10) Three-coin Proof set containing the 1991-S Mount Rushmore half dollar and 1991-P Mount Rushmore silver dollar and 1991-W Mount Rushmore $5 gold coin: $225 pre-issue discount price (through March 28, 1991); regular price $255. Mounted in protective plastic capsules on a gray velvet tray within a gray gift box with hinged lid (on top of which is a gold-colored plaque of the Great Seal; on the underside is a gold imprint of the Great Seal and the inscription "United States Mount Rushmore Anniversary Coins"), all within a cardboard box imprinted in gold "United States Mint" on one side of the bottom and with the Great Seal and the gold imprint "United States Mount Rushmore Anniversary Coins" on the lid, this enclosed in a cardboard sleeve imprinted the same as the cardboard box lid.