Seventy-five years ago, the complexion of the United States was dramatically different. No one stayed inside. Restaurants and bars were packed. Hugging everyone, even strangers, was almost commonplace because, after five long years of World War II, the nightmare was ending.
Germany had surrendered in May 1945. By late summer, Japan was about to capitulate. On August 2, 800 US bombers dropped 6,000 tons of incendiary bombs on Japan. Days later, the Enola Gay dropped the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima. Another over Nagasaki followed. Emperor Hirohito then announced Japan was surrendering unconditionally. Celebrations in America were unbridled.
Most countries have traditions of celebrating events such as that on their anniversaries. 10 years, 25, 50, 75 and 100 years are especially noteworthy.
As I wrote a few weeks ago, the US Mint is issuing gold and silver coins in 2020 with special engravings marking this 75th anniversary of the end of World War II. For commemorative coins to be issued it takes an act of Congress to approve them. That’s no easy thing to get. On top of that, for the WWII victory gold coin, only 1,945 are being minted. Their value is guaranteed to soar for those who are fortunate (and quick) enough to order them.
Rules for the Postal Service are different. They have much more latitude in the issuance of stamps. That’s one reason why so many stamps are issued annually versus coins. Some subjects are significant enough to even have an entire set of multiple designs printed on stamps in their honor.
You’d think the 75th anniversary of end of WWII would more than qualify for at least one if not an entire sheet of stamps. Evidently not. As of now, none are slated to be released. Not so for Bugs Bunny. This year is the 80th anniversary of the creation of the cartoon character. For that he’s getting a full sheet of “Forever” stamps with 10 different designs issued to celebrate him....
Granted, one of those stamps depicts the cartoon rabbit as a soldier. Maybe that’s the one honoring those who fought in WWII. I hope not. Considering only a handful of veterans from that war remain alive today to see such an honor, they deserve better. So do collectors.
On the flip side, the Mint has announced the long-awaited details surrounding a commemorative silver dollar saluting the 60th anniversary of the Basketball Hall Of Fame. This was scheduled to be the very first colorized coin produced in the US. Happily, it scores.
For years, other countries have produced coins with colorization added to enhance the designs. Canada was one of the early practitioners. On a number of their silver coins color and even holograms were added to the images. Collectors met them with skepticism. Many Canadian colorized coins were so over-the-top they sometimes had the appearance of carnival tokens.
In addition, private independent companies have added bright enamel coloring to previously issued US coins. The Kennedy half dollar is a favorite along with Morgan silver dollars from the early 1900s and Walking Liberty half dollars from the 1940s. Those coins are chosen because they have been long out of circulation. People assume they are more valuable than current familiar coins.
Given how garish many of these colorized coins have been, collectors have been understandably wary in expectation of the one for basketball. Fortunately, those fears have been put to rest.
Instead of massive colorization, the Mint very wisely added only three very discreet colors – orange for the hoop rim; white for the net; and black for the channels in the ball itself. The rest of the design remains untouched. The result is a subtle and tasteful variation on standard silver coinage.
Only 75,000 of the Basketball coins are being produced with a household purchase limit of just two. The cost for the coin in a display box is $95 plus shipping. For more information on the coin and the release date, log onto www.USMint.gov.
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