Celebrating the Anniversary of Benjamin Franklin’s Birth
Of all the “Founding Fathers,” Franklin is the only one to have signed all four of some of America’s most important documents: the Declaration of Independence, the Treaty of Alliance with France, the Treaty of Paris, which ended the Revolutionary War, and the United States Constitution. The United States Congress approved two commemorative 2006 Benjamin Franklin Tercentenary Silver Dollars for the event. One would depict him as the “Scientist” and as the “Founding Father”.
2006 Benjamin Franklin “Scientist” Silver Dollar
The obverse was designed by Norman E. Nemeth. It depicts a younger Benjamin Franklin flying a kite with a key attached, symbolizing his early experiments with electricity and his attempt to harness lightning. Around the upper periphery are “LIBERTY” and “1706 – 2006.” To the right of the figure, the text reads “BENJAMIN – FRANKLIN – SCIENTIST” in three lines. To the left and below is “IN GOD WE TRUST.”
The reverse was designed by Charles Vickers and depicts one of Franklin’s famous political cartoons of a snake being cut into pieces with the caption “JOIN OR DIE”. This cartoon was created by Benjamin Franklin to encourage colonial unity during the French and Indian War (1754). It was later revived as a symbol of unity during the American Revolution.
Uncirculated and proof versions of the “Scientist” silver dollar were struck at the Philadelphia Mint.
(A 2006-P Benjamin Franklin “Scientist” Silver Dollar, Uncirculated, Obverse [left], Reverse [right].)
(A 2006-P Benjamin Franklin “Scientist” Silver Dollar, Proof, Obverse [left], Reverse [right].)
2006 Benjamin Franklin “Founding Father” Silver Dollar
The obverse of the 2006 Benjamin Franklin “Founding Father” Silver Dollar was designed by Don Everhart and features a portrait of an older Franklin as one of America’s Founding Fathers. In an oval below his portrait, his signature is reproduced. To the right of his face are the dates of his birth and the date of this coin, in two lines: “1706” and “2006.” Below these dates are the words “IN GOD WE TRUST” and around the periphery are the words “BENJAMIN FRANKLIN TERCENTENARY” and “LIBERTY.”
The reverse was designed by Donna Weaver, and it depicts a Continental Currency Dollar that Franklin designed and intended for use in the fledgling country. Around the periphery of the entire coin is “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,” “E PLURIBUS UNUM,” and the denomination “ONE DOLLAR.”
These silver dollars were struck in proof and uncirculated versions at the Philadelphia Mint.
(A 2006-P Benjamin Franklin “Founding Father” Silver Dollar, Uncirculated, Obverse [left], Reverse [right].)
(A 2006-P Benjamin Franklin “Founding Father” Silver Dollar, Proof, Obverse [left], Reverse [right].)
Distribution Details of Both Coins
The legislation authorized up to 500,000 silver dollars in total, with no more than 250,000 struck for each design. In addition to selling the coins individually, the uncirculated version of the “Scientist” coin was included in the Coin & Chronicles Set, which included U.S. Postage stamps of Franklin. Alongside the coins and stamps, this set includes an intaglio print from the Bureau of Engraving and Printing that honors Franklin’s role in signing the Declaration of Independence, plus a reproduction of his Poor Richard’s Almanack printed by the U.S. Government Publishing Office. The proof version of the “Founding Father” coin was included in the 2006 American Legacy set. Each of these special sets was limited to a production of not more than 50,000 units.
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