Julius Irving helps usher in new Basketball HOF coin from U.S. Mint

PHILADELPHIA – In the city where Julius Irving made his mark on the NBA, the United States Mint announced the introduction of a commemorative coin honoring the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, including the mint’s first colorized coins.

Basketball Hall of Famers Irving, a.k.a. Dr. J, the Philadelphia 76ers star who many consider as one of the most talented players in the history of the NBA, and Sheryl Swoopes, a four-time WNBA champion and three-time MVP with the Houston Comets, were on hand at the ceremonial striking of the 2020 Basketball Hall of Game Silver Dollar Coin.

“Every day across the nation, the United States Mint connects Americans through coins, and it is our great privilege to connect America to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame,” U.S. Mint director David J. Ryder said.

“The most unique feature of these coins is that they will be the first-ever colorized coins produced by the United States Mint. Coins with proof and uncirculated finishes will go on sale April 4th, and the colorized versions of the silver and clad coins will go on sale at a later date.”

Other event participants included Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame President John Doleva and Massachusetts Congressman Richard Neal, sponsor of the legislation authorizing the Basketball Hall of Fame Commemorative Coin Program.

The silver dollar is one of three coins in the 2020 Basketball Hall of Fame Commemorative Coin Program. The Mint will also produce a five-dollar gold coin and a half-dollar clad coin as authorized by Public Law 115-343 in recognition of the 60th anniversary of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

All three coins will be dome-shaped and will feature common obverse (heads) and reverse (tails) designs. The common obverse design features three players reaching for the ball in unison, reflecting how the sport of basketball has brought together diverse people around the world through a simple, universal, and unifying athletic experience. Their arms are slightly elongated to emphasize the full exertion of physical and mental energy required to excel in this sport. The rim and net are subtle background design elements complementing the three players. Inscriptions are “LIBERTY,” “IN GOD WE TRUST,” and “2020.”

The common reverse design depicts a basketball about to pass through the net, with the inscriptions of “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” and “E PLURIBUS UNUM.” Additional inscriptions include “FIVE DOLLARS” on the gold coin, “ONE DOLLAR” on the silver dollar, and “HALF DOLLAR” on the clad coin.

Mint Artistic Infusion Program (AIP) artist Justin Kunz created the obverse design, which was selected from a public competition as required by the authorizing legislation. The common reverse design is by AIP artist Donna Weaver.

The Mint will produce and issue up to 50,000 $5 gold coins, 400,000 $1 silver coins, and 750,000 half–dollar clad coins. Surcharges collected from coin sales—$35 for each gold coin, $10 for each silver coin, and $5 for each half–dollar coin—are authorized to be paid to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame to fund an endowment that will enable increased operations and educational programming.