With sports being put on the backburner like everything else during these difficult times, it is safe to say that the world misses them. One of the biggest sporting events to take place during the year was canceled completely in March which hurt players, coaches, and fans alike: March Madness. With the beginning of tournament play all through March right up until the Final Four and eventually the Championship at the beginning of April, fans and numismatists also missed out on the release of the Basketball Hall of Fame Commemorative Coin series that was created in anticipation of the 60th Anniversary of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
Set to originally release on Saturday, April 4th, the series was intentionally scheduled to coincide with the Final Four of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament. Due to COVID-19 restrictions and the onslaught of the global pandemic, the United States Mint pushed the release until mid-April before finally putting it and the rest of the 2020 Production Schedule on a “TBD” status. Up until a couple of weeks ago, their release was still pending until they finally were about to set the official release date for exactly two months later on June 4th. While the coins are now far removed from the tournament, they are a welcome product considering the United States Mint has not been able to release very many new items since the beginning of March. Collectors and dealers may be ready to get their hands on something new.
While we have taken the time to outline the series and their releases in detail before, we wanted to share that information once again in eagerness for the early June release.
The obverse design depicts the hands-on action of the game, featuring a scene that displays a struggle for the possession of the ball and the determination and skill it takes to overcome the opponent. The three players on the design are representative of the diverse people around the world who are brought together by a sport like basketball. The design of the arms of the players is “intentionally elongated, just slightly,” to display the physical and mental requirements needed to be successful in the game. Other than the primary figures, there is a rim and net displayed in the background as the inscriptions “LIBERTY,” “IN GOD WE TRUST,” and “2020” can be seen around the upper and side curve of the coin’s rim.
The reverse design features a basketball on its way through a net with “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,” “E PLURIBUS UNUM,” and “HALF DOLLAR” or "ONE DOLLAR" or "FIVE DOLLARS" featured along the top portion of the outer edge of the coin.
Basketball Hall of Fame 2020 Enhanced Uncirculated Clad Half Dollar Kids Set
Following suit to some of the Mint’s releases last year like the Rocketship Set and the Explore and Discover Set, there will be a set focusing on young collectors. The limited-edition set will feature a curved Basketball Hall of Fame Half Dollar in an Enhanced Uncirculated condition that will only be available in this particular set. If we have learned anything from the past, that half dollar commemorative will be highly collectible because of its limited nature in the set. Mighty Minters will be featured inside as a basketball quiz will be available to express how the sport has changed over the years alongside its history. Enhanced Uncirculated coins have a “brighter sheen than a standard uncirculated coin but not the full mirror-like appearance of a proof coin” according to the Mint.
$5 for each set sold are authorized to be paid to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame to help contribute to a fund that will help increase its operations as well as its educational programming. Only 75,000 sets will be minted and released with a household limit of 5.
Basketball Hall of Fame 2020 Proof/Uncirculated $5 Gold Coin
Both the Proof and Uncirculated $5 Gold Coins have a limited mintage of 50,000 across all products. The gold coins are minted at West Point and are struck in 90% gold. Surcharges for both the Proof and Uncirculated versions of the $5 Gold Coin will have a surcharge of $35 that has been authorized to be paid into a fund for the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
Basketball Hall of Fame 2020 Proof/Uncirculated Clad Half Dollar
With a limited mintage of 750,000 across all products, the Proof coin will be minted at San Francisco while the Uncirculated version will be produced at Denver. Accompanied by Certificates of Authenticity, a surcharge of $5 for both versions of the Clad Half Dollar commemoratives have been authorized to contribute to the fund for the Hall of Fame.
Basketball Hall of Fame Proof/Uncirculated Silver Dollar
Comprised of 99% silver, both Proof and Uncirculated Silver Dollars are limited to 400,000 across all products and are minted at Philadelphia. A surcharge of $10 per sale of this coin has been authorized to help the fund for the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.