2000 Library of Congress bimetallic ten dollar coin
Encyclopedia
The 2000 Library of Congress bimetallic ten dollar coin is a modern U.S. commemorative coin
issued in a ten dollar
denomination. It is the first gold
and platinum
bimetallic coin to be issued by the United States Mint
. It was issued in proof
and business strike qualities.
The issue price was $425 for the proof version and $405 for the uncirculated (business strike) version.
, the Goddess of Wisdom, raising the torch of learning aside the dome of the Thomas Jefferson Building
. The coin's reverse is marked with the Library of Congress
seal encircled by a laurel wreath, symbolizing its national accomplishment.
U.S. Mint Facility: West Point, NY
Public Law: 105-268
Modern United States commemorative coins
The United States resumed minting commemorative coins in 1982 for the 250th anniversary of the birth of George Washington. Modern commemoratives tend to be restricted to events, buildings and personalities of national or international importance...
issued in a ten dollar
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
denomination. It is the first gold
Gold
Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au and an atomic number of 79. Gold is a dense, soft, shiny, malleable and ductile metal. Pure gold has a bright yellow color and luster traditionally considered attractive, which it maintains without oxidizing in air or water. Chemically, gold is a...
and platinum
Platinum
Platinum is a chemical element with the chemical symbol Pt and an atomic number of 78. Its name is derived from the Spanish term platina del Pinto, which is literally translated into "little silver of the Pinto River." It is a dense, malleable, ductile, precious, gray-white transition metal...
bimetallic coin to be issued by the United States Mint
United States Mint
The United States Mint primarily produces circulating coinage for the United States to conduct its trade and commerce. The Mint was created by Congress with the Coinage Act of 1792, and placed within the Department of State...
. It was issued in proof
Proof coinage
Proof coinage means special early samples of a coin issue, historically made for checking the dies and for archival purposes, but nowadays often struck in greater numbers specially for coin collectors . Many countries now issue them....
and business strike qualities.
The issue price was $425 for the proof version and $405 for the uncirculated (business strike) version.
Design
The bimetallic coin design was inspired by the graceful architecture of the library's Jefferson Building. The outer ring is stamped from a sheet of gold, then a solid core of platinum is placed within the ring. Then, the gold ring and platinum core are simultaneously stamped forming an annular bead where the two precious metals meet. The obverse depicts the hand of MinervaMinerva
Minerva was the Roman goddess whom Romans from the 2nd century BC onwards equated with the Greek goddess Athena. She was the virgin goddess of poetry, medicine, wisdom, commerce, weaving, crafts, magic...
, the Goddess of Wisdom, raising the torch of learning aside the dome of the Thomas Jefferson Building
Thomas Jefferson Building
The oldest of the three United States Library of Congress buildings, the Thomas Jefferson Building was built between 1890 and 1897. It is known for its classicizing facade and elaborately decorated interior. John L. Smithmeyer and Paul J...
. The coin's reverse is marked with the Library of Congress
Library of Congress
The Library of Congress is the research library of the United States Congress, de facto national library of the United States, and the oldest federal cultural institution in the United States. Located in three buildings in Washington, D.C., it is the largest library in the world by shelf space and...
seal encircled by a laurel wreath, symbolizing its national accomplishment.
Specifications
Mintage (max.): 200,000 (all options). The final mintages were 6,683 uncirculated, and 27,652 proof.U.S. Mint Facility: West Point, NY
West Point Mint
The West Point Mint Facility was erected in 1937 near the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, New York. Originally it was called the West Point Bullion Depository. At one point it had the highest concentration of silver of any U.S. mint facility, and for 35 years produced circulating pennies...
Public Law: 105-268