Director Moy opened the exhibit to the public which consisted of three display cases similar to those seen in the Mint booth at the ANA show in Baltimore this July. The first two display cases contained test UHR strikes at various tonnages, two plaster sculptures of the obverse and reverse of the UHR design:

The third case contained 11 actual, production 2009 Ultra High Relief Gold Double Eagle coins that were among the first to come off the presses.

Director Moy noted that about 29,000 of the coins were ready and that 43,000 had been ordered in the first 8 days.

As a special surprise, Director Moy invited Mint Sculptor-Engraver John Mercanti to the podium and announced his new job title of Chief Engraver of the U.S. Mint. He was greeted by a warm round of applause.

Philly-born John Mercanti is head of engraving at the Mint. Apprenticed here in 1974. As a sculptor-engraver. “I’m actually the last engraver on staff that did steel carving.” Gravers, wood handled tools with hard steel blades are used to cut into hard steel, he explains, showing a rack of about 28 antique tools. Gold, silver carving, too. Bald Eagle print on the wall behind him. (Philly.com)

Director Moy then cut the ribbon.

One of the highlights was that attendees were able to pick up and handle two live UHR coins while under the watchful eye of two Mint Police officers.

It was very exciting to be able to pick up and handle the coin, albeit with cotton gloves on, because I know that I’ll never touch my coin when I get it.

I posted a 15 minute video of Director Moy’s remarks at today’s UHR ceremony at the Philadelphia Mint. It’s available at the following YouTube links (Part 1, Part 2) and is embedded below.

Part 1:

Part 2:

Update: I’ve added photo galleries from the ceremony (29 images) and the tour (33 images).

The new pricing methodology is based primarily on the London Fix weekly average (average of the London Fix prices covering the previous Thursday a.m. Fix through the Wednesday a.m. Fix) platinum and gold prices, which reflect the market value of the platinum and gold bullion that these products contain.

As required by law, the prices of these products also must be sufficient to recover all other costs incurred by the United States Mint, such as the cost of minting, marketing, and distributing such products (including labor, materials, dies, use of machinery, and promotional and overhead expenses).

This pricing methodology will allow the United States Mint to change the prices of these products as often as weekly so they better reflect the costs of platinum and gold on the open markets.

Provided the average price of gold remains between $850 and $899.99, the price of the coin will be $1,239.00.

The series, which started in 2007 with over 340,000 George Washington Presidential coins, has experienced a production decline with each succeeding $1 release, with the exception of the Jackson dollar.

Van Buren production is down by more than one-third compared to Washington dollar figures, as the following table reveals.

Tip: CoinNews.net

“We are responding to the collector community which has spoken loudly and clearly,” said United States Mint Director Ed Moy.  “Customers have told us there are just too many products.  We agree, and it’s time the United States Mint trims down and concentrates on the products our customers love most.”

The Mint adds that the “Last Chance Sale” will be a limited-time, first come, first serve offer, available online and by phone and without household order limits in place. Sales will include discontinued products that will “never be available again from the United States Mint.”

The sale will begin Saturday, November 15 at 12:01 a.m. (ET) and end at 5 p.m. on December 19. Phone orders may be placed seven days a week from 8 a.m. to midnight via 1-800-USA-MINT (872-6468).

A complete list of the discontinued and last chance Mint products is after the jump…

Discontinued Products

United States Mint Presidential $1 Coin Historical Signature Sets™
United States Mint Presidential $1 Coin — Individual Proof Coins™
American Eagle Platinum Uncirculated Coins (all options)
American Eagle Platinum Proof 1/2, 1/4, 1/10, and Four-Coin Sets
American Eagle Gold Uncirculated 1/2, 1/4, 1/10, and Four-Coin Sets
American Buffalo Uncirculated Gold Coins (all options)
American Buffalo Proof 1/2, 1/4, 1/10, and Four-Coin Sets
50 State Quarters® First Day Coin Covers (continue through 2008)
Greetings From America Portfolios and Card Sets
Coin and Die Sets
Collectible Spoons

Last Chance Product Listing

Annual Sets
2007 United States Mint Proof Set®
2007 United States Mint 50 State Quarters Proof Set™
2004 United States Mint Uncirculated Coin Set(R)
2006 United States Mint Uncirculated Coin Set®
2007 United States Mint Uncirculated Coin Set®
2007 United States Mint Silver Proof Set™
2007 United States Mint 50 State Quarters Silver Proof Set™

50 State Quarters® Bags & Rolls
Wisconsin Two-Roll Set
Minnesota Two-Roll Set
Minnesota 1,000-Coin Bag (P)
Minnesota 1,000-Coin Bag (D)
Oregon 1,000-Coin Bag (D)
Colorado 100-Coin Bag (P)
Nebraska 1,000-Coin Bag (P)
Nebraska 1,000-Coin Bag (D)
Nebraska 100-Coin Bag (D)
Colorado 1,000-Coin Bag (P)
Colorado 1,000-Coin Bag (D)
North Dakota 100-Coin Bag (D)
North Dakota 1,000-Coin Bag (D)
South Dakota 100-Coin Bag (D)
Montana 1,000-Coin Bag (P)
Wyoming 100-Coin Bag (P)
Wyoming 1,000-Coin Bag (P)
Wyoming 100-Coin Bag (D)
Wyoming 1,000-Coin Bag (D)
Utah Two-Roll Set
Utah 1,000-Coin Bag (P)
Utah 1,000-Coin Bag (D)
Oklahoma Two-Roll Set
Oklahoma 100-Coin Bag (P)
Oklahoma 100-Coin Bag (D)
Oklahoma 1,000-Coin Bag (P)
Oklahoma 1,000-Coin Bag (D)
New Mexico Two-Roll Set
New Mexico 100-Coin Bag (P)
New Mexico 100-Coin Bag (D)
New Mexico 1,000-Coin Bag (P)
New Mexico 1,000-Coin Bag (D)
Arizona Two-Roll Set
Arizona 1,000-Coin Bag (P)
Arizona 100-Coin Bag (D)
Arizona 100-Coin Bag (P)
Arizona 1,000-Coin Bag (D)

Other Bags & Rolls
2001 Sacagawea Golden Dollar Roll (P)
2001 Kennedy Half-Dollar 200-Coin Bag
2001 Kennedy Half-Dollar Two-Roll Set
2002 Sacagawea Golden Dollar 2000-Coin Bag (P)
2002 Sacagawea Golden Dollar 2000-Coin Bag (D)
2003 Jefferson Nickel Two-Roll Set
2004 Sacagawea Golden Dollar 2000-Coin Bag (D)
2005 Ocean in View Nickel 1,000-Coin Bag (P)
2005 Ocean in View Nickel 1,000-Coin Bag (D)
2005 Sacagawea Golden Dollar 2000-Coin Bag (P)

50 State Quarters® First Day Coin Covers
New Jersey
Georgia
Connecticut
South Carolina
New Hampshire
Virginia
New York
North Carolina
Rhode Island
Vermont
Kentucky
Tennessee
Ohio
Louisiana
Indiana
Mississippi
Illinois
Alabama
Maine
Missouri
Arkansas
Michigan
Florida
Texas
Iowa
Wisconsin
California
Minnesota
Oregon
Kansas
West Virginia
Nevada
Nebraska
Colorado
North Dakota
South Dakota
Montana
Washington
Idaho
Wyoming
Utah

Presidential $1 Coin Coin Covers
George Washington
John Adams
Thomas Jefferson
James Madison

50 State Quarters® Coin & Die Sets
North Carolina (P)
Rhode Island
Tennessee (D)
Maine (D)
Iowa (P)
Oregon (P)
Nebraska (D)
Nebraska (P)
Colorado (P)
North Dakota (D)
North Dakota (P)
South Dakota (D)
South Dakota (P)
Montana (D)
Montana (P)
Washington (P)
Idaho (D)
Idaho (P)
Wyoming (P)
Wyoming (D)
Utah (D)

50 State Quarters® Collector’s Spoons
Iowa
West Virginia
Nevada
Nebraska
Colorado
North Dakota
South Dakota
Montana
Washington
Idaho
Wyoming
Utah
Oklahoma
New Mexico
Arizona

50 State Quarters® Greetings from America Series
1999 Card Set
1999 Portfolio
2000 Card Set
2000 Portfolio
2001 Card Set
2001 Portfolio
2002 Card Set
2002 Portfolio
2003 Card Set
2003 Portfolio
2004 Card Set
2004 Portfolio
2005 Card Set
2005 Portfolio
2006 Card Set
2006 Portfolio
2007 Card Set
2007 Portfolio
Card Set Album
Portfolio Album

Westward Journey Nickel Sets
2004 Westward Journey Nickel Series™ Coin Set
2006 Westward Journey Nickel Series™ Coin Set

Special Sets
50 State Quarters® And Euro Coin Collection
Official Coin Collecting Starter Kit

The Mint said it used sales figures to help determine which products to cut, and the reductions will help them focus on core offerings.

Trimming the 2009 portfolio will afford the United States Mint the opportunity to focus resources on its core products.  It will spotlight offerings with broad appeal, such as its annual United States Mint Proof Sets.

With fewer products to manufacture, the United States Mint will be able to offer proof sets and other products earlier in the calendar year beginning in 2010, making them available for customers to purchase for more occasions.

According to the Mint, sales of products will increase previously stated “final” sales figures, but no individual maximum mintage/product limits will be exceeded.

Tip: CoinNews.net

Authorized by Public Law 109-145, the four new designs celebrate the bicentennial of President Abraham Lincoln’s birth, as well as the 100th anniversary of the production of the Lincoln cent (penny).  The new designs will be issued in approximately three-month intervals throughout the year.  The first redesigned penny, which will honor Lincoln’s birth and early childhood, will be put into circulation on February 12, 2009.

Four reverse designs will be released to celebrate the great statesman and U.S. President “Honest Abe” Lincoln. The Lincoln cent’s centennial is also tribute to the coin itself – the most collected coin in the world.

The four designs to be featured on the reverse of the Lincoln pennies represent four major aspects of President Lincoln’s life:  his birth and childhood in Kentucky, his formative years in Indiana, his professional life in Illinois and his Presidency in Washington, D.C.  The inscriptions on the reverse of the coins will be “United States of America,” “E Pluribus Unum” and “One Cent.”

The obverse (heads side) of the one-cent coins will continue to bear Victor David Brenner’s likeness of President Lincoln, introduced in 1909, and the motto “In God We Trust.”  At the end of the 2009 Lincoln Bicentennial One Cent Coin Program, the reverse of the penny will feature a design emblematic of President Lincoln’s preservation of the United States of America as a single and united country.

A Lincoln commemorative silver dollar, authorized by Public Law 109-285, also will be released in 2009.

The designs for the cent are:

“This is the first program of its kind to inspire shoppers, diners and commuters to use $1 Coins in their normal, everyday activities,” said United States Mint Director Ed Moy.  “When each of us spends the $1 Coin, we make a difference for our country, because the $1 Coin is durable and using it saves the Nation money.  We hope our pilot cities lead the change!”

The $1 Coin lasts for decades and is 100 percent recyclable, so using it can save the country billions of dollars over the years.

The U.S. Mint has expanded their Circulating $1 Coin Direct Ship Program. This program makes it easy for retailers, financial institutions, and other interested parties to obtain smaller quantities of $1 coins than can otherwise be obtained from the Federal Reserve.

The $1 Coin Direct Ship Program provides individualized service to the financial community and other interested parties who wish to acquire $1 coins at face value in smaller quantities than currently available to financial institutions.

The circulating Presidential $1 Coins will be available in 25-coin rolls packaged in quantities of 10 rolls per box, priced at $250 face value.  The coins will not be separated by mint mark.  Customers may order up to 500 $1 coins (two boxes) within any given Presidential $1 Coin issuance period.

Originally started on 11 June 2008 the program was limited to John Quincy Adams dollar coins which quickly sold out.

On 21 August 2008 the program was expanded to include Presidential dollar coins for:

• George Washington
• John Adams
• Thomas Jefferson
• James Madison
• James Monroe
• John Quincy Adams
• Andrew Jackson

All are now sold out with the exception of Andrew Jackson who’s dollars coins are still available at face value. Get them while you can folks!

Aided by advancements in technology, the United States Mint now can produce in quantity the ultra high relief coin envisioned, but never fully realized, by renowned sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens in the early 20th century.  The collectible coin will be about 50 percent thicker than other United States Mint one-ounce gold coins to achieve the greater depth and relief to which Saint-Gaudens aspired.  Visitors will be able to feel the ultra high relief on a plaster of the coin that will be featured at the exhibit.

The World’s Fair of Money runs from July 30 – August 3, 2008 at the Baltimore Convention Center, One West Pratt Street – Baltimore, Maryland – 21201. Phone: 410-649-7000.

Read the rest of the press release at the U.S. Mint web site.

The Senate unanimously passed the act on Thursday, June 19, which follows unanimous passage by the House for the same named bill on July 30, 2007.

The legislation authorizes the United States Mint to issue:

• 300,000 silver $1 dollar coins from each of 9 designs, and
• 50,000 $50 one-ounce gold coins

The NASA commemoratives would be minted in “proof quality only.” The proposed nine various designs for the silver coins add an extra level of intrigue to these commemoratives that is sure to peak interest.

Source: CoinNews.net

The $1 Coin Direct Ship Program provides individualized service to the financial community and other interested parties who wish to acquire $1 coins at face value in smaller quantities than currently available to financial institutions.

The circulating Presidential $1 Coins will be available in 25-coin rolls packaged in quantities of 10 rolls per box, priced at $250 face value.  The coins will not be separated by mint mark.  Customers may order up to 500 $1 coins (two boxes) within any given Presidential $1 Coin issuance period.

The United States Mint will pay shipping and handling fees on orders delivered via standard shipping methods.

• The United States Mint pays for standard shipping and handling of domestic orders. Any special handling will be paid by the customer.
• Orders are limited to two boxes ($500) per President.
• Specific coins are available only while supplies last.
• Please allow approximately 1-2 weeks for shipping.
• All sales are final.

Presidential dollar coins released to date:

• George Washington
• John Adams
• Thomas Jefferson
• James Madison
• James Monroe
• John Quincy Adams

John Quincy Adams dollars are currently sold out.

Read the rest of the press release at the U.S. Mint Web site.