Boy Scouts Silver Dollar Uncirculated Coin

Boy Scouts Silver Dollar Uncirculated Coin (Obverse Side) - Click to Enlarge

2010 Boy Scouts Silver Dollar Commemorative Coins celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA). The coins were released by the U.S. Mint on March 23, 2010.

The BSA is the largest youth organization in the United States, with 3,000,000 youth members and 1,000,000 adult leaders in the traditional programs of Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, and Venturing.

Public Law 110-363 authorizes the United States Mint to issue a maximum of 350,000 commemoratives struck in 90% silver in both proof and uncirculated conditions. Legally, the coins may be sold beginning on the Scouts centennial anniversary of Feb. 8, 2010, and through to Jan. 1, 2011.

Boy Scouts Silver Dollar Uncirculated Coin (Reverse Side) - Click to Enlarge

The law required the design of the coin to be "emblematic of the 100 years of the largest youth organization in United States, the Boy Scouts of America." Each coin must show its value as well as the inscriptions '2010', 'Liberty', 'In God We Trust', 'United States of America', and 'E Pluribus Unum.'

Boy Scouts Silver Dollar Designs

The US Mint created 17 obverse (heads side) and 5 reverse coin designs for consideration. These were submitted to the Commission of Fine Arts (CFA) and the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC) -- two organizations charged with providing review and recommendations for US coinage.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy F. Geithner selected the above obverse and reverse designs on September 16, 2009.

For reference, the candidate designs, which include the eventual two chosen, are shown below along with the original comments by the CCAC and CFA as to why each was recommended.

CCAC Design Recommendations

Boy Scouts Obverse Coin Design Recommended by the CCAC

Boy Scouts Reverse Coin Design Recommended by the CCAC

The CCAC recommended the obverse design depicting a scout dressed in an original 1910 uniform extending a helpful hand during a mountain climb to a modern scout.

"Several individuals expressed concern about the accuracy of some details as rendered on some designs; specifically, the scouts' tools, uniforms, awards, and patches on the obverse and the slogan on the reverse," stated a CCAC memo outlining the public meeting that was held in Colorado Springs to review the designs.

"Ms Budow [Kaarina Budow from the US Mint] indicated that the United States Mint would work with the Boy Scouts of America to ensure the accuracy of whichever designs were chosen."

The suggested reverse features a representation of the scouts logo.

CFA Designs Favored

Boy Scouts Obverse Coin Design CFA Favored BSA-O-04 - Click to Enlarge

Boy Scouts Obverse Coin Design CFA Favored BSA-O-06 - Click to Enlarge

Boy Scouts Reverse Coin Design CFA Favored BSA-R-05 - Click to Enlarge

The CFA favored two obverse designs and one reverse design. Members were generally more disappointed with the designs proffered.

"Despite the large number of alternatives, the Commission members expressed disappointment with the quality of the designs, particularly as rendered in the line drawings; they suggested more care in the rendering of human figures and especially of children as depicted in the obverse alternatives," stated Commission Secretary Thomas Luebke in a letter to US Mint Director Ed Moy.

Two obverse designs -- designated in the images above as BSA-O-04 and BSA-O-06 -- were selected as the favorites from the group.

"BSA-O-04 is particularly clear and straightforward without extraneous elements, and that alternative BSA-O-06 uses a more classical composition with profile portraits," said Luebke.

The commission felt the obverse chosen by the CCAC would be difficult to discern "at the scale of the coin" the concept of a scout from 100 years ago to one of today.

The CFA favored a differing representation of the scouts logo for the reverse of the coin, suggesting it was graphically the strongest. Members did discourage the use of text on scrolls which was used on three of the reverse designs, and noted the importance of developing "an appropriate graphic design distinction between the commemorative subject-related text and the general coinage-related text."

Silver Coin Specifications

Product Availability

See also: Boy Scouts Commemorative Coins.