Get your own commemorative coin minted as a fundraiser.

Commemorative Coins

A Unique Treasure

Imagine owning a rare coin. It would be a treasure so unique that there are only several thousand like it in the world. It's a coin made of precious silver and minted in brilliant proof condition with a design so unique that the owners bought it on impulse.

Now, further imagine that the owners of these limited quantity treasures will want you to contact them again when you have more collectible coins that only originate from you. These collectors will readily buy these coins that only come from you again and again. Wow, what a marketers dream.

Your special coin can generate funds when sold as collectable's, tourist souvenirs (if you have a museum or similar), commemorative coins, medallions, and as anniversary tokens for a milestone event.

Promote Your Image

A custom designed coin with an image that draws attention to your organization will certainly promote your group. If you have a museum, school or other architectural landmark facility that people will recognize, then place the image relief on your coins to attract interest.

Perhaps your logo or phrase are easily identifiable by many people in your area. This might be just the design to have on your special coin.

These coins do not have to highlight your organization entirely. In fact, to appeal to the largest population segment, you might consider coining area highlights, landmarks, famous local people, historical milestones or other.

See what the American Historical Society is doing at their website.

Continue offering these coins on a yearly basis and interest in the community will grow. Each year highlight a local or historical landmark to make a collection. Change it up each year or two or until you sell out of your old sets.

There are many coin collectors, but also many other collectors that appreciate sets of any type of collection. This is especially true if it has some inherent value when made from .999 oz silver or other precious metal.

Designing Your Coin

I suggest that you get an artist that has

an eye for great detail. Perhaps a

renown artist living in your area or town

will assist you.

It might be that you can attract the attention of the art department at your local college. Ask them to have a design contest and choose the best coin representation. Don't throw the others away since they may come in handy for future coin designs.

Ask the community to send in a sketch, drawing or idea to get you coin design. Try choosing an icon that is familiar and recognizable to the community. Remember, coins are small and will be hard to visualize, so keep the designs simple yet appealing in nature.

One mint, Hoffman Mint, has a template that you can download to help you create your sketches.

Most of these mints have a good art department on hand. Some mints will not charge you for art fees or even die setup fees.

Finished Look

You want to look for quality and expertise in the field of numismatic minting. I've found that the Global Minting, Inc. has one of the best designed coins and the best customer oriented mints around.

A mint will typically create its coins in a bas relief sculpture from in house artists and then reduce the image down to the proper size for your coin. They will allow for several styles of finished look. For instance, you have the option of getting a brilliant uncirculated coin, a proof mirror finish background, or one with a frosted background.

Your organization may also opt to purchase special containers or have the coin sealed in plastic for extended preservation. Of course this will drive your costs up some, but will have the distinct appearance of something of great value.

Most coins will be available from 5 to 40 days for most companies. Of course timing will depend on preparation on your part like getting the proper designs, photos to the artist at the manufacturer and then approving the final version. Once ready, don't wait another 30 days for your Board of Directors to get together. Call a special meeting to preview your design.

Commemorative Mints

Finding the right mint may take some time and effort on your part. Besides creating the initial design artwork, choosing the right mint will take up the most of your time. It will be well worth your efforts though.

As mentioned earlier, two mints really shine when it came to responsiveness, artwork, moderate costs to customer and customer satisfaction. Make sure you check out the Birmingham Mint and Global Minting descriptive pages.

Here is a list of additional commemorative coin mints that may be helpful to you.

You may also check out coinable.com or Coin Link Numismatic Directory

Offering Your Commemorative Coin

This fundraiser is one of the most lucrative,

because once minted it requires very little

volunteer manpower to generate income.

One way that these coins have been sold

is by your areas local banks.

Secure the support from your organization's personal bank and have the coins displayed prominently at tellers windows and you will be amazed at how quickly these coins sell out. Or have them send a small flyer out with bank statements.

Ask area phone, cellular or utility companies to place a brief paragraph in their bills. It they will place a picture on a colorful flyer, then this will work even better. Include an address on how to acquire them or place your web address if you have the ability to accept credit cards online

Of course, you can also advertise these coins in the newspaper, television and even on radio if you have a dynamic description of the coin in very flowing terms.

Let us not forget the very group that we are trying to impress. Your current supporters are your best customers for these special coins. Put ads and order form flyers in all correspondence to contributors.

Include the coin as an incentive for those that give at a certain gift level. Perhaps you will give the coin to all donors that give your group a gift of $500 and up as a gift of appreciation. Remember to deduct the cost of the coins fair market value from the total gift when receipting the donor.

Program Example

The Boy Scouts of America have created a Centennial Commemorative Coin. They have had 350,000 silver dollar coins minted in recognition of it’s 100th Anniversary in 2010. For each coin sold, there is a $10 surcharge which will represent $3,500,000 extra funds raised. This funding will be made available it's local councils as grant funds to extend Scouting in hard to serve areas.

Make A Lasting Impression

You can probably see by now that you can make a mint from sales of your own specially offered coins. Don't forget that this fundraiser is also a great way to add new supporters to your donor lists. You will get people that have bought your coin who usually are more inclined to assist you through other fundraisers.