Louis Braille to be Honored on Commemorative Coin

In 2009 Louis Braille will be honored with a commemorative coin released by the United States Mint. The release of the coin will coincide with the 200th anniversary of his birth and honor his invention of the Braille system.

Braille is a system of reading and writing used by the blind and visually impaired. Braille is composed of characters created through the unique arrangement of one to six embossed points. The system has been adapted to nearly all known languages and is used worldwide.

The commemorative coins will first become available to the public on January 1, 2009. Each coin will have a diameter of 1.5 inches, a weight of 26.73 grams, and a composition of 90% silver and 10% copper. Coins will bear a face value of one dollar and will be considered legal tender numismatic items.

The design of the coin is emblematic of the life and legacy of Louis Braille. The obverse of the coin features an image of Louis Braille. The reverse of the coin features a young child reading Braille, in front of a bookcase filled with Braille books.

Notably, the reverse design also includes Braille characters "BRL," the short form of the word "Braille." This is the first time in history that a United States coin has included readable Braille characters. Braille has been used on prior coins such as the 2003 Alabama State Quarter, but the characters were too small to be considered readable.

This commemorative coin program was authorized under H.R. 2872, the Louis Braille Bicentennial Literacy Commemorative Coin Act. A surcharge from the sale of each coin will be distributed to the National Federation of the Blind to further promote Braille literacy.

Michael Zielinski is an internet entrepreneur and coin collector. Learn more about the upcoming Louis Braille Coins or get the latest coin collecting news.