Curves aren't just for pitchers anymore. The United States Mint will soon roll out its first ever curved coin — a commemorative design in honor of the National Baseball Hall of Fame's 75th anniversary.
According to the 2012 National Baseball Commemorative Coin Act, which called for the coinage, the shape is meant to be reminiscent of the curved International Year of Astronomy coins issued by the the Paris Mint in 2009. The currency is also inspired by Australia's Southern Cross coins, according to the U.S. Mint.
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Cassie McFarland, a 28-year-old artist in San Luis Obispo, Calif. won a contest held last spring by the U.S. Mint to choose a design for the "heads" side of the coin. Her winning entry, "A Hand Full of Gold," picked out of 178 submissions in September, features a glove modeled after one she used growing up..
"Raised loving the native pastime, a glove assisted me not only as a tool, but helped foster communication between my family and peers," she wrote in her submission. "It is a fundamental symbol for teamwork and camaraderie."
A baseball resembling the ones used by major league baseball teams by Don Everhart, a sculptor-engraver at the U.S. Mint, adorns the "tails" side of the coin.
There will be up to 50,000 $5 gold coins, 400,000 $1 silver coins and 750,000 half-dollar coins produced. They will cost an extra $35, $10 and $5 respectively, which will go toward funding the Hall of Fame's non-profit operations.
The coin, which goes on sale Mar. 27, will be produced at the U.S. Mint's San Francisco branch.
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