Let’s take a trip back through time.

The year is 1999. The world population reaches 6 billion. The Denver Broncos win their second NFL title and the Bronx Bombers sweep the Braves in the World Series. In Hollywood, Shakespeare in Love is named best picture. On Wall Street, the Dow hits 10,000 for the first time. But on a less exuberant note, the last Checker Cab rings up its last fare before being retired.

And…the U.S. Mint issues the first five quarters in The 50 State Quarters® Program in what was destined to become the most successful coin series in its history. As you know, that landmark program comes to an end this year with the Hawaii state quarter issued in honor of our 50th state.

As the 36th Director of the U.S. Mint, I know firsthand that the Mint never, ever rests on its laurels. They are always looking for ways to satisfy the desires of collectors and to share the joys of coin collecting with aspiring numismatists. So…hot on the heels of The 50 State Quarters® Program comes an all-new collection of quarters for 2009!

In case you haven’t heard, the U.S. Mint will inaugurate an unprecedented collection of legal tender quarters, each honoring a different U.S. Territory, as well as the District of Columbia. In all, six quarter-dollar coins will be issued throughout 2009, each with an individually designed reverse displaying images emblematic of the

• District of Columbia
• Commonwealth of Puerto Rico
• Guam
• American Samoa
• U.S. Virgin Islands
• Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands

The coins will be issued for circulation in equal sequential intervals and in the order listed above. And…it’s a safe bet that uncirculated and proof coins will also be available, as well as a 90% silver version of each.

One of the many fringe benefits of coin collecting…the educational value inherent with the design of each coin. My own collection of the 50 state quarters gives me access to a font of information about each state. Granted, coming from Wisconsin, I’m fully aware of the significance of the dairy cow and wheel of cheese that appear on the reverse of the Badger State’s quarter. Most likely, you’re aware of it, too. After all, Wisconsin is one of the nation’s top producers of milk and ranks Number One in cheese production. But look at the quarter closely and you’ll notice an ear of corn. That’s because my home state is the nation’s main source for the corn used in feed for livestock.

Utah’s state quarter features the famed Golden Spike, symbolic of the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad in 1869. The beautiful tree on the reverse of Connecticut’s quarter is the historic Charter Oak, used to hide the colony charter from the British in 1687…and the Nevada quarter portrays a trio of wild horses, indicative of its large population of these extraordinary animals—a fact I never knew untill I added the Silver State’s quarter to my collection.

Though I have no way of knowing what designs will be selected for The District of Columbia and United States Territories Quarter Program, I do know they will be as interesting and as appealing as those on the state quarters. Historic, beautiful, educational…all the ingredients of a classic coin collection.

Everyone has a Christmas tradition. Whether it’s decorating the tree while listening to cheery holiday music or secretly wrapping presents a week before Christmas, we prepare for the holidays in our own magical way. As for me, I drag out my BIG green box creatively labeled “DOLLS.”

In some circles, I’ve been known to exaggerate, but it really is a large box and I barely win the battle of wrestling it out of the grips of the door jamb.

The box isn’t filled with just Christmas-themed dolls; in fact, you won’t find a trace of green or red on many of them, but I display the whole lot because each doll is associated with a special place in my heart. Most dolls are tied to a time in my life -- with an imaginary red bow. You see, I believe every joyous memory is a gift…our first Christmas in our first home…the day I found out I was expecting our first child. They bring alive memories like a favorite song. As time stands still, I relive precious moments while carefully unwrapping each doll. Some dolls make me smile and others bring to the surface bittersweet feelings that quietly take my breath away. I purchased the Christening Doll the year Kristen was born, forgetting that she was just as tiny once. The boy dolls were bought for Patrick and Eric’s bedroom when they were knee high and thought that Mom knew everything. They’re grown now, with only books, dirty clothes and a few old candy wrappers decorating their room. I think to myself, where did the time go?

Pulling myself together, I focus on where to display the dolls. Most respectable people decorate with Santas, carolers and angels for the holidays. I have a few, but think nothing of placing a blushing Santa next to Elizabeth Taylor, or an angel next to an equally elaborate Fabergé doll, or a caroler next to Marilyn™. It’s just one big party with my dolls and they don’t care who they are grouped with, since they are all old friends by now.

As I unwrap the last doll I ask myself once more…where did the time go? Knowing all along it’s here, in my big green box lovingly labeled "DOLLS."

 

Every time I take a Morgan Silver Dollar in my hand, I am overwhelmed by two things. First, by its sheer size; next, by the fascinating story behind what is arguably the most historic coin in American history.

Often referred to as “the king of coins,” the Morgan Silver Dollar is the largest coin ever minted for circulation in the United States. And at 26.73 grams of .900 Fine Silver, it is among the heaviest coins ever minted.

But to hold one in your hands is to feel the weight of history. It never fails to impress me that these coins were minted from ore mined at the largest silver strike in the history of North America—the famed bonanza known as the Comstock Lode.

Authorized by Congress in 1878, the Morgan Silver Dollar was designed by U.S. Mint engraver George T. Morgan. Generally considered among the most beautiful of all coins, it featured a heroic portrait of Lady Liberty on the obverse. The profiled image was encircled by the motto E Pluribus Unum, 13 stars for the 13 original colonies, the year of issue and Morgan’s monogram. Portrayed on the reverse was Morgan’s interpretation of the American Bald Eagle, which appears somewhat emaciated, prompting some critics to refer to the coin as the “buzzard dollar.”

Nicknamed the “cartwheel” because of its impressive size, the Morgan Silver Dollar will be forever remembered as the coin that accompanied pioneers and lawmen as they helped tame the Wild West. It was also the coin wagered by gamblers on the Mississippi river boats; and the one plundered by the daring bank robbers and desperadoes who blazed their way into the history books in countless boom towns throughout the frontier.

The Morgan Silver Dollar was minted every year from 1878 to 1904. It returned in 1921 for a one-year minting run before being replaced by the Peace Dollar. Under terms laid down by the Pitman Act of 1918, the U.S. Treasury melted down approximately half the entire mintage—or hundreds of millions of dollars. Millions more were melted in the 1980s, when silver was selling for more than $50 an ounce.

This historic American coin was struck at U.S. Mint facilities in Philadelphia, San Francisco, Denver, New Orleans and Carson City, Nevada. The Carson City facility was in operation for only 13 years and struck only 2% of all Morgan Silver Dollars, making these coins—with the CC mintmark—the rarest of the rare.


 

My daughter Kristen is moving away from home soon. To ease me through this bittersweet time I did what every woman does when she has little control over the changes around her-- I cleaned.

I carefully straightened the books, CDs and mementos in Kristen's room sadly, realizing it might be my last chance before the room is empty of her belongings. Organizing the shelves, I stumbled upon some Marilyn Monroe books that I read as a teen. So that's where they went... I almost forgot about them.

As a girl, I adored Marilyn. She was my height-- 5 feet 5 inches-- and we liked the same colors: red, white, black and beige. I never came close to her 37-23-36 measurements, well at least not in that order, but in my own little world I felt I could identify with her. Unlike today's celebrities I never wondered if her body parts were real, and she didn't look like she starved herself for her figure, yet she looked perfect. The camera loved her and both men and women adored her. Hugh Hefner, a man constantly surrounded by beautiful women, arranged to be laid to rest near Marilyn. In 1999 AFI.com listed Marilyn as the 6 American Screen legend of its top 100, right behind Garbo and ahead of Elizabeth Taylor. Ahead of Elizabeth Taylor!

It's sad, but Marilyn is adored more today than in her lifetime.

Years later I jumped at the opportunity to direct the costumes and sculptures for The Franklin Mint's dolls. I strove to be true to Marilyn's look and style, and in the process probably drove The Franklin Mint sculptors and costumers crazy.

Celebrities from Madonna to Scarlett Johansson have tried to emulate her but none have matched her appeal. What is this magical hold she has on us? For me, whenever I saw her image in a photo I'd pause and study it. Anyone can tell if it was taken in her early, mid, or late years by the color of her hair, the amount of makeup she wore, and the style of her clothing. The transformation from Norma Jeane to Marilyn at her peak, to a sadder, slightly flawed Marilyn Monroe was unmistakable.

While searching the bookshelves for dust bunnies I started to wonder, is Marilyn's appeal passed on from generation to generation like a family memento or is it so timeless and flawless that it naturally draws everyone like a magnet? I inherited my fascination for Marilyn from my aunts, and my daughter inherited it from me. I guess we will continue to pass on our love of her until another Marilyn graces the Big Screen.

Putting the books back on Kristen's shelf I realized I better save them for the next generation-- I don't see another female Icon on the horizon.

Sorry Madonna.

In 2008 The Franklin Mint celebrates its 25th anniversary producing some of the most highly detailed and sought after collectible model cars in the world. Offered for the first time in 1983, primarily through selective mail order, the Precision Models division presented classic and special interest automobiles in 1:24 scale to collectors all over the world. Many people are not aware that The Franklin Mint literally invented this classification of product and developed the market through careful research and clever observation of the enthusiast community.

In the 1950’s and 1960’s plastic model kits dominated the marketplace. European manufacturers developed 1:43 scale model cars to work in conjunction with O gauge train scale popular with collectors within the train hobby. But by the late 1970’s and early 1980’s model kit makers watched as buyers outgrew model kits and the budding market of young people turned toward a new interest - video games. Although the model kit business was drying up, avid scale model enthusiasts still wanted to collect miniature treasures of our automotive past.

In the early 1980’s, The Franklin Mint recognized the market opportunity for collectors who no longer had the patience, time or dedication to build model cars, yet still wanted to display and enjoy them. The new 1:24 scale diecast models, chosen in part due to the similarity in scale to the more widely used 1:25 for plastic kits, were developed in metal and plastic with a high level of detail. Many people forget that during this pioneering development time, a model car of this size with opening doors, hood, engine and chassis detail etc. was simply not available to the general American public. Most models with this level of detail were twice to three times the price. With The Franklin Mint, a collector could purchase a model of precision quality using affordable monthly payments. Collectors began building their collections with the very first Mercedes 540K Roadster, Jaguar SS100, and subsequent classic and sports car offerings.

Throughout the course of development The Franklin Mint has pioneered not only highly detailed models with technical features, but also innovated manufacturing and scale replica techniques that remain hallmarks of this growing industry. Although many competitors followed with models of varied quality, The Franklin Mint was the first to utilize high volume processes with precision production control to yield consistently high quality products. Technical features such as rotating driveshafts, working suspensions, roll up windows, and micro hinges for glove box and gas cap doors were engineered first by the talented design and development team at The Franklin Mint. These ongoing innovations continue, in part, due to the Precision Model Development team being managed by automotive enthusiasts and designers trained in the art of full sized car design. This not only ensures a high quality design but the art of scaling and authenticity improves with each new offering. New and novel concepts such as one off car models featuring exotic body styles and accented with themed accessories, design studies from GM Design Staff, and Hot Rods from world class builders all became part of the Franklin Mint Precision Model offering. New materials such as scaled micro woods, micro weave fabrics, and scale textured or micro-flake paints were all pioneered and developed for use on model cars, motorcycles and airplanes by the Precision Models team.

While design and engineering have been critical elements in the development of the product, the marketing and research group prepared insightful presentations with in-depth research on the importance of certain subject matter. The Franklin Mint was first to market vintage trucks, tractor-trailers, and Harley Davidson models available through mail or magazine order. Most importantly however, management took chances in markets that often seemed risky but yielded strong results. This sometimes "gut feel" approach led to novel presentations and product offerings that traditional companies would never have attempted. Today, The Franklin Mint continues to invest in innovative ideas encouraging suggestions from collectors and enthusiasts from all over the world.

For the past 25 years, The Franklin Mint has continually raised the bar in technical excellence, authenticity, and design elegance throughout their Precision Model product line. The future collectors will evolve and desire new products – ones that trigger nostalgic feelings from more recent times. The Franklin Mint will be there, advancing the tradition for quality and technical excellence and serving collector communities deep into the coming decades.