Newsletter Vol. 2 No. 1		Other Newsletters
February, 2000

For the first time ever, the U.S. Treasury granted permission for coins to be depicted in glass in modified form to prevent counterfeiting. In the February 17, 1971 TIMES LEADER newspaper covering Martins Ferry and Bellaire, Ohio, it released the following bold type caption:

Because the Kennedy Coin plate was produced prior to the Treasury’s approval, a little red circle sticker was placed on each plate, indicating that approval for its release was still pending. Had approval not been granted, the plates no doubt would have had to be destroyed.

With Imperial holding the patent on Crystal Coins, it was able to add to coin glass history by producing the Eisenhower Silver Dollar Coin plate and the set of coin glass coasters in both the clear and in the sueded finish. These coasters are now difficult to find. The Bicentennial Coin plate depicting all the silver coins produced since 1964, in my estimation, was one of the most outstanding contributions in preserving the history of the Bicentennial itself.

Since the following reprint covers the details, it eliminates the necessity of my having to say much more, except to emphasize that it is indeed a great memorabilia for Kennedy buffs to cherish. All three plates preserve a bit of coin glass history, and to date, remain in a class by themselves.

Concerning market prices, in my travels throughout the country and frequenting as many malls and antique shops as possible, the prices varied considerably to as much as $85 - $125 for the Kennedy plate, $65 - $75 each for the Eisenhower and Bicentennial plates, and as high as $225 for the set of three.

I was never able to find out how many of each were actually produced. Perhaps this article will attract the attention of someone who may have this information since it would be interesting to know. I am not sure how accurate the 20,000 production figure is for the Kennedy plate. In the collectibles field, one would be quite fortunate to own all three of these coin plates, plus the clear and the sueded sets of the Eisenhower coasters.

I was most fortunate to have noticed this newspaper article under the glass of Lucille Kennedy’s desk, obtaining a copy of it from TIMES LEADER, and securing their permission to use it. I am sure it will greatly enhance your files on Imperial.

comments@glassexclusives.com
Copyright © 1999-2002, The World of Glass Exclusives, Etc.