Coins - 2006 American Legacy Collection Proof Coins Set

The second American Legacy Collection Proof Coins Set in 2006 shows another American symbol on the front. The US Capitol's iconic iron clad dome with the Statue of Freedom standing tall at the top contrasts brilliantly in silver against the black cover of the deluxe case. 

The set measures 9 1/2 inches by 10 1/2 inches by 1 1/2 inches. The front title states, "2006 United States Mint American Legacy Collection™" in silver. The spine of the outer package also includes the title.

The outer protective sleeve slips off. The front of the inner case shows the same design. 

The inner case includes an easel on the back allowing the proof coins set to be displayed in an upright position.

The back of the easel shows the contents of the proof coins set in silver print:

2006 United States Mint American Legacy Collection™
Benjamin Franklin Founding Father Silver Dollar
San Francisco Old Mint Silver Dollar
Sacagawea Golden Dollar
Kennedy Half Dollar
50 State Quarters®
Roosevelt Dime
Westward Journey Nickel Series™
Lincoln Cent

In silver, the United States Mint seal and emblem complete the list.

An envelope enclosure attached inside the back frame holds the Certificate of Authenticity.

Standing upright, the inner package unfolds to display the proof coins set. The coins in their protective holders fit into a black flocked, semi-rigid plastic. Indentations beside each coin's protective lens allow the holders to be removed for viewing the opposite side. 

The left cover provides information about Benjamin Franklin as a Founding Father of America.

At the top in white and blue letters over the red background, "B. Franklin one of America's 1st Renaissance Men" is printed above the drawing of a quill pen in pale yellow.

The subsequent text states:

Inventor, statesman, writer, printer, musician, philosopher, businessman, scientist, diplomat - Benjamin Franklin was one of America's original Renaissance men. In his day, Franklin was revered by his fellow Americans and respected by the citizens of Europe, and his contributions to the American enterprise, ingenuity and wit still inspire us today.

In his own words:

"If you wou'd not be forgotten
As soon as you are dead and rotten
Either write things worth reading
Or do things worth the writing."

Poor Richard's Almanack, 1738

Below the text, Franklin with his long hair, shirt with high collar and ruffled front, vest and suit coat sits looking outward with his wise countenance. Behind him, an early flag waves. 

On the right side, a portion of the Old Mint's early architecture shows in yellow and underneath in blue and white are the words, "United States Mint San Francisco."

The textual information states:

In 1854, the San Francisco Branch Mint opened its doors and began converting miners' gold into coins, producing $4,084,207 in gold pieces by December of that first year. The new Mint facility soon outgrew the small brick building in which it was housed. In 1874, it moved to an imposing new building with walls of stone, resembling an ancient Greek temple, eventually earning the facility the nickname "The Granite Lady."

In the middle of the area, a recreated portion of newsprint describing the San Francisco earthquake of 1906 shows behind two early photographs of the Old Mint.

The text continues with:

The facility's production of coins was uninterrupted for 32 years, until the disastrous earthquake of 1906. Because the gas works were partially destroyed, operations stopped temporarily. But the beautiful, solidly constructed Mint building survived both the earthquake and the ensuing fires. In fact, the Mint was the only financial institution capable of operating immediately after the disaster and became the treasury for disaster relief funds, performing other emergency banking services as well.

On the Founding Father commemorative silver dollar, the Benjamin Franklin portrait looks older but he has that same wise visage.  

The interior of the reverse uses the same design as developed by Benjamin Franklin for the Continental Currency Dollar from his era. 

The second commemorative silver dollar shows the Old Mint in all of its granite glory on the obverse. 

The reverse shows the heraldic eagle that also graced the 1904 Liberty Head Silver Dollar reverse. 

The standard proof coins set in 2006 contained five coins: the penny, nickel, dime, half dollar and golden dollar. The nickel's obverse shows a different Jefferson portrait, this one from 1800. 

The five standard coins contain the traditional reverse images including the nickel reverting to the Monticello image.   

George Washington's portrait continued on the obverse of the 50 State Quarters series.  

In 2006, the 50 State Quarters continued with the 36th through 40th states on the reverse. The states included: Nevada (36th, October 31, 1864), Nebraska (37th, March 1, 1867), Colorado (38th, August 1, 1876), North Dakota (39th, November 2, 1889) and South Dakota (40th, November 2, 1889). 

The 2006 American Legacy Collection provides a beautifully packaged proof coins set of the coins produced by the US Mint in that year.