I am excited to share a personal story with E-Sylum readers about the Louis Braille Commemorative Silver Dollar and my involvement with the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) and the Whitman Coin & Collectibles Expo during its launch.

In November 2008, the National Federation of the Blind partnered with Whitman to promote the upcoming Louis Braille Bicentennial Silver Dollar, issued by the U.S. Mint in 2009. This coin was a remarkable tribute to Louis Braille, the inventor of the Braille system, on the 200th anniversary of his birth. What made this commemorative so special was its inclusion of embossed Braille script, making it a readable Braille coin-much like the 2003 Alabama State Quarter, which featured Helen Keller's name in Braille.

At that time, I was serving as the general manager of the Whitman Coin & Collectibles Expo. Together with my bourse manager, David Zielinski, we had the privilege of working closely with John G. Paré, Jr. and the leadership of the National Federation of the Blind. We visited their headquarters to better understand their mission, the significance of Braille literacy, and to help bring this coin to the Baltimore Whitman Coin & Collectibles Expo.

The NFB's Braille Readers Are Leaders campaign was a landmark fundraising effort, aiming to raise $8 million for Braille literacy programs through sales of the silver dollar and matching donations. The November 2008 Baltimore show prominently featured the coin's design and hosted a dedicated NFB booth where visitors could experience Braille reading demonstrations and learn about the importance of Braille literacy.

I fondly remember the excitement and dedication surrounding the coin's launch - from the large posters welcoming visitors to the enthusiasm of collectors and NFB volunteers alike. The Whitman team was proud to support this initiative, and later, Whitman published a special Philadelphia Expo edition of the 2010 Red Book, with proceeds benefiting the NFB's literacy programs.

Looking back, it was a deeply rewarding experience to be part of this meaningful collaboration that honored Louis Braille's legacy and helped advance literacy for the blind community. I'm pleased to see The E-Sylum featuring the video by John Paré and hope readers will appreciate the story behind this commemorative coin.

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
VIDEO: LOUIS BRAILLE COMMEMORATIVE COIN(https://www.coinbooks.org/v28/esylum_v28n32a07.html)