Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee meeting June, 2017

The United States Mint is pleased to announce the appointment of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC). Mr. Abdul-Jabbar fills the vacancy created this year by theresignation of Steven Roach, a member representing the interests of the general public. Mr. Abdul-Jabbar, a renowned former professional basketball player who is an avid coin collector, becameinterested in numismatics based on his love of history and his study of Alexander Hamilton. Currently, he serves as the chairman of his Skyhook Foundation, whose mission is to "Give Kids a Shot ThatCan't be Blocked" by bringing educational opportunities to under-served communities through innovative outdoor environmental learning. He is also a regular contributing columnist to The WashingtonPost and Time Magazine, and a best-selling author of literary fiction and non- fiction books. On November 23, 2016, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President BarackObama in recognition of his outspoken advocacy of social justice.

Our association president and CCAC member Tom Uram was in Washington D.C. this past June for a CCAC meeting. The top left photo is Kareem Abdul-Jabbar the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee'snewest member being sworn in by Acting Deputy Director of the United States Mint David Motl. The photo at right shows Kareem with PAN Clarion Editor Richard Jewell (playing center) and PAN PresidentTom Uram (playing small forward). Coin collectors come in all shapes and sizes. PAN is delighted to welcome Kareem to the coin collecting team!