A unique concept of circulating commemorative coins with designs promoting global peace is being considered by several mints for implementation in the year 2000. The proposal for spreading a message of peace around the world was developed by a group known as the Future of the Hobby Committee.

Representatives of all aspects of the hobby serve on the committee which was developed and supported by the American Numismatic Association. The Peace Coin Program is being spearheaded and managed by ANA Vice President Kenneth E. Bressett.

"The year 2000 will be a time of special importance to collectors," Bressett said. "This is a date we have all waited to see on our coins. It is a time when people everywhere will stop to take a careful look at their money and its message.

"This program is designed to encourage and support all nations in the issuance of circulating coins that embody peace, freedom and human rights. It is a massive undertaking but one that will spread a most vital message around the world."

Mints have not been asked to follow any specific guidelines but are urged to utilize a circulating coin from their nation, imprinting it with the word "Peace" or "Peace 2000". Countries are being encouraged to conduct design contests to involve the public in producing special designs that follow a theme of peace. The denomination should be that which is the most common in circulation, Bressett said.

A portion of each nation's seigniorage, the difference between the cost of production and the face value of each coin, is requested to be used to foster peace efforts throughout the world. It is anticipated that other special coins, beyond the circulating issues, will be produced by many countries to add to the interest in collecting these coins in sets and series.

"I see this global project creating a renewed interest in numismatics and expanding the market for all numismatic products," Bressett said. "We will be serving the collector and the marketplace by interesting a new generation of people in noticing and collecting circulating coins.

According to Bressett, "The movement started by the Future of the Hobby Committee may soon develop into a 'groundswell movement' supported by collectors everywhere. It is a window of opportunity to return numismatics to a hobby that can be enjoyed by everyone through coins in circulation." Bressett recently returned from the World Mint Directors' Conference in Helsinki, Finland, where he experienced a warm reception and acceptance to his proposal of the international program.

"World mints are looking for themes that will be popular, and the 'Peace 2000" program seems to fit the bill," Bressett reported. "It was enthusiastically received by all of the officials contacted at the conference, and could very well prove to be the catalyst for bringing thousands of new members into the hobby."

Bressett said that he has spoken with representatives of the United States Mint, and submitted the proposal to the Mint's Citizens' Advisory Committee on Commemorative Coinage, which has solicited themes for U.S. commemorative coins.

The Peace 2000 program was developed by the Future of the Hobby Committee after a series of meetings at major coin conventions. ANA President David L. Ganz serves as counselor to the committee which is co-chaired by Bressett and collector Reed Hawn of Austin, Texas. ANA Governor David Lisot serves as committee secretary and Governor Anthony Swiatek is a member.

Other committee members include Ann Marie Aldrich, publisher of Coin World; Q. David Bowers, principal of Bowers & Merena Galleries; Ms. Michael Burke and Carmen Cook, both of the U.S. Mint; collector Brian Cornwall of Canada; David Hall, principal of the Professional Coin Grading Service; FAO coin promoter Raymond Lloyd of London; Edward Metzger, manager of Whitman Coin Products; James Miller, publisher of COINage; Clifford Mishler, president of Krause Publications' dealer Harvey Stack; numismatic researcher Robert Turfboer; Murray Church, consultant; ANA Executive Director Robert Leuver and Educational Services Director James Taylor.

Future committee meetings, and special efforts to promote the Peace 2000 program around the world are being planned. The movement, which will be launched at the convention of the American Numismatic Association in Detroit, July xx to July xx, will be continued over the next six years and promoted through contacts with all world governments. Collector support and participation is encouraged in the form of letters and messages that can be carried to world mints.

A graphic video program explaining the Peace 2000 coin program has been produced by the ANA. Copies may be borrowed from the ANA Resource Center or purchased for a donation of $10 which will be used to further the program. For more information about the program or the Future of the Hobby Committee, contact the American Numismatic Association, etc.

To find the video on NNP, see:
World Peace Coin Program(https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/book/574362)