The U.S. Mint debuted on Thursday for the first time ever a “pink gold” coin to raise awareness and financial support for breast cancer research.
The new currency was created as the result of a commemorative coin program that was mandated in the Breast Cancer Awareness Commemorative Act, which was signed into law in April 2016.
The lawmakers who introduced the law — Reps. Pete Sessions, R-Texas, and Carolyn Maloney, D-N.Y., as well as Sen. Heidi Heitkamp, D-N.D. — joined acting deputy director of the U.S. Mint, David Croft, and Breast Cancer Research Foundation President Myra Biblowit at the U.S. Capitol Thursday afternoon for an unveiling ceremony.
“This program creates a fresh and innovative way to raise funds for breast cancer research at no cost to taxpayers, and has the potential to raise millions of dollars,” the Mint said in a press release.
The U.S. Mint held a contest for U.S. artists to design the new coin and Emily Damstra, a member of its Artistic Infusion Program, was picked to design a clad coin, a silver coin, and the pink-hued gold coin. The pink gold coin will be worth $5, the silver $1, and the clad coin 50 cents.
The front of the coins show an older woman with her hands on her chest and a younger woman wearing a head scarf and with one fist in the air. The back of the coins is engraved with a Tiger Swallowtail butterfly flying in the sky.
All profits from the coin sales will go to the BCRF.
