I showed the U.S. Mint’s brochure that focused solely on the Mark Twain coins to my 22 young men in my Writings of Mark Twain class this afternoon.

I only asked what they thought of the images and Mr. Twain’s likeness.

All said they loved both coins and thought Misto C’s image was perfectly captured.  

They were especially thrilled that the “Jumping Frog” that started it all was leaping toward us and commemorated right out of the water from the book next to Huck and Jim.  They loved the moon behind Tom and Huck on the silver coin and the view of the horizon on its back.  They said the back of the silver coin was so energetic that it is “literature come alive!”

One student asked “Where’s the cigar?”  The other student responded that he loved the pipe more because the cigar would look “too common and the curvature of the pipe matches the curve of the coin and his picture with the pipe.  Makes you want to reach out and almost touch Twain.”

Another student wished he could jump on the gold steamboat.

I informed them that these coins are keepsakes for their grandchildren and another student replied, “Yeah, my grandson or granddaughter better be reading Twain!”

I suggested that they ask for these as graduation gifts from relatives.  No one made fun of the suggestion.

John Pascal
Seton Hall Preparatory School




> On Jan 15, 2016, at 7:46 PM, Cindy Lovell <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> 
> In the good news department, the launch of the
> Mark Twain coins was second only to the launch of
> the Baseball commemorative coins.They sold 5,000
> Mark Twain proofs along with 2,000 uncirculated.
> The proofs are always more popular, and the Mint did not
> anticipate such a brisk start for our guy. For the better part
> of the day they were unable to sell (backordered) proofs,
> so perhaps SLC would have surpassed America's pastime
> had the correct settings been in place on the website.
> 
> My sincere thanks to everyone on the forum!
> 
> Cindy
> 
> ________________________________________
> From: Mark Twain Forum <[log in to unmask]> on behalf of Harris, Susan Kumin =
> <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Friday, January 15, 2016 5:24 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: "Mark Twain" coins
> 
> Thank you!
> 
> Susan K. Harris
> 
> 
>> On Jan 15, 2016, at 6:23 PM, McAvoy Layne <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>> =3D20
>> Susan, try this number: 800-872-6468
>> =3D3DF0=3D3D9F=3D3D98=3D3DAF
>> =3D20
>>> On Fri, Jan 15, 2016 at 4:48 AM, Harris, Susan Kumin <[log in to unmask]> wrote=
> =3D
> :
>>> =3D20
>>> While we are on this topic, could someone tell me how to navigate the
>>> treas=3D3D3D
>>> ury website?  I see the coin, but not how to order one.  There is a "wis=
> =3D
> h
>>> l=3D3D3D
>>> ist" tab, and a way to join the website, but all I want to do is buy one
>>> co=3D3D3D
>>> in.  --skh
>>> =3D20
>>> Sent from my iPad
>>> =3D20
>>>> On Jan 14, 2016, at 11:41 PM, Cindy Lovell <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>>>> =3D3D3D20
>>>> Steve, I think you have Mark Twain
>>>> confused with Jean Shepherd, and
>>>> they haven't made a coin for him
>>>> yet. ;)
>>>> =3D3D3D20
>>>> You don't have to love 'em.
>>>> You just have to buy 'em.
>>>> Or, you can donate to all four Mark
>>>> Twain sites at once and skip buying the
>>>> coins altogether. Click here, and help
>>>> the causes:
>>>> =3D3D3D20
>>>> http://www.marktwaincoins.org
>>>> =3D3D3D20
>>>> Collaborative fundraising made simple.
>>>> =3D3D3D20
>>>> Thanks, all!
>>>> =3D3D3D20
>>>> Cindy
>>>> =3D3D3D20
>>>> =3D3D3D20
>>>> =3D3D3D20
>>>> ________________________________________
>>>> From: Mark Twain Forum <[log in to unmask]> on behalf of Steve Hoffman
>>> <ste=3D3D3D
>>> ve=3D3D3D3D
>>>> [log in to unmask]>
>>>> Sent: Thursday, January 14, 2016 9:45 PM
>>>> To: [log in to unmask]
>>>> Subject: Re: "Mark Twain" coins
>>>> =3D3D3D20
>>>> I agree with Peter Salwen's critique of the
>>>> commemorative coins:
>>>> =3D3D3D20
>>>> They look kinda cheesy.
>>>> =3D3D3D20
>>>> What's up with pipe rather than cigar (if you're
>>>> gonna show Twain smoking).
>>>> =3D3D3D20
>>>> And I could have done without the "in God We
>>>> Trust" unless they went ahead and added "ALL
>>>> OTHERS PAY CASH"  ;-)
>>>> =3D3D3D20
>>>> --Steve Hoffman
>>>> Takoma Park=3D3D3D3D
>> =3D20
>> =3D20
>> =3D20
>> --=3D3D20
>> McAvoy Layne
>> ghostoftwain.com
>> Email: [log in to unmask]
>> PO Box 4522
>> Incline Village, NV 89450
>> 775-833-1835
>> =3D20
>> Diligently train your ideals upward toward a summit
>> where you will find your chiefest pleasure in conduct,
>> which while contenting you,
>> will be sure to confer benefits upon your neighbor and the community.
>> -Mark Twain=