Press Releases

Springfield, Mass. — Located in the Birth City of Basketball, Springfield, Mass., the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame promotes and preserves the game of basketball at every level. Since the Basketball Hall of Fame opened its doors in 1959, it has operated as a not for profit organization relying on the generosity of others to preserve the legacy of the game. On Thursday, June 4, basketball fans will have the opportunity to own a piece of basketball history and support the Hall of Fame with the purchase of a newly launched commemorative coin.

This milestone concludes a multi-year effort by Congressman Richard Neal, Congressman Andy Barr, and Senators Elizabeth Warren and the late John McCain, along with countless Hall of Fame members, to make this coin a reality.

“This endeavor has been years in the making and we couldn’t be more excited to be launching a commemorative coin with the U.S. Mint this week,” said John Doleva, President and CEO of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. “These coins are a unique opportunity for fans to own a piece of basketball history while supporting the Hall and the game itself, as the funds generated will allow us to bolster our endowment, educational programs and ever-growing portfolio of events.”

"I am thrilled to see this day come to fruition," said Congressman Richard E. Neal. "Most people don't know how intricate of an undertaking it is to get a commemorative coin minted, but those hardworking folks at the Basketball Hall of Fame have been excellent to work with as we moved forward on this throughout the past few years. Sport unites us, and basketball has always been my favorite to both watch and play. I am proud to represent the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Congress and watch its success here in Springfield."

To commemorate this historic day, the Hall of Fame will offer a limited quantity of coins for sale to the general public on June 4 from noon to 2 P.M. ET. Coins will be available on a first-come-first-served basis and orders will be limited to one coin type/finish per person, while supplies last. Customers should enter the South Side of the property (Hilton Garden Entrance) where Hall of Fame staff will provide instructions. State of Massachusetts directives regarding Covid-19 protocols will be followed.

The U.S. Mint will be accepting orders online at catalog.usmint.gov/ on June 4 at noon ET. Pricing for the $5 gold coins is based on the Mint’s “Pricing of Numismatic Gold, Commemorative Gold, and Platinum Products” table at catalog.usmint.gov/coins/gold-coins/. Introductory prices are in effect until July 6, 2020, at 3 p.m. ET, after which regular pricing will take effect. The above household order limits will be in effect for the first 24 hours of sales. Because of the effect of Covid 19, shipping of the Kids Set is delayed until September 2020. Please check the Mint website for additional updates.

Mintage for this commemorative coin program is limited to 50,000 $5 gold coins, 400,000 silver dollar coins, and 750,000 half dollar coins.  Coin prices include surcharges of $35 for each gold coin, $10 for each silver coin, and $5 for each half-dollar coin, which are authorized to be paid to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, to fund an endowment that will enable increased operations and educational programming.

About the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame

Located in Springfield, Massachusetts, the city where basketball was born, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame is an independent non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to promoting, preserving and celebrating the game of basketball at every level – men and women, amateur and professional players, coaches and contributors, both domestically and internationally. The Hall of Fame museum is home to more than 400 inductees and over 40,000 square feet of basketball history. Nearly 200,000 people visit the Hall of Fame museum each year to learn about the game, experience the interactive exhibits and test their skills on the Jerry Colangelo "Court of Dreams." Best known for its annual marquee Enshrinement Ceremony honoring the game’s elite, the Hall of Fame also operates over 70 high school and collegiate competitions annually throughout the country and abroad. For more information on the Basketball Hall of Fame organization, its museum and events, visit www.hoophall.com, follow @hoophall #HoophallCoin or call 1-877-4HOOPLA.