Boy Scouts and the US Mint -- Celebrating 100 Years of Cents-ible Service and Learning.

British General Lord Robert Baden-Powell is generally recognized as the founder of the Scouting Movement in 1905, basing it on several earlier organizations. In 1909 Chicago publisher W. D. Boyce was visiting London. According to legend he became disoriented one foggy day and was assisted to his destination by an unknown Scout. The boy told Boyce that he was simply doing his duty as a Scout. Boyce researched the organiztion, and upon his return to the United States founded the Boy Scouts of America, with operation beginning in 1910.

The BSA's goal is to train youth in responsible citizenship, character development, and self-reliance through participation in a wide range of outdoor activities, educational programs, and, at older age levels, career-oriented programs in partnership with community organizations. Boy Scouting became well-known to America through the years, to the extent that "Boy Scout" became a colloquial term for someone who was honest, dilligent, and patriotic. Some extraordinary individuals earned Scouting's highest rank, Eagle, while still young. Among those people are President Gerald Ford, Former F.B.I. Director William Sessions, former Secretary of Education William Bennett, Senator Bill Bradley, journalist Walter Cronkite, William C. DeVries, M.D (first to transplant a human heart), and film director Steven Spielberg. No less than 32 Astronauts achieved the rank of Eagle.

The Boy Scouts of America is the largest youth organization in the United States, with 2.8 million youth members and 1.1 million adult leaders in the programs of Cub Scouting, Boy Scouting, and Venturing. Since 1910, more than 111 million people have participated in the organization’s traditional programs. The organization was granted a federal charter in 1916 by an Act of Congress signed into law by President Woodrow Wilson.

On May 15, 2008 the House of Representatives passed H.R. 5872, an act "To require the Secretary of the Treasury to mint coins in commemoration of the centennial of the Boy Scouts of America, and for other purposes." The Senate concurred in September. President George W. Bush signed the bill into law on October 10, 2008.

Numerous designs were offered for both the obverse and reverse of the coin (some of which are pictured here), with competition being somewhat fierece for the honor.

The coin became available March 23, 2010.

The proof 2010 Boy Scouts of America Centennial Silver Dollar is extraordinarily brilliant and features sharp relief and a mirror-like background which highlights the images on both sides of the coin.

The obverse (heads side) depicts a Cub Scout in the foreground with a Boy Scout and female Venturer in the background saluting. Inscriptions are CONTINUING THE JOURNEY, 1910, 2010, IN GOD WE TRUST, and LIBERTY. This design represents the Boy Scouts of America of today, as the organization has recognized the need to include other programs for younger boys (Cub Scouts) and older boys and girls (Venturers).

The reverse (tails) features the Boy Scouts of America’s universal emblem. Inscriptions are UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA, BE PREPARED, E PLURIBUS UNUM, and ONE DOLLAR.

Production of the coin is limited to 350,000 coins (across all product options). It is available for purchase through the U.S. Mint.

Author Arthur Haule joined the Boy Scouts of America as a Cub Scout in 1962. He moved on to Boy Scouting in 1965, earning the Coin Collecting Merit Badge the following year working with Counselor Cliff Verity. Art received his Eagle Scout Award in February of 1969 as a member of Troop 342 in Seaford, New York.