The US Mint struck two commemorative coins in 2000, one of which was "The Coins of Many Firsts" for the Library of Congress. The US Library of Congress was honored with these strikes released on April 24, 2000.
Congress approved the striking with the 1998 Library of Congress Bicentennial Commemorative Coin Act (Public Law 105-268). In 2000, the statute required the Mint to strike its first commemoratives of the new millennium and century, making them "Firsts".
A US commemorative coin acknowledged a library for the first time. The most noteworthy first may be that one of the program's coins was bimetallic, the US Mint's first usage of gold and platinum.
U.S. Mint Acting Director John Mitchell stated, “We are honored to be part of a program celebrating the bicentennial of the Library of Congress, the nation’s oldest federal cultural institution and largest library in the world.” As part of the commemoration, the U.S. Mint will release two Library of Congress Commemorative Coins: a gorgeous one-dollar silver coin and a masterfully produced ten-dollar gold and platinum bimetallic coin for the first time.
The obverse of the $10 platinum and gold bimetallic coin was created by US Mint engraver/sculptor John Mercanti to depict Minerva raising the torch of learning above the Jefferson Building dome of the Library of Congress.
The back side of the card has the Library's emblem, which is encircled by a wreath of laurel leaves. Thomas D. Rogers, Sr., an engraver and sculptor for the United States Mint, was the one who designed it.
Thomas D. Rogers, Sr., an engraver and sculptor for the United States Mint, was responsible for designing the obverse of the silver dollar, which depicts an open book superimposed above the flame of learning.
It was the United States Mint that was responsible for collecting surcharges on the sales of these strikes. These surcharges were then sent to the Library of Congress Trust Fund Board in order to assist in supporting outreach activities that are designed to make the Library's collection accessible to all Americans.