The E-Sylum:  Volume 9, Number 28, July 9, 2006, Article 7

ON THE BRAILLE COIN

Last week a newspaper item noted that "Congress has authorized the
U.S. Mint to produce a silver dollar commemorating the 200th
anniversary of the birth of Louis Braille, the creator of the
Braille alphabet for the blind."

David Ganz writes: "Not correct. The Senate passed S.811, a bill that
would commemorate the bicentennial of the life of Louis Braille, who
invented the raised-dot alphabet used by the blind the world over
as an alternate means of reading.  A similar measure, H.R. 2872,
passed the House of Representatives earlier this year.

Under the established rules, both houses of Congress must pass the
identical bill, right down to the number; the bills are identical,
except for numbering devices.  The Washington Post erroneously
reported that the dual passage meant the measure would become law.
Action by one house, or the other, and signature by the President
is still required."

Regarding my quiz question about the first U.S. coin featuring
Braille lettering, Ken Berger writes: "If I'm not mistaken the
Alabama quarter featuring Helen Keller has some Braille writing
on it."  Correct!  Tom DeLorey was the second to chime in with a
correct answer.  On a different topic, Tom adds: "If a tree falls
at the White House and it has no political affiliation, does it
fall to the right or to the left?"

  Wayne Homren, Editor

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