The E-Sylum:  Volume 9, Number 49, December 3, 2006, Article 8

GALLERY MINT INC. AND THE GALLERY MINT MUSEUM FOUNDATION

There is (understandably) a great deal of confusion in the numismatic
community between the nonprofit Gallery Mint Museum Foundation (GMMF)
and the original for-profit Gallery Mint Inc.  As noted previously in
The E-Sylum, the nonprofit GMMF recently announced the establishment
of its numismatic publications series.  This week, the sale of the
for-profit Gallery Mint Inc. was announced, ending speculation over
its fate and that of Ron Landis.  A press release was published on
Thursday, and here are some key excerpts:

"Gallery Mint Inc., the private mint founded by master engraver Ron
Landis and his late partner Joe Rust fifteen years ago, has been sold
to a limited partnership that includes former GMI employees. The new
company, Striker Token and Medal Inc., will continue operating in
the same plant in northwest Arkansas and will continue producing
the company's signature high-quality reproduction coinage.

".. in addition to offering reproduction coins, Striker will also
now accept private commissions from individuals, businesses and
coin clubs interested in low-volume runs of tokens and medals.

"We have totally redesigned the Mini-mint demonstration that
was so popular at coin shows for the past decade ... The new
exhibits and demonstration is scheduled to debut at the 50th
Annual Money Show of the Southwest in Houston in late January,
2007.

"Rust and Landis formed Gallery Mint Museum in 1992. In 2005,
the company split into two different organizations: Gallery Mint
Museum Foundation (GMMF), and Gallery Mint Incorporated (GMI).
This sale completes the separation of the business side of GMI
from the non-profit GMMF, a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to
the preservation of the art and technology of the minting process.
Now that GMI has been purchased by Striker, there should not be
any more confusion over the Gallery Mint name, said Foster.
The only Gallery Mint is the non-profit museum.

"The sale of GMI includes all of the minting equipment, dies and
rights of reproduction to those dies. The company mailing address
will remain the same but there is a new telephone system and WATS
number. Landis will continue his association with the company he
founded as a consultant.

"For more information about purchasing reproduction coinage or
placing an order for tokens or medals, contact Striker at 1-888-688-3330,
email them at info@striker-mfg.com or write Striker Token and Medal, PO
Box 706, Eureka Springs, AR 72632. For information about Striker Inc.
contact Will Foster at 479-695-6043. The company's website
www.striker-mfg.com, will allow on-line purchasing of the company
product line and will be operational shortly."

  Wayne Homren, Editor

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