'STAR-SPANGLED BANNER' COINS IN CHOCOLATE

The folks at A. Kirchmayr Chocolatier in Timonium make chocolate into art and mark important events in a delicious way. Now, they've been commissioned to be a part of the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812 by creating commemorative chocolate coins.

"We wanted to put some gold dust or silver dust on it, but it came out so nicely that we just left mild and dark chocolate that it basically represents the gold and silver," said chocolatier Albert Kirchmayr.

The chocolate coins are exact replicas of the gold and silver versions of the 2012 Star-Spangled Banner commemorative coins which will be released by the U.S. Mint for a limited time. They will go on sale starting with the kickoff event on March 5 at Fort McHenry through December 2012.

"They honor 'The Star-Spangled Banner,'" said Jill Feinberg with Star-Spangled 200. "There's an image of the flag, there's an image of Francis Scott Key's words, 'Oh say, can you see.' They're very patriotic images."

Feinberg said the silver coin will retail for about $50 and the gold coin will be market priced weekly.

After the March 5 event, you can get a pair of the chocolate coins for $8. Part of the proceeds will go back into the Star Spangled 200 fund.

"It will go towards events and programming such as Star-Spangled Sailabration, educational outreach and to maintain the legacy of 1812 sites all around Maryland," said Feinberg.

You can support the cause by purchasing either version of the coin. The chocolate ones can be mementos to keep or a sweet treat to share.

To read the complete article, see: Local Chocolatier Commemorates 'Star-Spangled Banner' (www.wbaltv.com/news/30552339/detail.html)

Wayne Homren, Editor

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