Mother Teresa on coin from Solomon Islands

This article was originally printed in the latest issue of Numismatic News.
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GovMint.com is selling a $5 gold proof coin issued by the Solomon Islands to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the birth of Mother Teresa.

The coin is struck in .9999 fine gold. It has a diameter of 11.0mm and a weight of 0.5 grams.

Authorized maximum mintage is 10,000 coins for worldwide distribution. Price is $79.95.

The reverse design shows Mother Teresa with Pope John Paul II,who initiated her beatification, the fastest beatification in modern times.

On the obverse is Ian Rank Broadley’s portrait of Queen Elizabeth II and the 2010 date.

GovMint says the story of Mother Teresa is well documented, but worth repeating. She was born in Skopje, Macedonia, of Albanian nationality. Her name was Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu and she received a strict Roman Catholic upbringing from her parents who nurtured her desire to become a nun.

In 1928, she joined the Irish order of “Sisters of the Blessed Virgin,” took the name of Sister Teresa and was sent almost directly to Calcutta in India’s West Bengal, where she taught in the local convent until 1945.

Her time in India led Mother Teresa to take on the task of serving the slum dwellers in Calcutta. Although she had no funds, her determination and faith kept her going. As word of her work traveled around the world, donations arrived that allowed Mother Teresa to found her own community called Missionaries of Charity, taking care of the destitute and dying and the lepers that abounded in the area.

Such was her influence that in 1982 she was able to persuade the Israelis and Palestinians to cease fire long enough to rescue 37 retarded children from Beirut. For her decades of devoted work, Mother Teresa –“the angel of the poor”– received wide recognition and many awards, among them the 1979 Nobel Peace Prize, the Order of Merit from Queen Elizabeth II, and in 1985 the highest civilian honor in America, the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Ronald Reagan. Never seeking anything for herself, Mother Teresa gave and gave, finally suffering a massive and fatal heart attack on Sept. 5, 1997.

Commenting on the Mother Teresa coin, GovMint’s Chief Marketing Officer Randy Geyen expressed his satisfaction at being able to offer the coin to collectors.

“Whatever one’s religion, Roman Catholic or not, we all admire Mother Teresa. This coin makes such a perfect and affordable keepsake, and we feel privileged to be a part of this recognition of her devotion.”

Listed at $79.95 detailed information on pricing and availability of the Mother Teresa Commemorative, or other GovMint coins can be obtained by visiting the firm’s website at www.govmint.com, or by telephoning GovMint at: (800) 721-0346 (24 hours a day).