2006 Benjamin Franklin Commemorative Coin
Program
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 The United States is honoring the tercentenary of the birth of
Benjamin Franklin, one of this Nation’s original scientists, thinkers
and founding fathers, with two commemorative silver dollars from the
United States Mint.
Born January 17, 1706, Franklin pursued a variety of interests,
bringing new ideas to science and journalism while serving as a leader
of the American Revolution. For nearly six decades, Franklin conducted
experiments and published insights that still hold true today.
 In fact, most people already know that he experimented with
electricity, invented bifocals and wrote Poor Richard’s Almanack, the
annual best-selling pamphlet with aphorisms like, "Early to bed, and
early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise."
But many people don’t know that Franklin: invented the flexible
catheter, swimfins and the lightning rod; founded the first hospital and
first volunteer firefighting company in America; and established the
field of meteorology when he realized that some storms travel.
 He also became the only person, at age 81, to sign all four of the
major documents instrumental to the founding of the United States – the
Declaration of Independence, the United States Constitution, the Treaty
of Paris and the Treaty of Alliance, Amity and Commerce, in which France
recognized and supported the United States.
The Benjamin Franklin Commemorative Coin Program comprises two silver
dollars – "Scientist" and "Founding Father" – available in both proof
and uncirculated conditions. Surcharges from the program are authorized
to be paid to the Franklin Institute for purposes of the Benjamin
Franklin Tercentenary Commission, a non-profit alliance established by
Congress to commemorate the tercentenary and to educate the public about
Franklin’s legacy.
 Authorized by Public Law 108-464, each coin is limited to a maximum
mintage of 250,000 across all product options and may be issued only
during the one-year period beginning January 1, 2006.
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