A Model T Car on a new Dollar coin?

A new Model T commemorative US dollar coin may be on the horizon.  Bills in both the US House of Representatives and US Senate are proposing a special minting of $ coins.  If all goes as planned the US will celebrate the 100^th year of the introduction of the Ford Model T car with a new coin in 2010. 

The Model T car was introduced in 1908.  However, it was in 1910 that the first “assembly line” was used to build them.  This new breakthrough in manufacturing allowed companies to pass on savings through lower costs to the public.  The end result was a low cost automobile, which over 15 million people purchased during the next 17 years.  The age of the automobile and the assembly line had arrived.   

Maximum number of coins to be minted is 500,000 commemorative silver dollars.  These car coins will be made of real coin silver and sold at a premium by the United States government mint.  Part of the profits from the sale of these “T-dollars” will go to the “Henry Ford” institute and assist with spreading the history of the automobile. Issuance of the coins will coincide with the 100^th anniversary of the opening of the Highland Park Ford car assembly plant.

Normally the mint will make commemorative silver dollars only during the year they are intended to celebrate.  It is very likely that these new silver car coins will only be minted during the year 2010 and no more automobile dollars will be made thereafter. 

Facts about the Model-T Ford automobile:

• Model T cars were manufactured from 1908 to 1927 by Ford Motor Corporation
• Often credited as the first true Assembly line process in major manufacturing.
• The Highland Park Michigan Ford plant is credited with being the first with an automobile assembly plant.
• The Model T car was so popular, at one time the it was manufactured in 20 different countries.
• Its low cost, affordability to many people, ruggedness and simple reliability made it a success.
• A panel of automobile experts elected the Model T car as the “Car of the Century”, partially because of the cars widespread influence it had on American life and manufacturing.