South Bend, Indiana,  August 02, 2001 – The U.S. Mint announced today that the South Bend Silver Hawks, a Class A baseball affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks, are routinely circulating Golden Dollar coins at Coveleski Stadium during the 2001 baseball season.

The South Bend Silver Hawks are dispensing Golden Dollar coins from the team’s ticket office and souvenir and concession stands.  In addition to using the coin as change in regular transactions, each cash register prominently features Golden Dollar signs encouraging the use of the coin.  Golden Dollar advertisements are printed in the program and also are being aired during the radio broadcast of each South Bend Silver Hawks game.

Additionally, the Golden Dollar is being featured during an announcement over the public address system and on the Silver Hawks scoreboard.

“The U.S. Mint is excited to partner with the South Bend Silver Hawks,” said U.S. Mint Director Jay Johnson.  “Baseball partnerships are a fun way for us to help encourage people to use dollar coins in everyday transactions.  Thanks to the South Bend Silver Hawks, their fans can now get Golden Dollars as change when buying hot dogs and peanuts at all their home games!”

“Our fans love getting Golden Dollars in change,” said Jeff Breiler, director of business development for the Silver Hawks.  “Our cashiers like them too because it is easy to grab a few coins from the cash drawer and hand them to customers.  Deciding to dispense Golden Dollars was a smart business decision.”
  
In addition to the South Bend Silver Hawks partnership, the U.S. Mint has formed successful partnerships with banks, retailers and other corporations to remind consumers that the Golden Dollar is not only a beautiful collectible, but also an everyday currency meant to be used.  Other partners include Allfirst Bank, IHOP, Paramount’s Kings Dominion, Safeway, SFX, the Trenton Thunder Baseball Club, and two other baseball teams owned by Palisades Baseball, the Erie SeaWolves and Mahoning Valley Scrappers.

About The South Bend Silver Hawks
The South Bend Silver Hawks are owned and operated by Palisades Baseball, ltd.  They are a long season Class A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks and a member of the Midwest League.  The Silver Hawks play at Coveleski Regional Stadium located in South Bend, Indiana.

About the Golden Dollar
To ensure the coin’s success and as mandated by Congress, the U.S. Mint has been educating businesses and consumers about the Golden Dollar.  The U.S. Mint was authorized to produce the new dollar coin by the United States Dollar Coin Act of 1997.  Since January 2000, the U.S. Mint has minted over 1 billion Golden Dollars, with more than 800 million already in circulation, more than 10 times the 60 million Susan B. Anthony dollar coins circulated in 1999.  Dollar coins have gained popularity in recent years due to their expanded use for purchases in post offices, subways, buses and other coin-operated outlets.  Visit the Mint’s Web site for more information about the Golden Dollar at www.usmint.gov.