United States Mint 2020 Basketball Hall of Fame Commemorative Coin Program
Dr. James Naismith introduced a new game class to his physical education class on December 21, 1891 in Springfield, Massachusetts. Just over half a century later, the New York Knicks traveled to Canada to play the Toronto Huskies at Maple Leaf Garden for the first BAA (now NBA) game. The Basketball Hall of Fame, which honors professional and amateur players, coaches, and contributors from around the world, opened a little more than a decade later in 1959.
In 2020, the United States Mint is commemorating half a century of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame with three coins, one $5 gold coin, one silver dollar, and one clad half dollar. The Hall receives almost 200,000 people a year, giving them the opportunity to learn about the game and its history, engage in interactive exhibits, and test their skills.