| The HST Discovery Series is anchored by a | | | | HST Series. Mr. Shagin carved each design by |
| common reverse containing the official NASA | | | | hand onto plaster molds then etched the final |
| "meatball" logo, an image of the Hubble Telescope | | | | designs onto striking dies; a painstaking process |
| and a quote from Edwin Hubble. Discovery | | | | requiring literally thousands of hours to complete. |
| Collectibles, an exclusive creator of rare coin and | | | | Each coin is struck in high relief in brilliant nickel |
| medallic art privately minted this series of space | | | | silver and features frosted sections that the |
| coins. | | | | frame the planets against a mirrored background |
| This first collection of ten designs focuses on the | | | | as if viewed from a spacecraft. |
| eight planets in our solar system and includes a | | | | The designs are billed as a "discovery in detail" by |
| rare Pluto coin, the last Pluto-Hubble coin approved | | | | DCI and a brief look at them confirms the depth |
| by NASA before the planet was decommissioned | | | | of Alex Shagin's talent. Continents and coastlines |
| in 2006. It also includes a remarkable Sun coin, | | | | peek through high clouds over Earth, Mons |
| striking in its powerful, kinetic design. | | | | Olympus throws towering shadows across stark |
| The entire issue is limited to 1000 sets worldwide | | | | Martian plains and methane vapor billows across |
| and the dies are destroyed once the series has | | | | Neptune's southern skies. |
| sold, insuring the rarity of the collection. | | | | Not associated with the US Mint's "NASA and JPL |
| Russian born sculptor Alex Shagin who was | | | | 50th Anniversary Commemorative Coin Act" |
| awarded the prestigious American Numismatic | | | | which is slated to produce a $50 gold Sun coin |
| Society J. Sanford Saltus Award for Outstanding | | | | and nine $1 silver planet coins, the HST Discovery |
| Achievement in the Art of the Medal in 1995 | | | | Series designs are not legal tender but rather a |
| created all the designs in the HST Discovery | | | | pure collecting opportunity celebrating NASA and |
| Series. | | | | the Hubble Space telescope though the medallic |
| Mr. Shagin's work is displayed in institutions such | | | | arts. |
| as the National Air and Space Museum, the | | | | According to Discovery Collectibles, NASA has |
| Hermitage Museum and the British Museum | | | | approved a total of 30 designs and Alex Shagin |
| Permanent Numismatic Collection. One of the | | | | has agreed to sculpt the remainder of the |
| most respected coin sculptors of the past | | | | collection. Future designs will focus on Hubble's |
| century; Alex has designed currency for many of | | | | deep space discoveries. Plans include a set |
| the world's great mints, including the US Mint. | | | | containing pieces of meteorite, flown metal from |
| No computers were used in the design of the | | | | NASA spacecraft and pure gold and silver coins. |