2016-03-04 Fri

To commemorative the 60th anniversary of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, bills have been tabled in the U.S parliament for the release of dome-shaped coins in gold, silver and clad.

James Naismith introduced the game of "basket ball" on December 21st, 1891 to his physical education class in Springfield, Massachusetts. In 1959, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame was founded which became the first and only museum to honour the game at all levels around the world.

"These unique dome-shaped coins that would come at no expense to the taxpayer is the ideal symbol for the first and only museum that honours the sport on all levels around the world," Rep. Neal said on his Facebook page.

If either bill passes in both chambers of Congress and is signed by the President, the United States Mint will produce and sell these special coins in 2019.

These coins would feature curved shapes similar to the 2014 Baseball Hall of Fame Commemorative Coins. Their reverse would depict a basketball and a competition would determine a common obverse design that must be "emblematic of the game of basketball."