2003 Alabama Quarter 24 Karat Gold layered with Hologram Detail

Helen Keller, the activist, writer and lecturer left blind and deaf by childhood illness, graces the side of the "Alabama" quarter -- her image stamped alongside her name written in Braille -- issued by the U.S. Mint. It is the first coin in circulation to feature Braille. But while the lettering is raised, it is probably too small for anyone to read, said Becky Bailey, a spokeswoman for the Mint. "It's more symbolic -- in a way to honor Helen Keller," Bailey said of the Braille. The coin, features Keller sitting in a chair, reading a book by touch, between shafts of long-leaf pine and magnolia flowers. Beneath her, a banner reads, "Spirit of Courage." Keller was born in Tuscumbia, a small town in northwestern Alabama. An illness robbed her of her sight and hearing when she was a toddler. Keller nevertheless learned to read and speak and graduated from Radcliffe College. She went on to become a well-known activist for the disabled, a writer who associated with Mark Twain and an inspiration to thousands who marveled at her achievements. The story of Keller as a wild child unable to communicate but eventually reached and taught by Anne Sullivan became widely known through "The Miracle Worker" production on television, stage and film. American history has never looked quite this original. Carried out with the latest in embossing techniques, these commemorative State Quarters have been encased in pure gold and layered with holograms. Hologramming enhances images on each quarter-dollar, drawing the eye through the precise details of the U.S. Mint's latest collection, which features natural settings across the United States and its territories.This beautiful quarter has been layered in 24 karat gold with an added Hologram Detail, bringing the reverse image to life. These coins are in remarkable, uncirculated condition and truly unique as they are not available from the US Mint. Each quarter commemorates one of the 50 states with a unique design based on its history, traditions and symbols and is emphasized with an attractive 24 karat gold with an added Hologram Detail.