Twain coin benefits UC Berkeley, museums

HANNIBAL, Mo. — Mark Twain once quipped, “The lack of money is the root of all evil.”

But starting early next year, some of Twain’s favorite places — his Missouri hometown, the New England community where he spent a large part of his adult life and two universities, including UC Berkeley — all stand to benefit from the U.S. Mint’s gold and silver coins honoring the author and humorist.

Up to 100,000 gold coins and 350,000 silver coins bearing Twain’s image will be available throughout 2016 or until they are sold out, U.S. Mint spokesman Mike White said.

Each year, the mint strikes two commemorative coins to benefit nonprofit organizations. As collectables, the coins are worth far more than their $1 face value for silver and $5 for gold. For example, 2015 commemorative silver coins recently were priced at about $52, gold for about $360.

Each carries a surcharge — $35 for gold, $10 for silver — to be divided evenly among the Mark Twain House & Museum in Hartford, Conn.; UC Berkeley for a program to study and promote the legacy of Twain; Elmira College in Elmira, N.Y.; and the Mark Twain Boyhood Home & Museum in Hannibal, Mo.

It’s a potentially big windfall.

“If the entire issue is sold, it could be well in excess of $1 million for each of the sites,” said Henry Sweets, executive director of the Hannibal museum.

Twain was born Samuel Clemens in Florida, Mo., on Nov. 30, 1835. His family moved to Hannibal a few years later.