http://www.birminghampost.net/birmingham-business/birmingham-business-news/business-entrepreneurship/2008/09/16/birmingham-firm-strikes-barack-obama-presidential-coin-65233-21832869/ Birmingham firm strikes Barack Obama presidential coin
Sep 16 2008 By Tom Scotney, Enterprise Editor
A company in Birmingham's Jewellery Quarter is making commemorative coins for American presidential hopeful Barack Obama.
And if the Democratic candidate is elected to become the most powerful man in the world on November 4, it could open the floodgates for millions of pounds worth of business for the firm.
Windsor, Elizabeth & Windsor has already sold more than 300 limited edition commemorative silver coins to the Democratic Party to hand out to key members of the campaign to elect Obama.
The contract is worth about £100,000 to the company, based on Warstone Lane, Hockley.
And a spokesman for WEW said they expected thousands more coins to be bought if Obama becomes president, which could bring millions into the small firm.
WEW is producing limited edition runs of gold, silver and platinum Obama coins, and plans to produce new ones in other finishes for public consumption if the demand emerges.
The coins already sold to the Democrats will be presented to the senators, congressmen, governors and other politicians they are being given to within the next two weeks.
There will also be a television advertising campaign launched in the US.
The company directors got the idea of producing the coins after seeing actress Meryl Streep talking about Barack Obama on a television programme.
When they got in touch with the Democrats the party jumped at the chance. And the coins have proved such a hit that locally produced versions have already been launched to compete with the UK originals.
The coins show Senator Obama’s face, along with a picture of the White House and the legend “President of the United States of America”.
Mr Obama, along with his chosen vice-presidential nominee Joe Biden is going head to head with opponent John McCain and Sarah Palin in the contest to become President later this year.
If he is elected, he will be the first black man to become President in the country’s history.
A spokesman for WEW said: “We are just a small company from Hockley. They think its hilarious that a company from England is going on the television in about 10 days.
“They’ve been looking for two years for someone to take on something like this, and this proves we can compete with the Far East.
“It’s very positive for Birmingham, It’s highlighted the city in a very good way. And if he gets into the White House we are going to be making a million of these things.
WEW is a small, independent design company that specialises in limited edition gold and silver ceremonial coins and trophies.
It works out of the Jewellery Quarter, but has clients as far away as the US, Russia and the Middle East.
It has previously made ceremonial coins celebrating the life of Liverpool Football Club’s legendary manager Bill Shankly.
The WEW spokesman said: “Our coins can take up to several months to manufacture.
“In order to maintain the lustre and unique quality finish of our merchandise, products are hand-finished by expert craftsman right here in the UK.
“In particular, our trophies and medals are silver or gold plated by professional silversmiths with over 100 years experience between them.”
The moulds for the Obama coins will be going on display tomorrow as part of the Birmingham Art Fair at the Gas Hall on Chamberlain Square.
They will be part of the UK Fine Arts gallery, and have reportedly attracted the interest of celebrities and international footballers interested in producing their own versions of the coins.
A private viewing is planned for people interested in the coins, with the show opening up to the public later on that day.
Topic: Get your Obama golden coins while they last (Read 801 times)