New York - Two New York lawmakers have called for a crackdown on a company that is selling September 11 commemorative coins supposedly containing silver from ground zero.
Senator Charles Schumer and Congressman Jerrold Nadler said Port Chester, New York-based National Collector's Mint is “profiteering off a national tragedy” by advertising its coins as an authorised memento of the World Trade Center attacks.
Nadler said: “With the 10th anniversary of 9/11 approaching, we should unfortunately expect more scams, as criminals and snake oil salesmen seek to profit from the deep emotional connection that millions of Americans have to that terrible tragedy.”
Schumer and Nadler called on the Federal Trade Commission to stop National Collector's Mint from selling the September 11 coins and to investigate the company's marketing practices.
National Collector's Mint President Avram Freedberg said the company had donated more than $2 million (R14 million) to various September 11 charities.
“We are proud of our contributions,” he said.
The company website says, as did Freedberg, that the coins are clad in silver “recovered from the vaults beneath the ashes of Ground Zero”, a claim that Schumer and Nadler said cannot be substantiated. In addition, the website says, the coins are “Liberian government-authorised legal tender coin”.
A law passed in July 2010 creates an official September 11 medal that benefits the National September 11 Memorial & Museum being built at the World Trade Centre site.
Schumer and Nadler said the sale of National Collector's Mint's $29.95 (R210) coins could deprive the museum of millions of dollars in funds raised from the sale of the official medals.
Memorial spokesman Michael Frazier said the National Collector's Mint's coin “will in no way help maintain a national tribute to the 9/11 victims and heroes.”
National Collector's Mint ran foul of the law in 2004 when it issued a “Freedom Tower Silver Dollar” that it asserted was “legally authorised government issue”. The company was charged with fraud and forced to pay more than $2 million in refunds and cancellations. - Sapa-AP