Celebrity Eagle 'Challenger' Earns Historic Place on New U.S. Half-Dollar Commemorative Coin Now On Sale.

Proceeds benefit future bald eagle care and preservation efforts.

PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. -- "Challenger," the American Eagle Foundation's (AEF) internationally known bald eagle ambassador, is the first bird or animal in U.S. history to have both its physical likeness and name featured on a legal tender coin.

According to the not-for-profit AEF, which is headquartered at Dollywood theme park, the special honor given Challenger distinguishes him from such iconic animals as Lassie, Flipper and Shamu. The AEF is the caretaker of the trained 19-year-old free-flying eagle with nearly 20 years of educational public service.

This rare first in U.S. coinage history gives both serious and novice coin enthusiasts a worthy and compelling reason to purchase one of the 750,000 limited edition Challenger coins before they sell out, according to the conservation group. "This beautiful collectable coin makes a wonderful and lasting gift for our children and grandchildren," AEF President Al Cecere said. "And a portion of the sales price from each coin will help protect the bald eagle, a precious national treasure, for generations to come."

The recently minted Challenger eagle commemorative coin went on sale Jan. 15 and is available for purchase from the United States Mint until Dec. 31, 2008, or until it sells out, whichever comes first.

The reverse (back) side of the coin features Challenger's portrait and name, while the obverse (front) side has the image of two downy sibling eaglets snuggled against an egg.

This half-dollar clad metal coin can be purchased for $10.95 (proof) and $8.95 (uncirculated), with $3 from each unit sold benefiting a special American Eagle Fund. The coin also is available in a Young Collectors Set educational package offered at $14.95 (uncirculated) until June 2008. Each coin comes with a limited-edition certificate.

In addition, the U.S. Mint recently offered a three-coin "proof" set that includes the Challenger eagle coin along with two other companion commemorative eagle coins--a $5 gold coin and a silver dollar. This set has already sold out at the U.S. Mint due to favorable response from collectors (25,000 sets, one per household), and is now only available on the secondary market.

However, both "proof" and "uncirculated" versions of all three coins can still be purchased individually from the U.S. Mint. The coins feature natural and symbolic bald eagle images and emblems.

"We estimate that more than $5 million has already been raised from these commemoratives to aid the future care of bald eagles," Cecere said. "But our goal is to generate $10 million for these great birds with a complete sellout of the coins. Only two months into this ongoing year-long program, we're already half way there. We hope that interest in our cause from the media, companies and the American people will continue and increase until every coin is sold."

For more information, images or to interview Al Cecere, Contact the American Eagle Foundation at Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, TN [phone]; email [e-mail]. Additional information can be obtained at the American Eagle Foundation website www.eagles.org or at the United States Mint website www.usmint.gov.