FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Franklin Mint Announces Plans to Commemorate the Upcoming Inauguration of Barack Obama

Franklin Center, PA - January 14, 2009 (INB) -- The Franklin Mint, the world's leading private mint and most trusted name in collectibles, has announced plans to recognize the upcoming Inauguration of Barack Obama by issuing an array of special edition "Eyewitness to History" commemoratives that will preserve this moment in history for generations to come.

The Franklin Mint has scoured their vaults for artifacts that recognize the historical significance of this event. Products being released by the company incorporate several rare mint condition United States postage stamps up to 70 years old featuring political icons such as John F. Kennedy, Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King Jr., and George Washington; treasures in their own right. Historic newspapers from coast to coast are also included in these offerings.

"The tradition of Inaugural commemoratives is as old as the Presidency itself," comments Gwynne M. Gorr, Chief Marketing Officer of The Franklin Mint. "Since George Washington first took the oath of office in 1789, Americans - regardless of party affiliation - have celebrated each Inauguration and have kept the memories of the event alive with mementos, ranging from banners and buttons to stamps and, of course, coins." Comments Gorr, "in fact, back to our very beginnings, The Franklin Mint has been committed to recording for posterity the most memorable and significant events of our time; the first manned lunar landing, the Silver Jubilee of the Royal Family, the election of Pope John Paul II, to name just a few. It is a "given" then that we should pay tribute to one of the most significant Inaugurations of our time - perhaps the most significant."

The Barack Obama Inauguration Eyewitness Commemoratives reflect the culmination of The Franklin Mint's efforts to chronicle the meteoric rise and election of the first African-American President of the Unites States. Since Obama's historic election night victory on November 4, 2008, the Mint has introduced a Presidential Commemorative cachet with a color-enhanced Kennedy Half-Dollar and Inaugural Postage Stamp, a set of five U.S. quarters enhanced with original art depicting key moments in Obama's quest for the White House, an impressive commemorative coin richly coated in 24 karat gold, and a handsome portfolio consisting of three actual newspapers, each with an account of an important milestone in Obama's historic victory.

"The response has been enthusiastic, to say the least," continues Gorr. "In fact, our commemorative cachet honoring the Obama-Biden ticket was a complete sell-out - 50,000 issues! Additional sell-outs of limited editions are expected over the next few days as the inaugural events draw closer.

"Barack Obama's victory ranks as one of the most important events of our time," concludes Gorr, "an event of such importance that people want that certain something, that memento, that keepsake to keep the memory alive ... for themselves and for future generations. As always, The Franklin Mint is here to satisfy that need."

For more information call: 1-610-884-4800 or visit www.franklinmint.com

About The Franklin Mint
An American institution founded in 1964, The Franklin Mint is known worldwide for its innovative design, meticulous attention to detail, and creating some of the highest-quality collectible products in the world. The Franklin Mint's peerless archives includes over 12,000 product lines, including "limited edition" fine art sculptures, heirloom collectible dolls, commemorative coins, designer jewelry, precision die-cast models and historic reproductions, as well as collections honoring some of the world's most revered individuals and institutions. With product lines featuring the top American brands - from Marilyn Monroe and John Wayne to Monopoly and Harley-Davidson - The Franklin Mint has brought collectibles to tens of millions of people around the world for over four decades.

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