Lawmakers denounce 9/11 coins as scam

Coins designed to commemorate the 9/11 terror attacks are actually a scam designed to exploit the World Trade Center tragedy, according to Sen. Charles Schumer and Rep. Jerrold Nadler, who announced a crackdown on the enterprise Monday.

The coins, which cost $29.95 each, were issued ahead of the 10th anniversary of the attacks. They feature silver images of the Twin Towers and the USS New York on a gold base on one side and a Department of Justice/FBI insignia on the other. A TV ad says the coins are "officially authorized" and crafted from "priceless silver recovered from Ground Zero."

Speaking Monday near Ground Zero, Democrats Schumer and Nadler, of Manhattan, said the coins are not sanctioned by the federal government.

The lawmakers added that the claims are misleading because the company, National Collector's Mint, has not proven the silver used in the coins comes from Ground Zero. The pair has asked the Federal Trade Commission to shutter National Collector's Mint, which issued the coins, and probe the Port Chester company's marketing practices.

"The 9/11 coin scam surely represents an all-time low by reaping profits from our national tragedy," said the lawmakers' letter to the FTC. Schumer and Nadler have also written to the U.S. Mint asking the agency to warn consumers that the coins are not government-sanctioned.

National Collector's Mint responded that its claims are substantiated. "Our advertising for our 10th anniversary September 11th Commemorative is not deceptive and is clearly presented," the company said in a statement, adding that $2 million from the coin sales has been donated to 9/11-related charities.

But Rosemary Cain, a Massapequa resident who lost her firefighter son, George, 35, in the 9/11 attacks, called the coin sales "despicable."

"I don't see why anybody should profit off the murder of my son," Cain said.

With Anthony M. DeStefano