In case you hadn’t circled the date on your calendar, the deadline passed earlier this month for a contest sponsored by the U.S. Mint that challenged baseball fans and coin lovers alike to design a new commemorative coin celebrating the National Baseball Hall of Fame. The deadline for the adult contest, which came and went on May 11, saw the Mint receive some 178 entrants vying to have their designs displayed on the obverse of the  new commemorative, which is slated to be released in 2014 and will be the first curved coin ever released by the Mint.

Now that the candidates are in, it will be up to a panel of five judges to select which design will be selected for the Hall. That panel is made up of a Hall of Fame cast, as former Major League Baseball players Joe Morgan, Ozzie Smith, Brooks Robinson, Don Sutton and Dave Winfield will have the final say on the winner. That group will have the weighty task of picking which design will be the grand slam of the group, a duty that will likely take at least a few weeks as they weigh the options.

The judges have been charged with selecting the design for a commemorative that will come in three different denominations, with collectors having the option to pick up a clad half dollar piece, a silver dollar or a $5 gold coin celebrating the nation’s pastime.  With 178 options to choose from, the judges will certainly have their work cut out for them as the rest of the coin world anxiously waits to see what the new commemorative piece will look like. The lucky winner will be immortalized on the coin – which was required to feature a general baseball scene honoring the sport – as the recipient will not only win a $5,000 prize for being selected but will also have their initial alongside their design placed on the coin.

For youngsters who haven’t had a chance to jump into the fray, there’s still time, as the contest geared toward entrants aged 14 and under will run through June 28. School is almost out and kids who have a passion for the national pastime and numismatics should step up to the plate and swing away at this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! Check out the U.S. Mint web site for more information on the contest and instructions on how to submit an entry.

Though common courtesies are a lost art, that doesn’t mean collectors shouldn’t mind their Ps and Qs at coin shows. In fact, if you’re hoping to establish a solid reputation among your coin community – and this can be a closely connected group, depending on your geographic location – make sure you heed some advice on etiquette when you’re dealing in coins.

Never interrupt another buyer – I’ve seen this happen more often than I’d care to admit. While it seems like a well-known, if unspoken rule, never walk in on another man’s deal when he’s working with a seller. It doesn’t matter if they are yet to enter negotiations. If another party is engaged with a dealer about a specific coin, consider it a “Do Not Enter” sign. Don’t ask about the price. Don’t throw out an offer. Don’t even ask to see the piece until its clear they’ve finished up their business.

Be fair and reasonable – When it comes to buying coins, we all want to brag about great scores we’ve made, particularly when it’s the deal of a lifetime at a coin show. That doesn’t mean you should throw out egregious low-ball offers in the hopes of catching a seller off their game. Remember: dealers attend these shows to make money. They have to – and frankly, we need them to – if they are going to stay in business. Since they likely pay a fair chunk for space, make sure you show them the respect to keep all offers reasonable and in tune with market prices. Those who consistently low ball dealers will be labeled with a negative reputation and won’t likely garner much attention when they’re looking to bargain.

Respect a dealer’s space – If you happen to be one of those collectors cherrypicking or hoping to sell a few pieces at a coin show, keep your roster to only the top coins you want to unload. The last thing you want to do is eat up a ton of a dealer’s time sorting through each and every piece in your collection. Not only does it take away from the opportunity for other collector’s to ask questions of that dealer – or even solicit a possible sale of their own – it also reduces the dealer’s potential to reach a wider audience of potential buyers. Also, keep items that might make a dealer nervous, namely bags and backpacks, away from their table to avoid any suspicion of trying to swipe a few coins.