Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Here is a list of questions we get asked often about the Coal Miner Stamp effort. Please check here before emailing or writing us with questions.

Why has the effort slowed down since December 2003?

Rhea Malone, a driving force in the effort, passed away December 2003. She spent countless hours on the stamp effort, and was instrumental in keeping the web site updated and the stamp effort alive. Since her passing, there has not been the same effort devoted to the cause.

How many signatures are required to get a stamp issued?

There is no set number. Ideally, we should have as many as possible. One of the criteria is that the stamp must be of national interest, so the signatures should be from all over the United States.

How long will the endeavor continue to obtain the stamp, or series of stamps?

As long as it takes to do the job. We are carrying forward an effort that has a history of more than 14 years so far. For more information, refer to our history page.

Why has a stamp, or series of stamps, not been issued prior to this time?

The Post Office Committee that makes the decision has not yet been persuaded that a stamp is of national or historic interest. It is our task to demonstrate to that committee that a stamp honoring miners, or a commemorative series, is indeed of significant national and historic interest. The selection committee also prefers to tie the issuance of a stamp to some particular historical event. We continue to examine various historical events in the history of coal mining in this nation to see if we can find something that meets this need.

What about other miners, such as copper, iron, gold, or non-metallic?

This petition is a continuation of an endeavor that was started by a retired Pennsylvania coal miner, John Vengien, in 1986. Once a petition has been posted online, it cannot be changed. It would take another petition to advocate for the other mining occupations.