By KAREN MATTHEWS
Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) - Two New York lawmakers on Monday called for a crackdown on a company that is selling Sept. 11 commemorative coins supposedly containing silver from ground zero.

U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer and U.S. Rep. Jerrold Nadler, both Democrats, said Port Chester, N.Y.-based National Collector's Mint is "profiteering off a national tragedy" by advertising its coins as an authorized memento of the World Trade Center attacks.

"With the 10th anniversary of 9/11 approaching, we should, unfortunately, expect more scams as criminals and snake oil salesmen seek to profit from the deep emotional connection that millions of Americans have to that terrible tragedy," Nadler said.

He and Schumer called on the Federal Trade Commission to stop National Collector's Mint from selling the coins and to investigate its marketing practices.

Company President Avram Freedberg said in a statement that the company has donated more than $2 million to various Sept. 11 charities.

"We are proud of our contributions," he said.

The company website says, as did Freedberg, that the coins are clad in silver "recovered from the vaults beneath the ashes of Ground Zero" - a claim that Schumer and Nadler said cannot be substantiated. In addition, the website says, the coins are "Liberian government authorized legal tender coin."

A law passed in July creates an official Sept. 11 medal that benefits the National September 11 Memorial & Museum being built at the World Trade Center site.

Schumer and Nadler said the sale of National Collector's Mint's $29.95 coins could deprive the museum of millions of dollars in funds raised from the sale of the official medals.

Memorial spokesman Michael Frazier said the National Collector's Mint's coin "will in no way help maintain a national tribute to the 9/11 victims and heroes."

The company ran afoul of the law in 2004 when it issued a "Freedom Tower Silver Dollar" that it asserted was "legally authorized government issue."

It was charged with fraud and forced to pay more than $2 million in refunds and cancellations.