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United States Mint
801 9th Street NW
Washington DC 20220
Minutes of CCAC Public Meeting (Videoconference)
Tuesday, April 19, 2022
(9:00 am–3:30 pm)
I. Attendance
a. CCAC Members in Attendance:
• Dr. Lawrence Brown (Chair)
• Mary Lannin
• Peter Van Alfen
• Arthur Bernstein
• Dean Kotlowski
• Dr. Harcourt Fuller
• Sam Gill
• Michael Moran
• Robin Salmon
• Donald Scarinci
• Dennis Tucker
b. Mint Officers and Staff in Attendance:
• April Stafford, Chief, Office of Design Management
• Megan Sullivan, Senior Design Specialist
• Boneza Hanchock, Design Manager, Office of Design Management
• Pam Borer, Design Manager, Office of Design Management
• Roger Vazquez, Design Manager, Office of Design Management
• Joe Menna, Chief Engraver
• Mike Costello, Engraving Manager
• Michelle Thompson, Program Analyst
• Jennifer Warren, Director of Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs and
Liaison to the CCAC
• Greg Weinman, Senior Legal Counsel, Counsel to the CCAC, and Counsel assigned to
the American Women Quarters Program and the Native American $1 Coin Program
• Betty Birdsong, Senior Government Affairs Specialist, Office of Legislative and
Intergovernmental Affairs
c. Members of the Media in Attendance:
• Mike Unser, Founder and Editor of Coin News Media Group
• Brandon Hall, Senior Associate Editor, Whitman Publishing
• Paul Gilkes, Senior Editor, Amos Media/Coin World,
d. Liaisons in Attendance:
• Gigi Coleman, great niece of Bessie Coleman
• Christopher Roosevelt, grandson of Eleanor Roosevelt
• Nancy Roosevelt Ireland, granddaughter of Eleanor Roosevelt
• Liz Lopez, family representative for Jovita Idar
Established by an Act of Congress, Public Law 108-15
https://www.ccac.gov

• Martha Aki, family representative for Jovita Idar
• Huihui Kanahele-Mossman, granddaughter of Edith Kanakaʻole and Executive
Director of the Edith Kanakaʻole Foundation
• Elise Paschen, daughter of Maria Tallchief
II. Minutes
1. Chair Dr. Lawrence Brown called the meeting to order at 9:00 am, took roll call of the 11 members, and
determined that the quorum was met. Media attendance and the attendance of Mint staff and officers was
recognized.
2. The minutes and the letters to the Secretary from the Committee’s February 15, 2022, meetings were unanimously
approved via a motion from Peter van Alfen, seconded by Arthur Bernstein.
3. Chair Brown shared that this meeting occurred during National Coin Week 2022, celebrated this year from April
17 to April 23. This annual celebration began with a Presidential Proclamation on April 21, 1974. This year the
theme is “Dynamic Designs, Artistic Masterpieces.”
4. The Mint presented reverse candidate designs for the 2023 American Women Quarters honoring Bessie Coleman,
Eleanor Roosevelt, Jovita Idar, Edith Kanaka'ole, and Maria Tallchief.
5. Before presenting the reverse candidate designs, Ms. April Stafford, Chief of the Mint's Office of Design
Management, recapped Public Law 116-330, the Circulating Collectible Coin Redesign Act of 2020, which
requires the Secretary of the Treasury to issue up to five quarter dollars each year emblematic of prominent
American women beginning 2022 and continuing through 2025. The women to be featured on these quarters are
selected in accordance with a process approved by the Secretary of the Treasury, which includes consultation with
the Smithsonian's American Women's History Initiative, the National Women's History Museum, and the
Bipartisan Women's Caucus. The obverse of the American Women Quarters will to feature Laura Gardin Fraser's
profile of George Washington throughout the Program.
6. The Mint presented nine reverse candidate designs for Bessie Coleman, which all included Ms. Colman’s Curtiss
JN “Jenny” airplane. Ms. Coleman was a pilot, advocate, and pioneer, who flew to great heights as the first
African American and first Native American woman pilot, as well as the first African American to earn an
international pilot's license. “Brave Bessie,” as Ms. Coleman was sometimes called, was able to defy the odds
and become an aviator. Her tenacious drive and fearless personality helped pave the way for future generations of
aviators. After being refused admission into every US flying school that she approached, Coleman learned
French and saved enough money to attend flight school in France, where she was the only student of color in her
class. After earning her international pilot's license, Coleman returned to the United States and performed in
countless air shows.
7. Ms. Gigi Coleman, great niece of Bessie Coleman, joined the meeting and added that Bessie was the first Black
woman to receive her international pilot license in 1921, a fact she believed was not in the history books. She
noted that Bessie died in April 1926 at the age of 34, before she was able to open her aviation school.
8. After this discussion, Mr. Mike Costello and Mr. Joseph Menna were asked if any technical considerations were
warranted and they assured the Committee that all designs were able to be produced.
9. With this background, the Committee discussed the reverse candidate designs, recommending design BC-R-04A,
which received 30 out of a possible 33 points. This design is noteworthy for the inclusion of the inscription
“8.15.1921”, which is the date Ms. Coleman received her pilot’s license. Ms. Coleman’s family also preferred
this design.

Design

Score (33 pts maximum)

BC-R-01

5

BC-R-02

6

BC-R-03

6

BC-R-04

8

BC-R-04A

30 (recommended design)

BC-R-05

20

BC-R-05A

8

BC-R-06

10

BC-R-06A

7

10. The Mint next presented four reverse candidate designs honoring Eleanor Roosevelt, the well-known first lady,
author, reformer, and leader. Appointed by President Truman to the United Nations General Assembly, Ms.
Roosevelt served as a chairperson of the Human Rights Commission, oversaw the creation of the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights, and advocated diligently for the civil liberties and needs of the poor, minorities,
and the disadvantaged. Ms. Roosevelt had a myriad of accomplishments, including her syndicated column My
Day that ran from 1935 to 1962 and the leadership role she played in promoting humanitarian efforts continue to
inspire and motivate today. All of the candidate designs included Ms. Roosevelt’s depiction and commemorated
her work, specifically with Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
11. Mr. Christopher Roosevelt and Ms. Nancy Roosevelt Ireland, grandchildren of Eleanor Roosevelt, shared
memories of their grandmother and engaged in a robust discussion with the Committee on the designs.
12. Mr. Mike Costello and Mr. Joseph Menna assured the Committee that all designs were able to be produced.
13. The Committee then unanimously recommended design ER-R-02A, in concurrence with the recommendation of
the family. This design depicts the scales of justice against a backdrop representing the globe which symbolizes
Ms. Roosevelt’s her work on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The design received the 33 points
which is the maximum points allowed.
Design

Score (33 pts maximum)

ER-R-01

3

ER-R-01A

3

ER-R-02A

33 (recommended design)

ER-R-06

6

14. The Mint presented twelve reverse candidate designs for Jovita Idar, a Mexican American journalist, activist,
teacher, and suffragist who devoted her life to fighting against segregation and injustice. Ms. Idar's ideas and
practices were ahead of her time, and she made it her mission to pursue civil rights for Mexican Americans, as she
believed that education was the foundation for a better future.
15. Mr. Mike Costello and Mr. Joseph Menna assured the Committee all designs were able to be produced.
16. Ms. Liz Lopez and Ms. Martha Aki, family representatives for Jovita Idar, joined the meeting and shared their
gratitude for this honor.

17. Following this robust discussion, the Committee recommended design, JI-R-08, which depicts Ms. Idar with her
hands clasped. Within the body, there is text that represents the newspapers for which she wrote and the great
accomplishments in her life along with required inscriptions. This design received 26 points out of a possible 33.
Design

Score (33 pts maximum)

JI-R-01

16

JI-R-02

15

JI-R-04

3

JI-R-05

5

JI-R-06

4

JI-R-06A

5

JI-R-07

7

JI-R-08

26 (recommended design)

JI-R-08A

8

JI-R-09

3

JI-R-10

4

JI-R-11

4

18. After this recommendation, Chairman Brown invited a motion to recess for lunch--made by Art Bernstein and
seconded by Peter van Alfen--the Committee recessed for lunch at 12:09 pm.
19. Chairman Brown called the public meeting back to order at 1 pm, and after the roll was called he determined that
all 11 Committee members were attendance.
20. The Mint presented the eight reverse candidate designs under consideration for Ms. Edith Kanakaʻole, who was a
famous Indigenous Hawaiian composer, chanter, dancer, teacher, and entertainer. Her moʻolelo, or stories, served
to rescue aspects of Hawaiian history, customs, and traditions. All of the designs depicted elements of Ms.
Kanaka’ole’s native Hawaiian landscape. Mr. Mike Costello and Joseph Menna confirmed that all designs were
able to be produced.
21. Ms. Huihui Kanahele-Mossman, granddaughter of Edith Kanakaʻole, joined the Committee and shared her
thoughts about her grandmother’s contributions.
22. With this information, the Committee discussed the reverse candidate designs and recommended design EK-R-01,
which received 33 points out of the maximum 33 points allowed. This design portrays Edith Kanaka'ole with her
hair and lei po'o morphing into a Hawaiian landscape illustrating the integration of Kanaka'ole's work with the
preservation of the land and culture. The additional inscription translates as granting the wisdom.

Design

Score (33 pts maximum)

EK-R-01

33 (recommended design)

EK-R-01A

20

EK-R-02

5

EK-R-03

9

EK-R-03A

10

EK-R-04

7

EK-R-05

5

EK-R-05A

5

23. On a motion by Dennis Tucker and second by Peter van Alfen, the Committee voted unanimously to recommend
that the Mint to reduce the size of the cent sign in reverse EK-R-01.
24. The last portfolio for the American Women’s Quarter Program honors Maria Tallchief, who was widely
considered the first American prima ballerina. Tallchief broke barriers as a Native American ballerina, exhibiting
strength and resilience both on and off the stage. Her resilience and confidence led to her many prestigious roles,
including her signature role in Stravinsky’s Firebird and her best-known role as the Sugar Plum Fairy in the
Nutcracker. Tallchief became the first American to dance with the Paris Opera Ballet.
25. The Mint presented the seven reverse candidate designs, all of which included Tallchief in balletic pose. Mr.
Mike Costello and Mr. Joseph Menna assured the Committee that all designs were able to be produced.
26. The Committee was joined by Ms. Elise Paschen, daughter of Ms. Tallchief. Ms. Paschen expressed her
appreciation of the honor received by her mother.
27. Following a discussion of the reverse candidate designs, the Committee recommended design MTQ-R-04, which
received 30 out of a possible 33 points. This design was also favored by Ms. Paschen.
Design

Score (33 pts maximum)

MTQ-R-01

8

MTQ-R-01A

7

MTQ-R-02

5

MTQ-R-03

19

MTQ-R-03A

3

MTQ-R-04

30 (recommended design)

MTQ-R-05

4

28. The final portfolio presented to the Committee were the reverse candidate designs for the 2023 Native American
$1 Coin. Ms. Stafford provided background information noting that the Native American Dollar Coin Act (Public
Law 110-82), requires the Secretary of the Treasury to annually mint and issue new dollar coins with reverse
designs celebrating the important contributions made by Indian tribes and individual Native Americans to the
development of the United States and the history of the United States. The 2023 Native American $1 coin theme
is Maria Tallchief, American Indians in Ballet.

29. The Mint presented the seven reverse candidate designs under consideration for the Committee. All of the designs
featured a ballerina dancing and the additional inscription American Indians in Ballet. Once again, Mr. Mike
Costello and Mr. Joseph Menna confirmed that all designs were able to be produced.
30. Ms. Elise Paschen, daughter of Ms. Tallchief, also joined the Committee for the discussion of this portfolio. She
again expressed her appreciation of her mother being honored and also expressed her receptivity to recognize all
ballerinas.
31. After a robust discussion of the designs, the Committee recommended design NA$1-04, which received 25 out of
a possible 33 points. The design features Maria Tallchief in the foreground, additional ballerinas in the
background, and it includes the additional inscription Maria Tallchief. The family and Congressional Native
American Caucus of the House of Representatives also favored this design.
Design

Score (33 pts maximum)

NA$1-01

5

NA$1-01A

7

NA$1-02

16

NA$1-02A

5

NA$1-03

16

NA$1-04

25 (recommended design)

NA$-05

5

32. On a motion by Dennis Tucker and second by Arthur Bernstein, the Committee voted unanimously to recommend
to the Secretary of the Treasury to consider either design JI-R-01 or JI-R-02 if she does not choose JI-R-08.
33. There being no further business. Chairman Brown called for a motion to adjourn the meeting. Peter van Alfen
made the motion, seconded by Dean Kotlowski. The motion was approved and the meeting concluded at 3:31
pm.