The full text on this page is automatically extracted from the file linked above and may contain errors and inconsistencies.
February 28, 2006 Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee Public meeting United States Mint Headquarters 801 9th Street, NW 2nd Floor Washington, DC Present: John Alexander Leon Billings Bill Fivaz Rita Laws (via telephone conference call) Mitch Sanders Donald Scarinci (via telephone conference call) Ken Thomasma Ute Wartenberg S. Joseph Winter 1. Mitch Sanders, Chairman, called the meeting to order at 10.07 am. 2. By motion duly made by John Alexander and seconded by Leon Billings, the minutes of the meeting on January 24, 2006 were unanimously approved with the following change: the last sentence of paragraph 7 (“the committee…with his view.”) was struck. The letter to the Secretary regarding the Committee’s January meeting was noted. Dr. Sanders explained that due to subsequent decisions by the U.S. Mint he had left out certain sections for the sake of clarity, which were being reviewed again by the Committee. 3. Dr. Sanders also noted that Ms. Constance Harriman had resigned from the Committee. He expressed regret about her resignation and acknowledged Ms. Harriman’s service as a member of the Committee and in her period as Chairperson of the Committee. 4. By motion duly made by Leon Billings and seconded by Ute Wartenberg Kagan, the Committee asked that certain trade publications be sent to those members of the Committee, who wished to inform themselves about numismatic matters. 5. Dr. Sanders introduced Kaarina Budow from the U.S. Mint, who introduced the new presidential dollar designs. Before the designs were presented, Dr. Sanders expressed the committee’s appreciation for the action taken by Acting Director David Lebryk and the staff of the U.S. Mint for having shown such flexibility and opening up the presidential dollars to the Artistic Infusion Program. Mr. Scarinci extended his personal thanks to Mr. Lebryk for having acted on the Committee’s recommendation to solicit new designs. 6. Members of the committee discussed some general guidelines for the presidential portraits of the dollar series. There was general agreement that the portrait of the President should be ideally of the period of his presidency. All members with one exception also favored that the there should be a single template for the arrangement of the obverse inscriptions for the entire program, thus creating a consistency within the series. Everyone agreed that the President’s name should be shown as he was known in his own time (for example, with the use of a middle initial for James K. Polk). 7. Ms. Budow explained that artists were provided with official White House portraits, intaglio engravings from the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, and designs for Presidential medals as primary source materials for Presidential images, and that in addition the artists could use other source materials as appropriate. 8. Ms. Budow introduced proposed designs for George Washington. Most members liked designs GW-08 and GW-12, which are based on the same painting of Washington. Some members felt uncertain about the lack of a proper shoulder in GW-12. Just judging the portrait and leaving the question of a banner or inscription aside, the following were the Committee’s top choices (out of 27 possible points): GW-08 19 points GW-12 18 points GW-05 7 points GW-08 was narrowly preferred, with considerable support also for GW-12. Members generally thought highly of both designs, and both were considered suitable choices. 9. Among the proposals for John Adams, the committee’s top three choices were (out of a possible 27 points): JA-05 21 points JA-07 18 points JA-06 11 points Members generally felt that designs JA-05 and JA-07 were preferable in part because they represented Adams at the time of his Presidency. In the discussion, JA-06 was also considered, but overall the portrait was not felt to portray the correct image of Adams as President. Some members also thought that JA-07 could show less of his clothing. 10. It was mentioned that historically, coins portraying monarchs have alternated the direction of the portrait, with a successor facing in a different direction from their predecessor. Members unanimously rejected this plan for the Presidential dollar coins as historically inappropriate, and it was agreed that the committee would not take account of this practice and would not deliberately recommend such alternation of portraits. 11. Thomas Jefferson’s portrait has been discussed for several prior coin designs in recent years. At this occasion the Committee particularly liked portraits TJ-06 and TJ-10, which represent a less grand Jefferson, who is shown in a three-quarter view and in simple dress. Design TJ-09 was a distant third choice. The committee’s top three ratings were (out of a possible 27 points): TJ-10 20 points TJ-06 16 points TJ-09 7 points. 12. Among the somewhat less familiar portraits of James Madison, most members liked a three quarter view represented in JM5, JM 6, JM8 and JM 9. The committee’s top ratings were (out of a possible 27 points): JM-08 17 points JM-09 15 points JM-05, JM-06 5 points. 13. On motion made by Mr. Fivaz, and seconded by Dr. Alexander, the committee voted 9-0 to recommend that for the Washington, Adams, Jefferson, and Madison designs, a three-quarter facing image should be preferred over a profile. 14. The Committee voted 8-1 that there should be a consistent arrangement of Presidents’ names, order of service, and dates of service throughout the duration of the Presidential dollar program. The Committee rejected the arrangement on design GW-08 by a vote of 5-3. The committee voted 7-2 to recommend the arrangement of lettering on design GW-03, with the President’s name at the top of the obverse, and the other required information at the bottom of the obverse below the portrait, presented as (for example) “1st President 1789-1797”. Members generally thought this arrangement was clearly expressed, and would fit with any Presidential portrait. The committee indicated that it did not have a particular preference regarding the font to be used for the obverse lettering. 15. Ms. Budow then presented proposed designs for the reverse of the Presidential dollar design. Legislation requires a depiction of the Statue of Liberty, extending to the rim of the coin but not giving the appearance of a two-headed coin. Ms. Budow explained that the reverse design of the presidential dollar coin is not required to remain the same throughout the entire program. The United States Mint currently plans to use one common reverse for the presidential dollar coins, but could revisit this decision in the future. 16. Committee members, in particular John Alexander, felt strongly that the torch should be visible, reflecting the theme of “Liberty Enlightening the World,” and that the tablet should be clearly visible as well. There was some discussion about whether a view from below or a frontal view was to be preferred. After a passionate plea from Mr. Alexander for the frontal, half-size view of the statue, the committee voted their top choices as follows (out of a maximum possible 27 points): R-03 21 points R-08 (without the inner circle) 11 points R-19 10 points. Members generally considered design R-03 to be a clear, complete, and accurate view of the statue, and appreciated the direct frontal perspective of the image. 17. The Committee discussed proposals for edge lettering around the coin, as required by the authorizing legislation. There was general agreement that a star should be recommended to divide the different parts. The order of these parts was suggested to be “2007 E PLURIBUS UNUM IN GOD WE TRUST ”. The committee did not express a preference regarding the font to be used, and Ms. Budow indicated that the Mint’s aim was to make the font as large and legible as possible. 18. Ann Bailey of the United States Mint then presented designs for the reverse of the Jamestown commemorative gold five-dollar coin. The Committee had viewed proposed designs for this issue at its January meeting, but revisited the issue after some of the originally proposed designs, including the CCAC’s recommendation for the reverse of the gold five-dollar piece, had been removed from consideration. 19. Members generally expressed support for designs GR-04, GR-07, and GR-10. The Committee’s top three ratings were: GR-07 16 points GR-10 12 points GR-04 11 points 20. Cliff Northup, Director of Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs for the United States Mint, then presented the Committee with an update on legislative items related to coins and medals. 21. There being no further business, the chair adjourned the meeting at 2:00 PM.