The full text on this page is automatically extracted from the file linked above and may contain errors and inconsistencies.
Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee 801 Ninth Street, NW, Washington, DC 20220 C CAC Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee Public Meeting Monday, November 24 2008 Thayer Hotel West Point, NY In attendance: Roger Burdette (via telephone) Arthur Houghton Gary Marks Reverend Rick Meier Mitch Sanders (Chair) Donald Scarinci Joe Winter (via telephone) 1. The chair called the meeting to order at 12:18 PM. 2. The chair explained that this meeting of the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee was being held in West Point, NY in conjunction with the First Strike Ceremony for the Ultra-High Relief Double Eagle Gold Coin, which had occurred at the West Point Mint earlier in the day. 3. Cynthia Meals of the United States Mint presented proposed designs for the bronze medal to be issued in honor of Edmund C. Moy, 38th Director of the United States Mint. 4. After some introductory remarks by Ms Meals, Director Moy addressed the CCAC. He explained that he envisioned his medal as the first public indicator of a neo-renaissance in American numismatic design. 5. Director Moy asked the committee to recommend medal designs that most closely accomplished five goals: a. Have a uniquely American appearance b. Exemplify 21st century design c. Tell a great story d. Expand the Mint’s technological capabilities e. Attain a high standard of aesthetic beauty He also indicated to the committee his openness to suggestions for modifications of the proposed designs. 6. Ms Meals presented the proposed candidates for the medal’s obverse. She explained that all of the proposed obverse designs would be produced in an incuse format, whereby the portrait would appear below the medal’s “zero plane.” The Director’s cheek would be the portrait element with the highest relief, and the portrait would be separated from the “zero plane” with a beveled edge. Overall, the medal’s relief would be 16%-20% higher than most previous medals produced by the United States Mint. Three versions of the design feature different textures and inscriptions. 7. Ms Meals then presented the proposed reverse designs: a. Liberty Marching from Darkness. A modern version of Liberty walks forward into the future, holding a lamp projecting abstract rays of light, surrounded by 21 stars representing the 21st century. b. Torch of Liberty and Enlightenment. The symbolic torch floats before a field of light, dispelling the darkness. The effect of light would be expressed with gradations of texture: an untextured surface near the flame would represent light, and the texture would gradually become more intense, representing darkness. Two different inscriptions appear in different combinations and arrangements: “TUA LUX ET LIBERTAS SECULO SECULORUM” (Thy Light and Liberty Forever and Ever” and “IN DEO SPERAMUS” (In God We Trust). c. The Edge of Excellence. An image representing beauty pushes the boundaries of the circle surrounding her. The muscularity of the figure represents the effort and energy required to advance excellence. 8. Members generally praised the proposed medal designs, and expressed enthusiasm for the designs as representatives of the Mint’s continuing efforts to achieve excellence in numismatic design. 9. Mr Scarinci moved that the CCAC should forego its usual ranking procedure, and instead forward all of the committee’s comments to the Director without expressing a preference. Mr Houghton seconded the motion. The motion was defeated, 4-3. 10. At the conclusion of the discussion, each member rated each design on a scale from 0 to 3. With seven members present and voting, the maximum possible point total was 21. 11. The CCAC recommends Obverse design 1A and Reverse design 3. Complete results were: Obverse Image 1A 1B 1C 1D textured field with “Edmund C. Moy / 38th Director” on two lines textured field with “Edmund C. Moy 38th Director on one line textured field with “Edmund C. Moy” untextured field with “Edmund C. Moy / 38th Director on two lines Reverse Image 1 2A 2B Liberty Marching from Darkness Torch of Liberty and Enlightenment with inscriptions at top, bottom Torch of Liberty and Enlightenment with inscriptions at bottom Points (max=21) 14 2 7 6 Points (max=21) 7 4 1 2C 3 Torch of Liberty and Enlightenment without inscriptions The Edge of Excellence 4 14 12. Several members suggested modifications to the recommended designs: a. The words “United States Mint” should appear on the medal’s obverse, or perhaps on its edge, to complete the identification of the medal’s subject. b. The inscription “The Edge of Excellence” should be shortened simply to “Excellence,” or perhaps removed altogether. Members felt that the meaning of the design would be clearly conveyed even with the inscription shortened or eliminated. c. The figure on the reverse design The Edge of Excellence should be shown with a higher level of exertion, and with more impact on the circle surrounding her. 13. The following suggestions and concerns were also raised by individual CCAC members: a. Consideration should be given to having inscriptions in English rather than Latin. b. The “rake marks” on the portrait, intended to suggest continued evolution as a person, could be mistaken for a production defect on the finished medal. c. The obverse and reverse should be united with a rounded edge, if technologically possible. 14. On motion by Mr Houghton, seconded by Rev. Meier, the CCAC voted unanimously to recommend the proposed designs for the Congressional Gold Medal honoring former Prime Minister Tony Blair of the United Kingdom, and for the bronze medal honoring Henry M. Paulson for his service as 74th Secretary of the Treasury. 15. Ms Meals then introduced the proposed narrative for the 2010 issue of the Native American $1 Coin Program. Coins issued under this program feature Sacagawea on the obverse, with reverse designs changing annually. Each year’s design will have a new design emblematic of one important contribution made by a Native American tribe or individual to the development and history of the United States. 16. The proposed theme, Government – Great Tree of Peace, was developed in consultation with the National Museum of the American Indian. 17. A written statement from Professor John Alexander, the CCAC member appointed based on special expertise in American history, was read into the record by the chair. 18. Dr Alexander’s chief concern was that the narrative as written constituted “advocacy history,” and that the argument that Native Americans greatly influenced the founders of the United States government “rested more on inference than clearly demonstrated fact.” Dr Alexander also explained that the examples mentioned by John Adams in his discussion of American government were primarily European, rather than Native American. 19. Dr James Adams of the National Museum of the American Indian, the author of the proposed narrative, then addressed the committee. Dr Adams stated that the Iroquois Confederacy had directly influenced Benjamin Franklin’s early call for colonial unity, and indicated that John Adams’ discussion of Native Americans was a passing reference in a document intended for a primarily European audience. 20. The chair and other members expressed their appreciation to Dr Adams for attending the meeting, and for the work that he and the National Museum of the American Indian conduct on behalf of the United States Mint. 21. The consensus of the committee was that historical accuracy was of vital importance, and that Dr Alexander’s concerns should be addressed by the Mint and incorporated into the narratives sent to artists in connection with the 2010 Native American Dollar. 22. There being no further business, the chair adjourned the meeting at 2:15 PM.
