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October 22, 2024 The Honorable Janet Yellen Secretary of the Treasury Department of the Treasury 1500 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20220 Dear Madam Secretary: The Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC) held a public meeting on October 15–16, 2024, during which we reviewed the candidate designs for the obverses and reverses of the 2026 circulating dime, quarters, and half dollar. The Circulating Collectible Coin Redesign Act (Public Law 116–330) authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to redesign and issue coins in 2026 in commemoration of the United States Semiquincentennial. Over the course of its two-day public meeting, the CCAC reviewed the seven portfolios for the dime, five quarters, and half dollar individually, using its anonymous scoring method to identify obverse and reverse candidate designs initially favored by the majority of the CCAC members. Once the seven portfolios had been reviewed and scored, the CCAC then considered the highest scoring obverse and reverse candidate designs as a set, along with other designs from the portfolios, in order to further consider and refine its recommendations, seeking to find those candidate designs that worked best together as a set. For the 2026 dime, the CCAC, following a motion of which six were in favor and four opposed, recommends obverse design candidate DIME-O-03 paired with reverse design candidate DIME-R-03A. The recommended obverse is stylistically congruent with two of the recommended quarter obverses (DQO-02 and CQ-O-02, see further below); the right-facing personification of Liberty also aligns with the right-facing personifications of Liberty on the same two quarter obverses, thus further creating strong stylistic coherence within this group. In addition, the Liberty cap, a symbol of freedom since antiquity, that is worn by the personification of Liberty refers both to the theme of the dime in the “first act” of the Semiquincentennial coin program (“Liberty over Tyranny”) and to some of the earliest coins of the US Mint, which featured a similarly capped Liberty. In a subsequent motion, with nine in favor and one abstaining, the CCAC recommends that the Mint evaluate if the flight feathers of the eagle on the recommended reverse design need to be straightened to more accurately depict the feathers on the actual birds. For the 2026 Declaration of Independence quarter, the CCAC, following a motion of which seven were in favor and three opposed, recommends obverse design candidate DQ-O-02 paired with reverse design candidate DQ-R-08. In a subsequent motion that passed unanimously, the CCAC recognized the depiction of the Liberty Bell on the recommended reverse serves as an iconic symbol of the moment of Independence and that the CCAC understands the bell did not actually ring on or around the date the Declaration of Independence was published on July 4, 1776. For the 2026 U.S. Constitution quarter, the CCAC, following a motion of which nine were in favor with one abstaining, recommends obverse design candidate CQ-O-02 paired with reverse design candidate CQ-R-09. In a subsequent motion of which nine were in favor with one abstaining, the CCAC recommends that the words “U.S. CONSTITUTION” on the recommended reverse be elevated to the position occupied by the word “LIBERTY”, and to place “LIBERTY” in the place occupied by the words “U.S. CONSTITUION”. While unconventional, the recommended reverse design is among the strongest in the portfolio, featuring a detail of the chair used by George Washington during his tenure as president of the Constitutional Convention. The image of the chair offers a direct and personal link to two of the founding fathers, Washington and Benjamin Franklin, and makes reference to a famed episode during the Convention in which Franklin commented on the rising, not setting sun depicted on the chair. This design thus offers the public an opportunity to learn more about the Convention and the personalities involved. For the 2026 Abolitionism quarter, the CCAC, following an unanimously approved motion, recommends obverse design candidate AQ-O-01 paired with reverse design candidate AQ-R-01. In the same motion, the CCAC recommends that the word “ABOLITIONISM” on the reverse design be replaced with the word “ABOLITION.” The CCAC felt that the recommended reverse is a most powerful and unique image that conveys exceptionally well both the reality of slavery and its end. For the 2026 Women’s Suffrage quarter, the CCAC, following a motion for which five were in favor, three opposed, with two abstaining, recommends obverse candidate design SQ-O-01B paired with reverse candidate design SQ-R-04. In a subsequent motion for which seven were in favor and three opposed, the CCAC recommends that the Mint work in conjunction with stakeholders and subject matter specialists to replace the words “VOTES FOR WOMEN” on the recommended reverse with an appropriate phrase to avoid the duplication of “VOTES FOR WOMEN” on both sides of the coin. For the 2026 Civil Rights quarter, the CCAC, following an unanimously approved motion, recommends obverse design candidate CRQ-O-01 paired with reverse design candidate CRQ-R-02. In a subsequent motion, for which nine were in favor and one opposed, the CCAC recommends that the Mint work with stakeholders and subject matter specialists to ensure the individuals depicted on the recommended reverse design are appropriately diverse in order to reflect the spectrum of Americans involved in this movement. For the 2026 half dollar, the CCAC, following a motion for which seven were in favor and three opposed, recommends obverse candidate design HALF-O-05 paired with reverse candidate design HALF-R-05A. It is an honor to serve as the Chair of the CCAC and I am proud of the CCAC’s role in the production of United States coins and medals, especially in the momentous occasion of our nation’s Semiquincentennial. Sincerely, Peter van Alfen, PhD, CCAC Chair October 21, 2024 The Honorable Janet Yellen Secretary of the Treasury Department of the Treasury 1500 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20220 Dear Madam Secretary: The Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC) held a public meeting on October 15, 2024, during which we reviewed the candidate designs for the obverses of the 2026–2028 American Eagle Platinum Proof Coins. The American Eagle Coin Program, established in 1986, offers a range of gold, silver, platinum, and palladium bullion coins to investors, alongside proof and uncirculated versions for collectors. Of particular distinction are the American Eagle Platinum Proof Coins, introduced in 1997, and bearing the highest denomination of $100 for any U.S legal tender coin. Imprinted with the “W” mark of the Mint at West Point, these coins are struck on one ounce of 99.95 percent premium platinum. Since 2018, a common reverse design has united the coins, featuring an eagle in flight carrying an olive branch. Launching in 2026 to coincide with the nation’s Semiquincentennial, the United States Mint will produce the "Charters of Freedom" Platinum Proof Coin Series. The "Charters of Freedom" series, inspired by the National Archives Museum’s Rotunda for the Charters of Freedom, where these treasures are housed, will consist of three platinum proof coins produced over three years, each dedicated to one of the three essential documents to the founding of the United States: the Declaration of Independence, the United States Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. Following a review process that included CCAC input during our July 2024 public meeting, the Mint invited three artists to revise their 2026 designs and to develop candidate designs for the second and third installments of the “Charters of Freedom” series. The Mint presented coherent sets of three obverses for 2026, 2027, and 2028, each highlighting one of the foundational documents that have guided the United States through its 250 years of history. At our public meeting, the CCAC reviewed the three sets. By a motion that passed unanimously by voice vote, the CCAC recommends obverse PTP-01-D-01A for the 2026 coin. In the same motion, the CCAC also indicated its preference for Set 01, of which the recommended obverse is a part. In addition, by motion, the CCAC requested the opportunity to review PTP-01-C-01 (for 2027) and PTP-01-B-01 (for 2028) at future public meetings for any recommended alterations to the designs. It is an honor to serve as the Chair of the CCAC and I am proud of the CCAC’s role in the production of United States coins and medals. Sincerely, Peter van Alfen, PhD, CCAC Chair