The full text on this page is automatically extracted from the file linked above and may contain errors and inconsistencies.
October 14, 2022 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 September 27, 2022, during which the CCAC reviewed reverse candidate designs for the 2024 American Innovation $1 Coin honoring innovations in Maine. This letter details the CCAC’s recommendations. Public Law 115-197, the American Innovation $1 Coin Act (Act), requires the Secretary of the Treasury to mint and issue $1 coins with a reverse design honoring innovation or innovators from each of the 50 states, the territories, and the District of Columbia. All coins in this program share a common obverse of the Statue of Liberty and are inscribed “$1” and “In God We Trust.” In accordance with the Act, the United States Mint (Mint) worked with the Governors of the states being honored in 2024 to develop design concepts for the coins. The Governors were asked to propose from one to three design concepts, and artists created designs based on all concepts proposed and subsequently approved by the Secretary. The Mint worked with liaisons and experts from each state in developing the candidate designs. The state of Maine proposes to honor the innovator Dr. Bernard Lown, a Lithuanian-American cardiologist, who was the original developer of the direct current defibrillator, also known as a cardioverter, for cardiac resuscitation and correcting rapid disordered heart rhythms. At the time, they were believed to be responsible for 40 percent of the half-million fatal heart attacks in the United States every year. Dr. Lown was also a pioneer in public health, including innovations to improve healthcare delivery, drug treatment, and the inextricable relationship between stress and illness. For the state of Maine, the CCAC was joined by Mr. Greg Olsen, the Maine State Deputy Treasurer and Anne Lown, the daughter of Dr. Bernard Lown. The CCAC received nine candidate designs, the Committee recommended ME-08 with a score of 26 out of the 33 maximum. This design presents a profile portrait of Dr. Bernard Lown with his direct current defibrillator in operation below. The design is flanked by the inscriptions “DR. BERNARD LOWN” and “DIRECT CURRENT DEFIBRILLATOR.” This design is also preferred by Dr. Lown’s family. To distinguish that Dr. Lown’s doctorate was in medicine, the CCAC also recommended that that the inscription of “DR. BERNARD LOWN” on ME-08 be changed to “BERNARD LOWN, M.D.”. As there are many non-physician scientists involved in a wide range of medical scientific research, attaching the “M.D.” would enhance the understanding of those who review this coin. As a physician researcher in public health, I, too, recommend this modification. Established by an Act of Congress, Public Law 108-15 https://www.ccac.gov Once again and on behalf of the CCAC, it is an honor for the CCAC to continue its participation in the design process of this ongoing series. As a collector of this series, the addition of the Maine 2024 coin of this program will spark the interest and conversation of health care professionals as well continue the attractiveness of the American Innovation Dollar to the numismatic community. Sincerely, Lawrence S. Brown, Jr., MD, MPH, FACP, DFASAM CCAC Chair October 17, 2022 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 September 27, 2022, during which the CCAC made recommendations for the obverse and reverse candidate designs for the Greg LeMond Congressional Gold Medal. With this letter, I present the CCAC’s recommendations. Public Law 116-208, the Greg LeMond Congressional Gold Medal Act, awards a Congressional Gold Medal to Greg LeMond in recognition of his service to the nation as an athlete, activist, role model, and community leader. LeMond first competed in the Tour de France in 1984, finishing third, and finishing second the following year. In both years, he deputized himself to his teammates, sacrificing a chance to win himself to boost his teammates toward victory. LeMond completed his professional career having won two World Championships, three Tour de France championships, and 22 titles overall. More than any other cyclist, LeMond personified the ‘‘breakaway’’ culture of American cycling in the 1970s and 1980s, attempting to accomplish feats no other American had achieved. LeMond has not only reached the pinnacle of international sport, but also has devoted his time and resources to assisting his fellow athletes. LeMond has demonstrated the commitment to excellence, generosity, community, and tenacity that makes him an example for all to follow...a commitment and tenacity exemplified by his guiding principle, “Don’t ever give up, it doesn’t get easier - you just get faster.” His career is also noteworthy for advocating a clean sport, standing-up against cheating in sports. Common inscriptions of the six obverse candidate designs feature “GREG LEMOND”, “TOUR DE FRANCE”, and “1986, 1989, and 1990”, the years of his Tour De France victories. Common inscriptions of the six reverse candidate designs feature the inscriptions “ACT OF CONGRESS 2022”, “1979, 1983, 1989,” the years of his World Championship victories, “WORLD CHAMPION”, and “DON’T EVER GIVE UP, IT DOESN’T GET EASIER - YOU JUST GET FASTER.” 1. Of the six obverse candidate designs, the CCAC recommended obverse design GL-O-11, which received a score of 27 out of a maximum 33 points and which featured Mr. LeMond in action, riding past the Arc de Triomphe. This obverse design was also preferred by Mr. LeMond and was recommended by the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts. Established by an Act of Congress, Public Law 108-15 https://www.ccac.gov 2. Also, with a score of 27 out of the maximum 33 points, the CCAC also recommended reverse candidate design GL-R-05, which depicts a textured globe representing road asphalt with bicycle chain links and inscriptions around the outer border. This design also includes the insription of “WORLD CHAMPION” and a shortened version of LeMond’s quote, “IT DOESN’T GET EASIER-YOU JUST GET FASTER.” This reverse design was also preferred by Mr. LeMond and the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts. The CCAC is honored to have had the opportunity to participate in the review of the designs of the first Congressional Gold Medal to be awarded to a world renowned former cyclist. As a former member and Board Chair of the Unites States Anti-doping Agency, dedicated to the opposition of performanceenhancing drugs or cheating in sports, also advocated by Mr. LeMond, it was especially gratifying for me to have participated in the review of the designs of this Congressional Gold Medal. Sincerely, Lawrence S. Brown, Jr., MD, MPH, FACP, DFASAM CCAC Chair October 5, 2022 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 September 27, 2022, during which the CCAC reviewed obverse and reverse candidate designs for Congressional Gold Medal to the Women known as “Rosie the Riveter.” With this letter, I present the CCAC’s recommendations. Public Law 116-195 awards a Congressional Gold Medal, collectively, to the women in the United States who joined the workforce during World War II, providing the aircraft, vehicles, weaponry, ammunition, and other material to win the war, who were referred to as “Rosie the Riveter,” in recognition of their contributions to the United States and the inspiration they have provided to ensuing generations. The term “Rosie the Riveter” includes any woman who held employment or volunteered in support of the war efforts during World War II. A shortage of white male workers led to active recruitment by the U.S. Government for war industry jobs. Initially, beginning in 1942, white middle class women were recruited, followed by minority men, and finally minority women. Integration of women and minorities into the workforce was initially met with resistance; however, these new opportunities nudged the door open for equal rights and profoundly impacted both the Civil Rights Movement and the Women's Movement in the decades to follow. During World War II, a minimum of six million, and potentially as many as 16 million, women entered the workforce. Home Front workers faced many challenges. Working conditions were difficult and dangerous. Between the bombing of Pearl Harbor in December 1941 and the D-Day Invasion of Europe in June 1944, there were more Home Front industrial casualties than military casualties. This would lead to improved work place safety and regulations, as well as better access to affordable health care. Child care was also a concern for many working women, as mothers comprised a significant portion of the work force, and this led to the establishment of child development centers and the professional field of early childhood development. These working wartime women filled industrial jobs, like fastening rivets on aircraft and welding. They built the armor, ammunition, and other war supplies that powered the U.S. military to victory in Europe and Asia. They operated heavy cranes, milling machines, and other heavy tools that most women had never heard of before the war. Across the country, women stepped up, not only suppling the war effort, but also kept homes and farms running during the war years as well. Established by an Act of Congress, Public Law 108-15 https://www.ccac.gov The CCAC was provided a phenomenal portfolio of obverse and reverse candidate designs to consider, twelve obverse and twelve reverse distinct candidate designs. Following a robust discussion that included the stakeholders who had been instrumental in collaborating with the staff of the United States Mint, the CCAC recommends obverse candidate RR-O-01 and reverse candidate RR-R-05. This Committee felt strongly about the artistic merits of combining obverse RR-O-01 with reverse RR-R-05. 1. Obverse candidate design RR-O-01, features five Rosies to represent the diversity of women in the war effort. They represent the wide variety of professions women stepped into during WWII. This design includes the inscriptions “ROSIE THE RIVETER,” “1942,” and “1945.” This design was preferred by one of the liaisons who participated in the discussion. 2. Reverse candidate design RR-R-05 depicts silhouettes of a B-17 bomber, a Liberty ship, and an M4 tank against a background of sheet metal that has been riveted together with two wrenches atop. The additional inscriptions are “WOMEN WORKING TOGETHER FOR VICTORY,” “1942,” and “1945.” This design was also preferred by one of the liaisons who participated in the discussion. Additionally, the CCAC recommended that the silhouette of the B-17 aircraft be amended to reflect either an E, F, or G model of the aircraft, that the Mint determines whether or not and where to include the inscription of “Act of Congress”, and that the Mint determines whether or not to include the hair net in the obverse design, worn by one of the women. The CCAC recognizes the potential for the Mint to produce bronze replicas for the public of the Congressional Gold medal. As such, the combination of obverse RR-O-01 with reverse RR-R-05 would make this a desirable numismatic product of the bronze replicas of this Congressional Gold medal. In summary, the Rosie the Riveter Congressional Gold Medal continues the theme of the phenomenal role of women in the history of the United States as exemplified in recent commemorative coin programs (such as the Christa McAuliffe dollar) and the American Women’s Quarter program. On behalf of the CCAC, we are honored to continue to play a role in recognizing the accomplishments and contributions of women in the United States. Sincerely, Lawrence S. Brown, Jr., MD, MPH, FACP, DFASAM CCAC Chair