By Hubert Walker for CoinWeek ….
The Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC) recently held a two-day public meeting on Wednesday, October 7 and Thursday, October 8 at the headquarters of the United States Mint in Washington, D.C.
Design candidates for several upcoming coin programs were discussed. The committee’s selections were as follows:
- 2017 Native American $1 Coin – Reverse 2
- 2018 Native American $1 Coin – Reverse 10
- St. Regis Mohawk Tribe Code Talker Congressional Gold Medal – Obverse 2, Reverse 8
- Pueblo of Laguna Code Talker Congressional Gold Medal – Obverse 2a, Reverse 5
- 2017 America the Beautiful Quarters:
Frederick Douglass National Historic Site (Washington, D.C.) – Reverse 1
Ozark National Scenic Riverways (Missouri) – Reverse 2
George Rogers Clark National Historic Park (Indiana) – Reverse 10
- 2017 Lions Clubs International Century of Service Commemorative Coin – Obverse 2, Reverse 5a
Many of the selected designs will be altered somewhat, per CCAC deliberations.
On the 2017 Native American dollar coin reverse, the dot between SEQUOYA and CHEROKEE SYLLABARY will be replaced with the Cherokee Nation’s logo, the seven-pointed star, as seen on design five. Outgoing committee member and CCAC Chairman Gary Marks proposed both changes.
He also proposed that the 2017 and 2018 Native American dollars return to using the font (lithos) found on Native American $1 coins from the program’s start in 2009 through 2012. This motion passed as well.
Additionally, committee member Heidi Wastweet proposed that the inscription BRIGHT PATH (an English translation of Jim Thorpe’s native name, Wa-Tho-Huk) be removed from the 2018 Native American dollar coin’s chosen reverse and the inscription JIM THORPE be moved to that location. In discussion with Mint engraver Don Everhart, the committee agreed to upsize the image of Jim Thorpe by about 10% as well.
And while the CCAC approved reverse 10 for the 2017 America the Beautiful George Rogers Clark National Historic Park quarter, there was general agreement that the soldiers’ armaments were incomplete, and the committee requested that the artist add such accoutrements as powder horns, etc.
Interestingly, no selections were chosen for two of the 2017 America the Beautiful quarters at this week’s meeting. Heidi Wastweet made a motion to request new designs for the 2017 America the Beautiful Effigy Mounds National Monument (Iowa) quarter and New Jersey native Donald Scarinci moved that new designs be requested for the Ellis Island National Monument (New Jersey) quarter. Both motions passed.
The CCAC also discussed concepts and themes in preparation for the solicitation of design candidates for the following programs:
- 2017 Boys Town Centennial Commemorative Coin
- 2018 America the Beautiful Quarter Reverses:Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
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- (Michigan)
Apostle Islands National Lakeshore
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- (Wisconsin)
Voyageurs National Park
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- (Minnesota)
Cumberland Island National Seashore
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- (Georgia)
Block Island National Wildlife Refuge
- (Rhode Island)
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Once available, design portfolios for each program will be discussed at a later date.
About the CCAC
In accordance with 31 U.S.C. 5135, the CCAC:
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Advises the Secretary of the Treasury on any theme or design proposals relating to circulating coinage, bullion coinage, Congressional Gold Medals, and national and other medals.
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Advises the Secretary of the Treasury with regards to the events, persons, or places to be commemorated by the issuance of commemorative coins in each of the five calendar years succeeding the year in which a commemorative coin designation is made.
- Makes recommendations with respect to the mintage level for any commemorative coin recommended.
The CCAC was established in 2003 by Congress under Public Law 108-15.
-courtesy of the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee
