HomeMedals and TokensFirst Look at Tokyo Raiders and American Fighter Aces Congressional Gold Medal...

First Look at Tokyo Raiders and American Fighter Aces Congressional Gold Medal Design Finalists

Coinweek Staff Reports…

Tokyo Raiders Congressional Gold Medal Design Finalists

On October 14, 2014, the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee will meet in Washington, D.C. to review design candidates for two Congressional Gold Medals: The Tokyo Raiders Congressional Gold Medal and the American Fighter Aces Congressional Gold Medal. The Congressional Gold Medal Program dates back to 1776 and is the highest civilian award bestowed by the Congress of the United States.

The bill awarding a Congressional Gold Medal to the brave airman of the 17th Bombardment Group, also known as the “Doolittle Tokyo Raiders” was signed into law by President Barack Obama on May 23, 2014. The Tokyo Raiders served in World War II as part of the 17th Bombardment Group, seeing action on the East and West Coast of the United States (which was under constant threat by enemy naval assets), in Africa, Europe, and most notably in the skies over Imperial Japan. On April 18, 1942, the Raiders conducted a heroic and highly dangerous bombing raid over Tokyo. Of the 80 men who launched the raid, 70 returned to the United States. Today, five survive.

The bill authorizing the Tokyo Raiders Congressional Gold Medal was first sponsored by Republican Congressman Pete Olson of Texas’ 22nd District.

The CCAC will select a winning design from a pool of 15 Obverse design candidates and nine reverse design candidates.

 

Obverse:

tokyoobverse

Reverse:

 

tokyoreverse

American Fighter Aces Congressional Gold Medal Design Finalists

A Fighter Ace is a fighter pilot who serves or served with honor in the United States Armed Forces and has destroyed five or more confirmed enemy aircraft.

Since the Spanish-American War of 1898, America’s Fighter Ace pilots have taken to the sky in the defense of their country and for the benefit of the world.

The bill awarding a Congressional Gold Medal to America’s Fighter Aces was signed into law by President Barack Obama on May 23, 2014. The Medal, once struck and presented, will be placed into the permanent collection of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C.

The bill authorizing the American Fighter Aces Congressional Gold Medal was first sponsored by Republican Congressman Sam Johnson of Texas’ 3rd District.

The CCAC will select a winning design from a pool of six Obverse design candidates and eight reverse design candidates.

Obverse:

americanfighteraces2

Reverse:

americanfighteraces

 

Which designs are your favorites? Let us know in the comment box below!

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1 COMMENT

  1. For the Tokyo Raiders, I’m partial to DTR-CGM-O-14 and DTR-CGM-R-04.

    For the American Fighter Aces, AFA-CGM-O-02 and AFA-CGM-R-01, seem the best of the bunch.

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