On Tuesday, July 31, the United States Mint unveiled possible designs for the 2018 American Innovation $1 Coin. The dollar will introduce a new 15-year series of designs that recognize innovation or innovators in each state, territory and the District of Columbia.
Members of the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC) discussed the proposed designs in a teleconference meeting on Tuesday. They decided not to recommend any of them over quality concerns. And that’s putting it mildly.
In past CCAC meetings, members have voted to recommend certain designs, they have suggested reworking of designs, and they have even requested brand new designs. None of those options were forwarded in Tuesday’s meeting.
Instead, after an hour of talking committee members unanimously passed a motion not to review the designs. What?
Frankly, the choice seemed diametrically opposed to the mission of the CCAC and its members.
The lowest points of Tuesday’s session happened when certain male CCAC members appeared arrogantly outraged while pontificating on their soapboxes about what was before them. Aah, the agony of having an opportunity to help shape the direction of U.S. coinage. Those guys have it tough.
Still, U.S. Mint officials and their artists may glean a few insights from it all. They just have to filter out that noise, and that meeting-ending motion.
The Mint is required by law to make these coins. They’re coming whether some of us want them or not. Hopefully, future CCAC sessions for the dollar series will be more constructive. Collectors can pass on this series but CCAC members shouldn’t.
Design Candidates
As directed by Congress under the American Innovation $1 Coin Act, a single design will be shared on each dollar obverse. It must include inscriptions of "In God We Trust" and "$1." It must also show a likeness of the Statue of Liberty that extends to the rim of the coin and is large enough to provide a dramatic representation of Liberty.
The U.S. Mint’s candidate for the obverse features a reworking of Don Everhart’s Statue of Liberty design that appeared on reverses of Presidential $1 Coins from 2007 to 2016.
Reverses will be unique with four designs each year, beginning in 2019, as well as the optional one for 2018. As mandated in the Act, the reverse for a 2018 dollar must include the inscriptions "United States of America" and "American Innovators." It must also show a representation of the signature of George Washington as it appeared on the first United States patent.
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All dollar edges will be incused with the year of issue, a mint mark, and the inscription "E Pluribus Unum."
Excellent article. I especially Agree with the take on the CCAC meeting…
Such amazing designs!! (not….where is our “St. Gaudens”……?]
Though I agree with the sentiment of the take on the meeting, I only heard it at the tail end where one of the members reminded them of their purpose, the legislation does NOT require the Mint to produce this coin this year. It says the Mint MAY strike a coin for this year. I think it’s safe to say that it will be too late to submit new designs, get them reviewed and minted unless Mnuchin steps in. Highly unlikely that will happen. I posted a video about this the day the meeting happened.
Why in the world did Congress approve this? The need for them is non-existent. Also, the design ideas are appalling (03 is I think about the best, though no one looking at it will understand what this is all about, not that they will circulate anyway). When we buy sets are we going to get 4 of these plus a Sacagawea dollar? (Right now I get double dollars because of buying clad and silver proofs each year…triple with the reverse proof, and there will probably be other things like that in the future.) The mint will hype them up and… Read more »
“George Washington Slept Here” ( & signed his name too!). Lol
-NumisdudeTX
With all the requirements added to the Bill, there wasn’t much room left on a coin, barely larger than a quarter, to create a design that the original proposed bill intended. If the denomination was moved to the obverse to create room for any design, Congress negated this by requiring George Washington’s signature. The artists’ hands have definitely been tied with this one. Good luck.
The whole thing is one hot mess. For the heads they need to reduce the $1, get a better angle on the statue of liberty and get rid of “In God We Trust” because it really is not what George Washington or any of the Founders would have wanted anyway. As for the back not of those presented are worthy of being put on a coin. Maybe Ai-R-06 but really why is Washington’s name even on there? He simply signed the first patent along with Jefferson. It was Samuel Hopkins who improved a manufacturing process on which patent they signed.… Read more »
How about an engraving of GW turning over in his grave? That’s what I think about these designs.
I hope the warehouse they are storing the presidential dollars in is large enough to hold these too.
“In god we trust” really needs to go…for one, it’s not representative of the country, and second, it takes up room that could be used for attractive and meaningful designs.