Design reviews and recommendations are in for the 2015 High Relief Gold Coin and 2015 High Relief Silver Medal, one-year issues planned by the United States Mint based on the success of the 2009 $20 Ultra High Relief Double Eagle.
![Likely Designs for 2015 High Relief Gold Coin and 2015 High Relief Silver Medal]](http://www.coinnews.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Likely-Designs-for-2015-High-Relief-Gold-Coin-and-2015-High-Relief-Silver-Medal.jpg)
Last week the United States Mint published design candidates for the two high reliefs (see the gold coin designs or the silver medal designs). Both collectibles will share the same basic designs, with the Treasury Secretary ultimately responsible for selecting them. Those of the silver medal will vary mainly by their lack of coin-required inscriptions.
All the Lady Liberty and American Eagle candidates were reviewed by the Commission of Fine Arts (CFA) on Thursday, Jan. 22, and then by the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC) on Tuesday, Jan. 27. Apparently finding it hard to decide, the CFA endorsed two possible designs for both obverses and reverses. The CCAC stayed true to the task and recommended one for each side, even as committee members voiced many favorable opinions for other designs.
Before jumping into the design recommendations that will get sent up to the Treasury Secretary, the CCAC also unanimously passed a series of six major motions. These basically equate to strong suggestions for how the U.S. Mint should produce the two collectibles. In summary, the six motions:
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For the silver medal to maximize its "eyeglass" appeal, stick to the same 40.6 millimeter planchet that is used to strike American Silver Eagles.
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Maximize the relief of the silver medal to the fullest extent possible, making it deeper than the obverse of the proof American Silver Eagle.
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Use an inscription of "One Union" followed by "$100" for the gold coin’s denomination.
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Include mint marks on the silver medals with the possibility of both U.S. Mint facilities in West Point and San Francisco striking them.
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Add edge reeding to the silver medals to dress them up, which isn’t traditional for medals.
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Make the silver medal the first in a series of annual Liberty-themed issues.
As for the design recommendations, the CCAC unanimously scored obverse candidate #11 and reverse candidate #1 as the winners. In a first, each of the 10 members gave the two designs their top score.
There was a motion made about obverse candidate design #11. Members disliked how the flag pole ran into the "W" from WE TRUST. A motion passed to lower the font of the year 2015 and then place IN GOD WE TRUST beneath it in two horizontal lines.
For reverse candidate design #1, a motion was made and passed to trim the size of the olive branch that’s held in the eagle’s talons.
Unable to lockdown their decision, the CFA recommended the same designs as above as well as obverse candidate #3 and reverse candidate #10.
Well, I’m glad these are only recommendations. I’m hoping that treasury secretary Lew will use his head and not just blindly go with these recommendations. The 2009 ultra high relief gold coin was a one off by the famous sculptor Saint-Gaudens. These designs are obviously not and more evidence the CFA and CCAC don’t understand. More sad evidence of Peterson’s legacy: another fiasco, another loser idea.
Look on the bright side. Ugly, and may be low mintage?
I still won’t buy it if one of the 2 shown above.
Call me crazy, But i do like the forst eagle showing. That’s about it.
“first”
Why even create a HR coin? What “event” is this created to celebrate or commemorate? Liberty is a constant concept / theme in the US mint presentations.There are noteworthy events and persons that can be honored by having a HR coin. If the US mint is hoping to duplicate the success of 2009 ultra high relief, they are off the mark. As Jim referenced, the 2009 was a one off of the Saint-Gaudens design. None of the designs are even close!
just my 2 cents . . .
St Gaudens design was beautiful, why cheapen an ultra relief…the eagle is fine….hopefully they will reconsider the front…bad choices…
Bad choice for the obverse.
At least going to $100 for the never-issued “Union” coin makes more sense than the odd $75 denomination. But it’s still a very questionable idea to do this at all. As I’ve said elsewhere, nothing is being commemorated and we already have annual gold issues.
Agree, bad choice for obverse. No good reason for another gold coin and especially HR!
US Mint, just wait till 2019 for HR!!!!!!
The CFA and CCAC elders need to be put out to pasture,I doubt any of these board members collect what they’re recommend.
The reverse is great with the eagle. The number 11 obverse isn’t terrible. But, it could be better. As long as they don’t pick number 3 then this program should be successful. For those complaining and wanting the Mint to rehash old classic designs, I say that we should give the Mint some credit for bringing back themes of liberty. It does commemorate something…..LIBERTY which is foundational to the country. I’d much rather have fresh new designs than to rehash a St Gaudin’s which is issued every year with the Eagle bullion program.
If it ain’t broke then don’t futz with it.
Jim,Mr Petersen was an appointee filling a chair he personally is not responsible for any of the confusion we as collectors have deallt with.Do you really believe it aiin’t broken.
The USMint needs a whole new theme of designers. “B” for effort but simply boring designs.
To me the selected was marginal nothing really electrifying.
I believe that as the top person at the mint Peterson was responsible for all the decisions the mint has made while he was in that position. That includes coming up with a third 1 oz gold coin and thinking that because it is a high relief coin it will be bought with the same enthusiasm and gusto that the ultra high relief 2009 $20 gold double eagle was despite the fact that gold now costs $400+ more per oz. and Liberty is depicted as an anorexic scarecrow (scares me anyway). Other issues include the high household limit for the… Read more »
Seems our stamps & these medals show a PC desire to show diversity to the point where – for example the US commemorative stamps, feature one type of human being over another, just saying getting kinda obvious….
I believe Mr Petersens responsibility lies mostly in administration,marketing and production and possibly the original renderings.The CFA and CCAC selects and chooses the final art for the series.The US Marshals I believe had some pretty good art but to me the final choice by the CCAC was weak and this medal offering looks to me a bit shaky.Personally I by the art work not the theme and speaking of theme what the heck is the theme of this medal.
The obverses are weak. The reverses are, perhaps, marginal.
I do not think that the U.S. knows how to design coins anymore.
I am a disabled veteran and have started a collection for my new born grand childred, with this said, “it is bad business to not show the complete year of what is to be produced. We have to manage the fixed income that we find ourselves at this point in our lives. Not knowing and not shipping them when you place the order is not acceptable. Also, the Limited Silver Proof Set was supposed to be minted last year and it was not. Not even a word from the mint as to why that happened. It is listed again this… Read more »
Kenneth – The Mint’s web site has the “2014 Limited Edition Silver Proof Set” with an issue / release date of 3/17/2015.
The costs of the standard collector sets and coins (proof set, unc set, proof silver eagle, unc silver eagle, etc.) have been pretty stable and dependable and with generally unlimited mintages. So you can budget your money for these kind of coins and buy when is most convenient for you (but watch out near the end of the year). So while the product schedule doesn’t list release dates for everything at the beginning of the year that shouldn’t be a big problem. And if you wait until the third quarter to buy, all of these sets and coins are available… Read more »
I think the first (top) design is beautiful. If that’s the one chosen, I’ll buy it.
The US Mint makes some of the most boring coins. Worse, when you compare them to other world mints like the Perth Mint, Canada or the Royal Mint. Why not get a little creative and do a little renewal? Does anyone really think the First Lady coins are simply amazing? Probably not.
It’s nice to have a creative alternative, rather than boring coins like the First Lady series or rehashes of old stuff, like the buffalo.
It would REALLY be cool to have Lady Liberty depicted in the second design! And a national first!
@AdintTellus
Im proud of the US mint and Mexican mint for not becoming the Canadian Mint, Perth Mint or some of these others. Its probably one of the last traditional mints not falling into; colorized, jade inserted, diamond encrusted, country shaped, non commerative, glow in the dark, black light imbued coins. It is all a little too much.
I’m not looking for a lot of the kitche style coins. Just better quality. What we do put out, except for one or two coins, are basically crap. Again, I point to the President, First Lady Series, and the Sacagawea coins.
I have a very simple problem with the U.S. Mint, their profit margin is way to high.
Today Gold closed at $1206.00 a ounce but a One ounce 2015 gold Buffalo is costing $1590.00 from the mint. I get .02 percent from the bank that holds my money. How is this fair?
First of all, change what you can change. I get .9% interest from an online bank – you might want to look into a different bank to put your money in. I know even .9% isn’t much but it’s better than the almost nothing you’re getting now. As to the price of gold, good luck changing that. And the US mint uses American labor and American resources. I doubt the US Mint will ever ship it’s minting process to China or anywhere else for cheaper labor so the markup will likely continue to go up over time. I think you’re… Read more »
I dislike BOTH designs. Horrible. The one looks like the photo was taken off the Aunt Jemima syrup bottle and replaced the doo-rag on her head, with wreath leaves. The only positive about these two designs would be low mintage. Who wants Aunt Jemima on a gold coin?
The design of the woman (HR-0-03-C) is incredibly elegant and delicately lovely. The artistic rendering honors the diverse richness of the USA. We will definitely will purchase this historic piece.
Ugly coin