U.S. Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew Medal Designs Recommended

Along with coins, the United States Mint has produced medals since the early days of the nation. On Thursday, Nov. 17, the U.S. Mint unveiled possible designs for a medal honoring Jacob Lew, the 76th and current secretary of the Treasury Department.

Four obverse and five reverse designs were presented for review before the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC) and the Commission of Fine Arts (CFA). Guided by the preferences of Secretary Lew, both bodies recommended the same designs.

The recommended obverse offers a portrait of the secretary in front of an American flag. It is based on Secretary Lew’s official photograph for the Treasury.

Heidi Wastweet, who serves as the CCAC member specially qualified in sculpture or medallic arts, felt that the artist’s portrait of Lew exaggerates his jowls and has some other inaccuracies. She suggested using the official photograph as the primary reference tool when sculpting the design.

The recommended reverse features the Statue of Liberty, a quote by Harriet Tubman, and the Main Building on Ellis Island.

"Secretary Lew’s father immigrated to the United States through Ellis Island; as such, the gateway and its symbols of liberty hold considerable meaning to him both personally and, as a committed public servant, professionally," the U.S. Mint offered in the design description.

CCAC chair Mary N. Lannin felt that Tubman’s quote was also a nod to the changes afoot at the Treasury for the redesign of currency.

Below are U.S. Mint images and descriptions of the nine candidate designs.

Lew-O-01 and Lew-O-01A portray Secretary Lew with an American flag billowing in the background and the inscription "Jacob J. Lew." Design 01 features the date Secretary Lew was sworn into office, "February 28, 2013." Design 01A features a banner with the inscription "76th Secretary of the Treasury." Lew-O-01A is the design preferred by Secretary Lew and was recommended by the CFA and CCAC.

Lew-O-02 and Lew-O-02A feature a portrait of Secretary Lew in semi-profile framed by an American flag with the inscription "Jacob J. Lew." Design 02A contains a banner with the inscription "76th Secretary of the Treasury."

Lew-R-01 depicts the façade of the Department of the Treasury building. The inscription reads "76th Secretary of the Treasury." Secretary Lew’s signature is featured in an exergue.

Lew-R-02 features the Treasury seal.

Lew-R-03 depicts the Main Building on Ellis Island which opened in 1900. Secretary Lew’s father immigrated to the United States through Ellis Island; as such, the gateway and its symbols of liberty hold considerable meaning to him both personally and, as a committed public servant, professionally. Design 03 also features the Treasury seal and the inscriptions "February 28, 2013," and "76th Secretary of the Treasury."

Lew-R-04 features a quote by Abraham Lincoln next to the Statue of Liberty. The quote reads, "I leave you, hoping that the lamp of Liberty will burn in your bosoms until there shall no longer be a doubt that all men are created free and equal." The inscription "Abraham Lincoln" appears across the exergue.

Lew-R-05 showcases elements from designs 03 and 04 with a quote by Harriet Tubman next to the Statue of Liberty. The quote reads, "I would fight for Liberty so long as my strength lasted." The inscription "Harriet Tubman" sits below the design element of the Main Building on Ellis Island. This design is preferred by Secretary Lew and was recommended by the CFA and CCAC.