Letter
Dear Mr. Moy:
In its meeting of 19 June, the Commission of Fine Arts reviewed the design for the Native American One Dollar Coin, including the template for the series and options for the 2009 reverse. The Commission considered the proposed configuration of edge lettering for the template and expressed concern about the feasibility of this design due to the coin’s thinness and the effects of normal wear on circulating coins.
For the reverse alternatives proposed for the 2009 issue, the Commission recommended alternative #2, depicting three vertical corn plants, for this design’s superior graphic quality and legibility at the scale of the one-dollar coin. The Commission considered the preference of other consulting groups for alternative #12 but concluded that the key feature of that design—the small seeds being spread by a figure—would not be legible at the scale of the coin. The Commission members also commented that a better range of historic source material could be obtained for developing the design alternatives, suggesting that stylized designs may be better suited to depicting the broad range of Native American culture for the duration of this coin series.
As always, the staff is available to assist you with future submissions.
Sincerely,
/s/Thomas E. Luebke, AIA
Secretary
Edmund C. Moy, Director
United States Mint
801 9th Street, NW, 8th Floor
Washington, DC 20220
cc: Kaarina Budow, U.S. Mint