Letter
Dear Ms. Gibson:
In its public meeting of 18 July conducted by videoconference, the Commission of Fine Arts reviewed candidate designs for five medals being developed for the 2026 Semiquincentennial “Best of the Mint” Silver Companion Medals program, which proposes newly designed medals depicting modern interpretations of five historic coin designs. The Commission was pleased to take into consideration the preferences of the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC) and provided the following comments and recommendations on the paired obverse and reverse alternatives.
1804 Silver Dollar. Consistent with the recommendation of the CCAC, the Commission members endorsed pairing #1 as the best of the presented options; however, they found the clouds shown surrounding the earth as depicted on reverse #1-R have an odd appearance and require refinement. They also advised coordinating the fonts on the obverse and reverse to ensure consistency.
1907 Saint-Gaudens High Relief $20 Gold Coin. The Commission members acknowledged the CCAC’s recommendation of pairing #3, which they characterized as artistic. However, they recommended the more abstract subject and composition of pairing #1—a depiction of Augustus Saint-Gaudens’s iconic Diana on the obverse and a bald eagle on the reverse—finding this to be the more compelling option. They commented that the delineation of the eagle is appropriately strong, and they advised refining the figure of Diana so that it has a similar graphic hierarchical value and strength within the composition.
1916 Mercury Dime. The Commission members expressed support for the CCAC’s recommendation of pairing #3, citing the dynamism of the scene that would span both the obverse and reverse, but they questioned several details, such as the composition and texture of the figure’s torso on the obverse.
1916 Standing Liberty Quarter Dollar. The Commission members recognized the CCAC’s support for pairing #2 as the best of the presented options, but they questioned the depiction of the tail-end of a bald eagle as a symbol of the United States. In addition, they commented that the figure proposed for obverse #2-O is oddly turned away from the viewer, unlike the frontal pose of Liberty on the original coin.
1916 Liberty Walking Half Dollar. Characterizing this grouping of medals as the weakest, the Commission members did not support any of the presented options, finding pairings #3, 4, and 5 to be particularly poor. They commented that pairing #1 presents a dynamic and stylistic departure from traditional coinage, but they questioned the graphic legibility of the design.
The Commission looks forward to the issuance of these medals as part of the Semiquincentennial celebration. As always, the staff is available to assist you with future submissions.
Sincerely,
/s/Thomas E. Luebke, FAIA
Secretary
Ventris C. Gibson, Director
United States Mint
801 9th Street, NW, 8th Floor
Washington, DC 20220