Letter
Dear Mr. Peterson:
In its meeting of 15 September, the Commission of Fine Arts reviewed the proposed obverse designs for the seventh set of one-dollar coins in the Presidential series. The Commission's recommendations were as follows:
William McKinley. The Commission recommended alternative #3 with a near-profile pose as the strongest design for the coin.
Theodore Roosevelt. The Commission recommended alternative #4 as best conveying the strength of Roosevelt's character, noting that the historic medal provides an admirable precedent for a modern coin design.
William Howard Taft. The Commission recommended alternative #10 as the best likeness, again citing the value of the historic medal as a precedent.
Woodrow Wilson. The Commission recommended alternative #2 as the best sculptural portrait of Wilson, noting that the slight deviation from the profile pose results in the distracting inclusion of both eyeglass lenses.
The Commission members expressed appreciation for the inclusion of historic medals and paintings in the presentation graphics and, noting the artistic quality and appropriateness of the medallic profile portraits, recommended careful study of these as the inspiration for future coins.
As always, the staff is available to assist you with future submissions.
Sincerely,
Thomas E. Luebke, FAIA
Secretary
Richard A. Peterson, Deputy Director
United States Mint
801 9th Street, NW, 8th Floor
Washington, DC 20220
cc: Kaarina Budow, U.S. Mint