Letter
Dear Ms. Gibson:
In its public meeting of 16 June conducted by videoconference, the Commission of Fine Arts reviewed alternative designs for a Congressional Gold Medal honoring the U.S. Capitol Police and others who protected the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. The Commission recommended obverse alternative #6 and reverse alternative #6C, providing the following comments for refinement of these designs.
Noting the relatively busy design of the recommended reverse, which was also the preference of the Mint’s liaison organizations and the Citizen’s Coinage Advisory Committee, the Commission members recommended obverse #6 as a simple and clear counterpoint. They cited this composition’s calm outer border; the prominent placement of the date of January 6, 2021, at the top of the medal; the expanse of sky around the Capitol dome, with the Statue of Freedom clearly legible; and the broader view of the east facade extending downward to the steps. They contrasted this striking composition to obverse #2, recommended by the other organizations, which features an ornate border that obscures the Statue of Freedom and a less legible placement of the date among other elements at the bottom of the design. Requesting that the text font of the law enforcement badges on reverse #6C should match the actual badges, the Commission members recommended that the descriptive text on the reverse should have a more noble character that is coordinated with the font of the obverse text.
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