Letter
Dear Mr. Jeppson:
In its meeting of 19 March, the Commission of Fine Arts reviewed alternative designs for a gold five-dollar and silver one-dollar coin commemorating the author Mark Twain. The Commission provided the following comments and recommendations.
For the obverse of the gold coin, the Commission members recommended alternative #1, consistent with the preference of the Mint's Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC). Noting the absence of Twain's name in this design, they recommended adding his signature below the text "2016." For the reverse, they supported the CCAC preference for the riverboat theme, while recommending alternative #8 as the superior depiction of a riverboat. They noted that this pairing would result in a consistent treatment of the obverse and reverse without a circular border line.
For the obverse of the silver coin, the Commission members recommended alternative #14, with Twain's signature clearly depicted, as the best composition. For the reverse, they supported the CCAC preference to use obverse alternative #11, commenting that this complex composition of Twain's whimsical characters would be an apt commemoration. They also supported adapting the inscriptions for this pairing as necessary to provide the required text without duplication.
As always, the staff is available to assist you with future submissions.
Sincerely,
/s/Thomas E. Luebke, FAIA
Secretary
Rhett Jeppson
Principal Deputy Director
801 9th Street, NW, 8th Floor
Washington, DC 20220