Letter
Dear Ms. Gibson:
In its public meeting of 20 April conducted by videoconference, the Commission of Fine Arts reviewed alternative designs for a three-coin set commemorating Harriet Tubman. The Commission was pleased to take into consideration the preferences of the liaison organizations and of the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC), and provided the following comments and recommendations.
One-Dollar Silver Coin: For the coin honoring Tubman’s contributions prior to the Civil War, as part of this three-coin sequence depicting the course of her life, the Commission members recommended alternative S-O-01 for the obverse, consistent with the preferences of the CCAC and the liaisons. They recommended refining the portrait to more clearly depict Tubman as a young Black woman. For the reverse, the Commission members commented that the silhouette composition of S-R-01—the preference of the CCAC and the liaisons—would uncomfortably reduce the subjects to anonymous figures. They expressed support for alternative S-R-08 as a strong representation of providing assistance to escape bondage, but they were dismayed to learn that this composition has recently been used for another coin; they recommended developing this concept as a new composition for this coin. They suggested that the north star, a motif seen in several other alternatives, could be included in this new design.
Half-Dollar Clad Coin: For the coin honoring Tubman’s contributions during the Civil War, the Commission members recommended obverse alternative C-O-06 and reverse alternative C-R-01. To coordinate this pairing, they recommended deleting the phrase “Combahee River Raid Leader” from the lower edge of the obverse, as this raid’s name is part of reverse C-R-01; the inscription “Liberty” could instead be moved to this position on the obverse, helping to simplify the composition.
Five-Dollar Gold Coin: For the coin honoring Tubman’s contributions following the Civil War, the Commission members expressed support for obverse alternative G-O-04, which is the preference of the CCAC and the liaisons, and they supported the liaisons’ recommendation to adjust the head kerchief to show some of Tubman’s hair. However, commenting that the portrait is not of adequate quality, they recommended that it depict Tubman during her more active years after the Civil War rather than at a very advanced age, and they recommended careful study of other portraits or photographs of Tubman to ensure the quality of the likeness. For the reverse, the Commission members recommended alternative G-R-01A, consistent with the preference of the CCAC; they recommended depicting her hands to be consistent with the age of her portrait on the obverse.
As always, the staff is available to assist you with future submissions.
Sincerely,
/s/Thomas E. Luebke, FAIA
Secretary
Ventris Gibson, Director
United States Mint
801 9th Street, NW, 8th Floor
Washington, DC 20220