Letter
Dear Ms. Fore:
The Commission of Fine Arts reviewed several designs for the obverse and reverse of a silver dollar coin to commemorate the 230th anniversary of the Marine Corps at its meeting on 21 September 2004. The results were as follows:
Obverse
The preference was for design #8, because of the simplicity of the rendering of the Iwo Jima photograph, but #7 was also mentioned as an alternate.
Reverse
Either rendition of the Marine Corps emblem, #1 or #7, was considered acceptable, but there was a slight edge given to #7, because of its uncluttered design. The other designs, showing marines of the 18th and 21st centuries, were considered much too busy to be effective on a coin.
Sincerely,
/s/Frederick J. Lindstrom
Acting Secretary
Ms. Henrietta Holsman Fore
Director, United States Mint
801 9th Street, NW, 8th Floor
Washington, DC 20220