Letter
Dear Mr. Moy:
In its meeting of 22 January, the Commission of Fine Arts reviewed the proposed obverse designs for the fourth set of one-dollar coins in the Presidential series. The Commission's recommendations were as follows:
Millard Fillmore. The Commission recommended alternative #13-05, commenting that this design most effectively renders a sense of character in the portrait.
Franklin Pierce. The Commission recommended alternative #14-03 because of its composition and the modeling of the hair; they commented that the linework in this alternative is the most consistent with that of other recommended designs.
James Buchanan. The Commission recommended alternative #15-02, commenting on the more dignified character that is suggested and the best proportion of the head relative to the composition of the coin.
Abraham Lincoln. The Commission recommended alternative #16-05 because the frontal pose is the most compelling of the designs and is appealing for its straightforwardness.
As in past reviews, the Commission members expressed concern about the similarity of the alternatives, apparently due to the reliance on a small number of source images, as well as the tendency to transfer these source images directly into the proposed designs. The Commission encouraged more artistic interpretation of the source material and an emphasis on artwork generated by hand rather than by computer-aided methods.
As always, the staff is available to assist you in future submission.
Sincerely,
/s/Thomas E. Luebke, AIA
Secretary
Edmund C. Moy, Director
United States Mint
801 9th Street, NW, 8th Floor
Washington, DC 20220
cc: Kaarina Budow, U.S. Mint