The two official organizations that provide input on possible design selections for American coinage have given their input on candidates submitted to them for the five quarters to be issued in 2010. These coins, and the new silver bullion versions to be struck with an identical design, are part of the America the Beautiful Quarters Program and the America the Beautiful Silver Bullion Coin Program -- series that commemorate American national parks and national sites.
Grand Canyon (NPS Photo) - Click to Enlarge
While most may be interested in the quarters themselves, many silver collectors are anxiously awaiting news and the release of the companion bullion pieces. The final designs for the 2010 coins is not yet known, but we do know that aside from featuring the same design as the quarters, the silver bullion coins will be massive. Each bullion will be struck from five ounces of .999 fine silver to a diameter of 3 inches. This makes them almost twice the size of the current once ounce silver American Eagles which have a diameter of 1.598 inches.
As part of the design selection, several samples are submitted to two organization for their input. The first of these organization is a relatively new body called the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC) which was authorized by Congress in 2003 and consists of eleven members.
The second group that provides input on coin design is the United States Commission of Fine Arts (CFA), which consists of seven members and has been around since 1910. Both groups have given their recommendations which is shown below along with some of their comments.
Hot Springs National Park - 2010 Arkansas Quarter and Silver Coin
Hot Springs National Coin Quarter Design (AR-02) - Click to Enlarge |
Hot Springs National Park Coin Design (AR-04) - Click to Enlarge |
The CCAC strongly recommended design candidate number four (AR-04) which focuses on the fountain in front of the park's headquarters building. "Members appreciated the design’s clear imagery, emphasis on water, and incorporation of natural landscape," the CCAC said in its statement.
The CFA chose option number two (AR-02)which also shows the fountain in front of the main building along with the doorway into that building. The Commission in their statement "questioned the quality of the drawings presented, and recommended that the small National Park Service sign beside the doorway be eliminated from the design due to its illegibility at the scale of a coin."
Yellowstone National Park - 2010 Wyoming Quarter and Silver Coin
Yellowstone National Park Coin Design (WY-01) - Click to Enlarge
Bison and the Old Faithful geyser are featured on design number one which was chosen by the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee.
According to their statement, "members felt that design 1 (WY-01) would work well on a small coin, and that the depiction of animal life enhanced the design."
The Commission rejected all submissions for Yellowstone and stated that artists should consider "supported the idea of depicting Old Faithful, but suggested consideration of additional source material, such as the paintings of Thomas Moran."
Yosemite National Park - 2010 California Quarter and Silver Coin
Yosemite National Park Coin Design (CA-03) - Click to Enlarge |
Yosemite National Park Coin Design (CA-04) - Click to Enlarge |
A view of El Capitan (CA-03) is the favorite of the Committee to which they also "praised the simplicity and ruggedness of the design, and its effective composition."
The CFA felt that design number four (CA-04) of the Half Dome rock formation was the best option but added "that the artwork appears unfinished and should be further developed."
Grand Canyon National Park - 2010 Arizona Quarter and Silver Coin
Grand Canyon National Park Coin Design (AZ-01) - Click to Enlarge
Both bodies chose design number one (AZ-01) which features a canyon-level view as their favorite with the CCAC preferring it over design number four due to "its more immediate, human-scaled view of the canyon."
The Commission added several comments to their suggestion including: "Noting that the foreground scree is given too much dominance in the composition, the Commission members recommended shifting the strong vertical alignment at the center of the coin to the right to emphasize the deep perspective toward the left side of the composition."
Mt. Hood National Forest - 2010 Oregon Quarter and Silver Coin
Mount Hood National Forest Site Coin Design (OR-03) - Click to Enlarge
Once again, both groups chose the same design featuring Mt. Hood with Lost Lake in the foreground. The Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee added that "Design 3 was lauded for the artistry of its imagery, and for the absence of design elements that would detract from the view of the mountain."
In its comments for design 3, the Commission of Fine Arts stated they chose it "due to its superior composition and simplicity of elements."
Related:
- 2010 America the Beautiful Quarters
- America the Beautiful Quarter Design Candidates
- Hot Springs National Park Silver Coin Recommendations
- Yellowstone National Park Silver Coin Recommendations
- Yosemite National Park Silver Coin Recommendations
These recommendations along with those provided by the Secretary of the Interior and the chief executive of each host location were then forwarded to the Director of the US Mint Ed Moy, who will make a recommendation to the person charged with making the final decision, the Secretary of the Treasury.
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My strong suggestion would be to make a coin for all of the 58 national parks, minting them in chronological order of their date of establishment. Afterwards, coins can be minted showcasing natural treasures from states that don’t have a national park.
Doing soley one coin per state, is somewhat replicating what was already done with the state quarters program from 1999 – 2008. More importantly, it leaves out major national parks from states that have more than one park. It is a shame to leave out so many of these national icons, instead forcing miscellaneous other types of sites here and there just so every state has something in a category in which it is not appropriate. Having a coin for each park would be more endearing to the public and enhance a greater sense of national pride and education amongst Americans in regards to our natural treasures.