Wonderful Opportunity to Share Your Views for Themes to Celebrate the Semiquincentennial of the US
Casabrown
Posts: 2,160 ✭✭✭
This post contains two links to give your voice to the themes to be used for the 250th anniversary of the US in 2026. You must do so before October 10, 2023. (Yes, this year!):
Here is the link to the US Mint survey: https://catalog.usmint.gov/semiq/
Here is the link to my LinkedIn post that provides more information: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lawrence-s-brown-jr-778b943/recent-activity/all/
I recommend that you review all the questions of the entire survey before you submit and finalize your answers to all the questions. Please do not hesitate to contact me via this email or via my cell (917-881-2186) if you have any questions. Please share both links freely with family, friends, and colleagues. The more voices, the better.
Below are my responses to a post of colleagues:
With respect, I appreciate the comments reflected above. Please allow me to offer a different perspective.
Not voting, while an option, just allows others to render perspectives that may be contrary to yours and not have the benefit of your view.
As far as the US Mint, the stakeholders who are most responsible is Congress as their legislation drives the themes for circulating and commemorative coins and medals. Assuming approval by the President, the US Mint must develop designs congruent with the approved legislation. These candidate designs are then reviewed by two groups of knowledgeable professionals, the Commission of Fine Arts (CFA) and the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC). The latter group contains 11 individuals, one of which is a recognized numismatist while many of the others also are coin collectors. In the interest of transparency, I have the honor of serving as the Chair of the CCAC. I must say that in that position and despite many posts on this message board, I have not received the level of suggestions from the public or the numismatic community similar to the pessimism often reflected on these message boards. This year is different as more than thirty different suggestions have been received and the CCAC plans to vote on these at its October public meeting to determine which should be forwarded to the Treasury Secretary. If you are in Washington DC, you can participate in person. If not, you can hear the deliberations of the discussion. Bottomline, this is one option, but the most powerful one is through your elected Congressional representatives in the House and the Senate if you truly want drive themes for circulating and commemorative coins and medals.
Back to the US Mint survey, which by the way was required by federal law. Why would we not expect a wide spectrum of opinions in the responses given the diversity of US population, particularly in how such a pivotal event should be reflected in the themes of what the Semiquincentennial means?
I am not focusing on political parties, but rather on the view that the differences among us is what makes us stronger, especially if we are willing to at least hear the voices and views of others. Admittedly, there will be some who would argue that we focus narrowly only on the Constitution. At the same time, there are others who may wish to focus on its impact and meaning over the 250 years.
While I am not an author of the questions in the survey, as a professional who has participated in developing and administering surveys to diverse populations, this survey, in my humble opinion offers the opportunity for a wide spectrum of choices and allows you to write in additional thoughts should you choose to add them.
In closing, please accept my apologies for a lengthy response. Again, I respect the views articulated above. As a collector over many decades, while I may not agree with every theme authorized by Congress and approved by the President or every design candidate recommended by the CFA and CCAC, I am pleased that I am asked to provide my views when requested. And this request is seeking our opinion in how we celebrate this momentous occasion on the smallest of canvasses. For the reasons above and many more, I recommend that everyone take advantage of this opportunity to share your views. The more voices the better. I hope you do so, if you have not already done so. Also, I hope you will join the CCAC at its two-day public meeting next month.
Comments
I would like to see LIBERTY ....(a vanishing concept) .....depicted on our coinage.
With HISTORIC individuals of the period as opposed to PC disguised propaganda included.
All too many recent coin designs are too politically motivated.
I did do the survey. Found some very appealing topics for use as coin motifs.
If possible please post date, time and address of the public meeting in October. I will try to attend if my schedule is open. Thank you!😎
Then you need to vote. Otherwise you won’t like the outcome.
The outcome has been pre-determined. Your vote isn't going to matter. Casa is telling you what's going to happen - "At the same time, there are others who may wish to focus on its impact and meaning over the 250 years." Impact and meaning is the door to commemorating the ideals they already decided on, and it isn't the events of 1776.
The official announcement of the public meeting of the CCAC will be published in the Federal Register. This announcement will include information as to how one can participate virtually (listening only) or in person. This official announcement will occur at least two weeks prior to the scheduled meeting.
Casabrown
Even if it is predetermined, which is a real shame, you can always add your name to those that oppose the trend.
I completed the survey. I wanted to see what it was all about and it didn't (did) disappoint.
Just a quick observation - You never know when the Mint will
offer a coin - just what you wished for or a very likeable piece.
I was pleasantly surprised to see Jim Thorpe on a Sacagawea
Dollar, and doubly enthralled when a Reverse Proof version was offered.
Another example is the 2021 Washington quarter - very nice
in silver! The Chaco coins were outstanding - especially so
since I worked at the site years ago. I also lived in the area
of the White mountains where the Bristlecone pines are
prevalent. So those coins were a great offering, and I made
sure to get my copies.
So please put in your suggestions - you never know when
they will show up
Ya like that will make a difference
Martin
In my opinion, using any person associated with the beginnings of this country will only invite controversy, since so many of the original "founders" were controversial to begin with. I would love to see more representations of Liberty, but not the same one on every coin. There were many figures who were instrumental in the founding that it would be nearly impossible to include them all, so why not make it symbolic imagery?
I’ll stick with our founding fathers, with lady liberty on the reverse - or the other way around.
Don’t complain with the outcome then, it may be fixed, but even so - if you don’t vote you shouldn’t complain.
Keep the comments coming!!!!
Thanks for the links. I completed the survey.
Please spread the word to family, friends, and colleagues!
TTT
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I completed the survey. It was sent to me in an email about 2 weeks ago.
I prefer to see Liberty in a more classic style, whether symbolic or personified historically, but not as a woke political message or a series of tiny vignette images on the surface of a coin.
"Bongo hurtles along the rain soaked highway of life on underinflated bald retread tires."
~Wayne
I hope you included your comments in your survey.
Would like to see the dead presidents (and other real people) as well as the IGWT motto (would require and Act of Congress, which won't happen) purged from our coinage. It is foundationally inconsistent. I know this will irritate others. So be it. Let the survey do what it will do, if anything.
Much appreciated
Any chance of an obverse with Liberty being flushed down a toilet? It’s pretty much where this nation is headed.
While I do not share your view, you have a right to it.
I have in the past requested that Jazz and Classical musicians be featured as a numismatic topic.
Today the US State Department has posted some RARE & exceptional videos of these unique
musicians, touring the world as "Cultural Goodwill American Ambassadors." Here is the link to
these videos for any Jazz lovers who also happen to be coin collectors
For your enjoyment as you look at your collections !
https://www.youtube.com/@StateDept/videos
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Yes, you have and your suggestions are under consideration by the CCAC.
I recommend that you also send your requests to your elected representatives of the US Senate and US House of Representatives.
Casabrown
ttt
This is the last day