PHENOMENAL WOMEN: HIDDEN NO MORE
Casabrown
Posts: 2,160 ✭✭✭
At this stage in my life, I am so grateful for those who have been so instrumental in my life, full of exceptional personal and professional accomplishments. For those of you, who have been following my LinkedIn and PCGS posts, the focus has recently been on numismatics, a hobby that I placed on hold for decades while enjoying a successful career in addiction medicine and public health. This post is to share with you one of the most memorable experiences in my life, witnessing the Congressional Gold Medal ceremony honoring the women who endured racism and sexism to excel in mathematics, engineering, computer science and other STEM areas. Without them, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration would not have been successful in the space race.
It brought tears to my eyes to witness the throngs of friends, families, and colleagues bearing witness to these long overdue honors. I heard additional information, previously unknown to me, about the conditions in which these women endured and excelled. It was refreshing to observe bipartisan collaboration in supporting the authorizing legislation and the execution of this momentous ceremony (see the attached program). As a special treat at the ceremony, I was able to see once again the sculptor Emily Damstra, responsible for the design of the Dorothy Vaughn medal and known for the designs of the 2021 silver American Eagle, the reverse of the 2022 Maya Angelo quarter and the reverse of the 2024 Reverend Dr. Pauli Murray quarter.
While my numismatic focus is circulating and commemorative coins, I chose to purchase bronze replicas of the five Congressional Gold medals presented to these courageous women (see the above attached picture). Admittedly, seeing these bronze medals reminded me of the small part of the role I played in recommending in 2020 the designs to the Treasury Secretary while I served on the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee. More importantly, each of these bronze medals artistically portray the unique story of each of these incredible women.
Comments
The title of this thread might be missing a bit of context for those who don't know that it references a book and movie called "Hidden Figures".
Thanks for the assist!
" Without them, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration would not have been successful in the space race."
Alice Kramden!
Amen
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Dear Dr. Brown,
It was a pleasure to speak with you, albeit briefly, at the ceremony. I should have introduced myself – my name is Richard Masters, and I was with Emily Damstra when we encountered you. For clarity, Emily designed the reverse of Dorothy Vaughan's medal and I designed the obverse. The designs were sculpted by U.S. Mint Medallic Artists John P. McGraw (rev) and Phebe Hemphill (obv).
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Now you have to give us some behind the scenes information.
How does someone get picked to design a Congressional Gold Medal? Do you get a free sample of the finished product?
Also, to save myself some research, can someone tell me if any if the medal honorees are still living?
Dr. Christine Darden is still living, although from my understanding, she was unable to attend the ceremony.
The other three honorees – Dorothy Vaughan, Katherine Johnson, and Mary Jackson – are deceased.
Richard,
Thank you so much for reminding me of our meeting. It was great seeing you and Emily.
The movie was great. I'll bet there are many more unsung Americans like these women we will not hear about.
Took an unfathomable degree of brilliance to engineer a liftoff from another world. And to succeed 6 times where failure was not an option.
Katherine Johnson has also been awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Ms. Johnson graduated high school at 14 and college at 18. She then became a highly-respected NASA mathematician… a human computer whose calculations helped put our country’s astronauts into space and, ultimately, on the Moon.
Astronaut John Glenn famously once said of Ms. Johnson’s Project Mercury numbers check, "If she says they're good, then I am ready to go."
My reverse design (below) uses organic geometry to create the composition’s underlying structure, an approach I thought was most suitable for such an amazing mathematician.
left image: copyright United States Mint
I’m surprised Dr. Brown’s post is not generating more interest.
I am mixed about the level of response.
On one hand, many coin collectors do not focus on medals, not to mention bronze replicas of congressional gold medals (CGMs) or do not subscribe to the US Mint or do not read numismatic journals, which announce authorization of CGMs.
Outside of numismatics, the general public is not exposed to stories such as these or the fantastic art on medals or commemorative coins.
I must admit, that even though I saw the movie, if I did not serve on the CCAC, I would have been exposed to the story or the art on the medal.
Somehow this suggests the need for more effective efforts to share these stories with the general public and coin collectors.
Mint medals are not widely collected and the mint has made them prohibitively expensive (especially the 3-inch versions). People may need a little extra nudge to get them to take an interest.
Such as a little background on the selection process of the medals' designers.
I learned through my own research that the enabling legislation was signed in 2019, and I for one would be interested in what is involved in a process that takes five years to come to fruition. (I believe that some of the posthumous honorees were alive when the law was passed.)
The short version of the story is that in the early years of NASA, it was very much a man's world, as it generally was everywhere at that time in the fields of science, mathematics, and engineering.
There were a few women who broke through those barriers and they made significant contributions to the early space programs alongside their male colleagues.
The "Hidden Figures" book/movie focused on the black women who were among those trailblazers. They had an extra layer of challenges to confront.
This page from the U.S. Mint's website provides information on the selection process of U.S. coins and medals and the artists who create and sculpt the designs: https://www.usmint.gov/learn/artists
Thanks for the link. I was trying to cajole you into providing a little insider perspective to help make the thread more interesting to people. Without something to capture peoples' interest or imagination I don't think this thread is going anywhere.
I've tried to do my part, but I guess we'll let it slip down the page onto oblivion.
I have several U.S. bronze medals. I really like the idea of honoring these women.
Nice medals, although not my sweet spot , I can see myself buying them.
Sugar magnolia blossoms blooming, heads all empty and I don't care ...
Dr. Brown - Thanks very much for the post - The ladies were phenomenal intellects who combined genius with hard work in challenging social circumstances. The coins and medals are appealing, and this inspiring history should also be part of school curriculum. A short story - a relative of mine studied graduate chemistry at Hampton U (alma mater of Dr. Darden). At some point her parents visited and she was unable to find lodgings - so her thesis advisor stepped in and hosted her parents at her home for a few days !
Whom might you think should be leading these efforts? Surely not the mint. Their job is to produce coinage last I knew. Not serve as an historical outreach center.
Having fun while switching things up and focusing on a next level PCGS slabbed 1950+ type set, while still looking for great examples for the 7070.
In my humble opinion, there is value in a more collaborative effort benefiting the public, numismatic organizations and the US Mint. By the way, the US Mint does have a role as stated in its 2023 Annual Report of its core values: "The Mint is privileged to connect America through coins and medals, which reflect the remarkable history, values, culture, diversity, and natural beauty of our Nation."
To be clear, I do not speak for the US Mint, but I do believe that a more informed public and numismatic community provides benefit to the US Mint.
Just my two cents from a longtime coin collector!!
Dr Brown - I agree - all of our favorite coins are in fact emblematic of our national history, culture, and personalities. CW has just posted an article on "Hidden Figures"
https://www.coinworld.com/news/us-coins-page/hidden-figures-get-their-long-awaited-gold-medals
Thank you for hanging around. Keep us up. Congratulations on your acquisitions.
What a great tribute and what an honor to play even a small part in it all. Thanks for sharing the story.
Click on this link to see my ebay listings.
By the way, I have attached a copy of the program of the Hidden Figures Congressional Gold Medal (CGM) ceremony. Ms. Audra McDonald, the Tony, Grammy, and Emmy award winning singer and actor, sang “America the Beautiful” in acephala!!
I recommend attendance at a CGM ceremony should be on the "bucket list" of all coin collectors even those such as myself, whose numismatic focus does not include medals. Maybe, this will be a topic for my next Guest Commentary in Coin World. What do you think?
The experience is educational and entertaining!
Sorry that you feel that way. I see it as offering a view from a collector from his experiences within and outside of numismatics.
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Thanks. This is mighty nice reading.
W
God bless all who believe in him. Do unto others what you expect to be done to you. Dubbed a "Committee Secret Agent" by @mr1931S on 7/23/24. Founding member of CU Anti-Troll League since 9/24/24.
The biggest problem is that many coin collectors do not care for the policy aspect of coin designs. There are those within the numismatic community that are too cantankerous about our coinage and think that coinage in the US ended after 1964.
Quite humorous!
It's humorous to dismissively refer to collectors who oppose using coin design to advance political agendas as a "problem" and "cantankerous"?
This misinformation and disinformation has to stop! 🙄
Having fun while switching things up and focusing on a next level PCGS slabbed 1950+ type set, while still looking for great examples for the 7070.
Unless you have documentation to the contrary, then you are articulating an opinion which no more valid or invalid than the opinion of others.