The Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee met in Washington, D.C., on November 19th, 2010, to discuss the reverse designs for the 2011 American Platinum Eagle collector coin. In 2009, The U.S. Mint began a six-year series to highlight the core concepts of American Democracy by featuring the six principles of the Preamble of the United States Constitution. The phrase “To Insure Domestic Tranquility” was the inspiration for the designs for 2011. Kaarina Budow of the U.S. Mint provided a description of the candidate reverse designs before the committee, as well as a short review of the program.
2011 Platinum Eagle Reverse Design Candidate 1
Michael Ross started the comment section, who stated that, from a historical perspective, the seventh design was the “most interesting.” The snake on that design, was, to Mr. Ross, an exact representation of domestic unrest, matching the unrest of the days under the Articles of Confederation. He also liked design 2, as a tranquil scene. Rick Meier was second. He found that he was drawn to design 1 and its tranquil scene. He found it also showed action and beauty, and in his opinion, was “a wonderful design.” Design 8 was his second choice.
Donald Scarinci was next, and quickly indicated that design 1 was “the only acceptable design.” He pointed out individual features of the other designs, saying how busy some of them are. He indicated he would only support design 1, but only with a single point out of the possible 3. Chairman Gary Marks said he was drawn to design 2, but also thought design 1 was “a fine design.” Turning back to design 2, Mr. Marks found it to be a simple design, and “has the allegory that we’ve [the CCAC] been asking for.” He also commented that in a proof coin, the second design would be “an absolutely beautiful coin.”
Roger Burdette followed the chairman, as well as followed in his fellow committee members’ in expressing preferences for designs 1 and 2. He did, however, have some concern over the difference in direction between the flow of the hair and the flow of the drapery, as well as the potential confusion from the public upon seeing a dove and a snake on the same coin. Heidi Wastweet continued the wave of interest in the first two designs, but would have liked to see the inclusion of the field into the design as a domestic symbol. The other designs solicited comments such as “Olympic” for design 4, “too old-fashioned” for design 7, and cautioned against the upturned heads in designs 8 and 9.
Mike Olson had some of the strongest positive comments for design 1, comparing it to the St. Gaudens $20 double eagle. Mike Brown, calling into the meeting, indicated his support for design 1, “for most of the reasons cited.”
After the comments, the score sheets were distributed and the members voted. With a maximum of 24 points, the recommendation of the committee was design 1, which received 19 votes, with designs 2 and 7 receiving 11 votes and 6 votes, respectively. Designs 5, 6, and 8 received 1 vote each, and designs 3, 4, and 9 received none.
Reverse Design Candidate 2
Reverse Design Candidate 3
Reverse Design Candidate 4
Reverse Design Candidate 5
Reverse Design Candidate 6
Reverse Design Candidate 7
Reverse Design Candidate 8
Reverse Design Candidate 9
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I agree with CCAC. Designs 1 & 2 are awesome!
#1 get’s my vote.
Most beautiful reverse design for the entire platinum series.
To me, design 2 is the best.
My first question though, is what are the surface treatments?
I’d like to see design 2, with the right arm lowered about 5 degrees and the dove replaced with an eagle ~20% larger.
That would preserve the elegant simplicity, while filling the upper and lower spaces on the coin just that little more. And it would get back to the overall eagle theme. The politically correct reverses used in the last few years just don’t impress or interest people when I show them the coins.
I’d like to see a brushed finish on the dress and eagle, with a polished background. I think it would contrast nicely with the brushed finish on liberty’s face on the obverse.
While difficult to produce, a perfect example would be spectacular.
Design 1 is the best design I have seen for an American coin for this century. Too bad it’s on the obverse. A modern look.
Correction-Too bad it’s not on the obverse.
Too bad it’s on a coin most of us can’t afford.
How much weight does the recommendation of the CCAC carry? Can it just be completely ignored? For example, can any influential member of congress just step in and overrule everybody? Or anyone from the office of the Secretary of the Treasury? Of course almost every numismatist will prefer design #1, and if it’s not chosen, a precise and detailed explanation should be required, including exactly who decided otherwise.
1 and 2 are great #7 are ok
#8 and 9 are horrible. Coins should have a “classic” look to them. The rest I feel indifferent about. 8 and 9 are just too new looking and “politically correct” And I don’t like it.
For me, #2 is the best design. #1 would be all right except for the strangely disproportionate legs depicted on the figure of Liberty. Poetic license perhaps? For some reason the knees are very noticeably too low, giving the legs a deformed look with the lower legs being much too short in relation to where Liberty’s waist is. It just looks very odd. The #2 design is superior because the knees aren’t in view at all.