The Presidential $1 Coin Program will enter its eighth year in 2014 with four releases to honor the 29th to 32nd Presidents of the United States. The coins will feature Warren G. Harding, Calvin Coolidge, Herbert Hoover, and Franklin D. Roosevelt.
At a meeting held on April 18, 2013, the Commission of Fine Arts (CFA) reviewed obverse design candidates for the four upcoming coins. The United States Mint provided between five and eight designs for each coin. In preface to their official recommendations, the CFA noted the “unusual variety of appearances and uneven artistic quality among the alternatives.”
From the seven candidates provided for the Warren G. Harding Presidential Dollar, the CFA recommended alternative #7 as the most compelling portrait. They did request that the curved edge of his shoulder be adjusted to be concentric with the coin edge.
From the five different candidates provided, the CFA selected alternative #5 for the Calvin Coolidge Presidential Dollar. The Commission mentioned this alternative as the superior design and best likeness of the President. They also expressed appreciation for the inclusion of a profile pose, but found the artistic quality unsatisfactory.
The CFA recommended alternative #5 for the Herbert Hoover Presidential Dollar from the six different candidates provided. They commented on the stern facial expressions on all of the candidates, citing the recommended alternative as the best portrait with the least unhappy appearance.
The largest number of design candidates were provided for the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Dollar, with a total of eight different options. The CFA recommended aleternative #2 as the most recognizable. In this instance, they found the curvature at the shoulder to be an appropriate embellishment of the design.
The complete slate of design candidates for the four 2015 Presidential Dollars can be found below. These were also reviewed at a meeting of the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee, which will be covered in detail in a future Coin Update article.
Warren G. Harding Design Candidates
Calvin Coolidge Design Candidates
Herbert Hoover Design Candidates
Franklin D. Roosevelt Design Candidates
I think their choice for FDR completely lacks originality. It is too similar to the portrait on the dime.
But Brian,it’s (02) the only one of the entire group that is an accurate likeness of FDR.
I just don’t understand why FDR is always in side portrait?!
I think that hh-06 is better than hh-05