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Much of our June 12, 2018, committee discussion of the Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site coin focused on whether its design should honor the site or the airmen.
To me, the designs that focus on the equipment and materials of war miss the boat—or the plane, in this case. In the CCAC’s October 2017 telephone conference, we discussed, broadly, the direction we’d like to see the Mint’s artists take with Tuskegee. We talked a lot about the importance of the men and women involved in the historic development of Tuskegee Army Air Field, and the education of African-American pilots, navigators, bombardiers, mechanics, and others in the 332nd Fighter Group and the 477th Bombardment Group of the United States Army Air Forces.
Granted, we also talked about Moton Field, and the airplanes and hangars and other physical aspects of the site, but the sharper focus, in terms of American history, was on Tuskegee’s nearly 1,000 pilots.
Just as the Frederick Douglass National Historic Site isn’t about the cedar trees on the property, the wooden arbor in its garden, the latticework cornice of the house’s porch, or its view of the Anacostia River, Tuskegee isn’t about runways and planes. It’s about the airmen.
Hover to zoom.
Just as the Frederick Douglass National Historic Site isn’t about the cedar trees on the property, the wooden arbor in its garden, the latticework cornice of the house’s porch, or its view of the Anacostia River, Tuskegee isn’t about runways and planes. It’s about the airmen.
The Tuskegee coin design proposals that focus on humanity rather than machinery are AL-01; 02; 10 in its various forms; and 13.
Many of the others are finely drafted, well balanced, and creative—but they tilt too far in the wrong thematic direction.
The history lesson that’s infused throughout Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site is the pilots’ “double victory.” These disciplined, fiercely effective pilots proved their military value during World War II, earning their place in America’s pantheon of heroes as they helped destroy fascism in Europe. That was one victory. The other victory was at home, during the war and after, as the Tuskegee Airmen worked against racism and toward equal opportunity for Black Americans. You can’t visit the national historic site without appreciating the way in which “They Fought Two Wars.”
We would fail profoundly if we honored one of the Tuskegee Airmen’s victories without also celebrating the other.
Reviewing the Mint’s portfolio of Tuskegee Airmen designs, I recommended avoiding two that show the pilots in civilian clothes. Even given the “fighting two wars” theme, the contrast of military combat clothing and a business suit is confusing, especially with the two figures (really the same man) facing opposite directions. The exception is 10D, which shows the figures facing the same direction. 10D allows part of the story to be told in text (“Victory in War, Victory at Home”).
To my eye, AL-01A was the clear winner in this group. It includes the legend “They Fought Two Wars,” which captures the double-victory concept. This was a motto that our national historic site liaisons recommended. For collectors and historians interested in the machinery of war, the design also shows military aircraft—but secondary to the figure of a Tuskegee airman gearing up for battle. It’s an active design, detailed but not overly busy, with bold and clearly definable elements.
Ultimately, after a spirited discussion of whether the coin should celebrate the site or the airmen, we voted to recommend AL-01A. The secretary of the Treasury will now consider our recommendation, as well as that of the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts (which also reviews design proposals), and will make his decision on the coin’s design. In 2021 the Tuskegee Airmen coin will join 55 other America the Beautiful quarters as the final entry in the Mint’s 11-year program.
A sidebar commentary and case study on coinage detail: While the CCAC discourages overwrought detail in circulating-coin designs, detail isn’t necessarily impossible or unusable. The 2017 Ellis Island quarter uses a remarkable amount of detail without it blurring into confusion. That’s because it features large, distinct elements that are instantly recognizable—a man, a woman, a boy, a flag, a building. Fine detail doesn’t obscure or confuse those separate, individual elements, which are grouped in balance. Rather, you can look quickly at the coin and immediately see what’s going on. . . . and if you want to spend more time on it, you can “zoom in” to see a remarkable amount of detail in the clothing, the architecture, the water. (This might require putting on your reading glasses, or squinting, depending on your eyesight, but the detail is there.)
The remaining designs include the following:
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Dennis Tucker is the numismatic specialist on the U.S. Treasury Department’s 11-member Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee. He is a life member of the American Numismatic Association and publisher at Whitman Publishing.
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Perhaps I’m confused about the “second victory.” While the Tuskegee airmen certainly heroes who contributed to the victory of World War II, I don’t recall any victories of the airman when they came home. That war was hard fought during the 50s and 60s and is still ongoing.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and insight, Tom. Here’s some narrative from the national historic site’s enabling legislation:
(8) The success of the Tuskegee Airmen proved to the American public that African Americans, when given the opportunity, could become effective military leaders and pilots. Modeled on the professionalism of Chief Alfred Anderson, Benjamin O. Davis, and Daniel “Chappie” James, their performance helped pave the way for desegregation of the military, beginning with President Harry S Truman’s Executive Order 9981 in 1948. It also helped set the stage for civil rights advocates to continue the struggle to end racial discrimination during the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s. Consequently, the story of the Tuskegee Airmen constitutes a powerful and seminal metaphor for the struggle of black freedom in America.
(9) The Tuskegee Airmen reflect the struggle of African Americans to achieve equal rights, not only through legal attacks on the system of segregation, but also through the techniques of nonviolent direct action aimed at segregation in the military. The members of the 477th Bombardment Group, who staged a nonviolent demonstration to desegregate the officers’ club at Freeman Field, Indiana, helped set the pattern for direct action protests popularized by civil rights activists in later decades.
Dennis, thanks for your response. Today Tuskegee Airman are looked upon with nothing but awe, respect and honor. Their combat record during WWII is second to none. They paid their dues and earned everything they got. However, they suffered under racism, segregation and hate during the war. Bomber crews would ask for them specifically because of their record. But they wouldn’t associate with them (some of those crews it’s been said, didn’t know they were black pilots, they only knew that the red-tailed fighters were really good and that’s how they asked for them as escorts), After the war the airman (both officers and enlisted) continued to face the same racism, segregation and hate that their civilian counter parts did. Even with President Truman’s executive order to integrate the armed services, it took years and two wars later before they were accepted and treated as comrades-in-arms. I can remember when stationed at Loring AFB, Maine in the late 60s, some of the buildings had multiple bathrooms and water fountains. at first I didn’t understand why there were two officer bathrooms and two airman bathrooms (officer and airman facilities were often segregated). Then one day “duh” it hit me that they were remnants of an earlier time. So, I stand by my original position that there was no second victory for the Tuskegee Airman during their time. It would take years of struggle, blood, sweat, and tears before the hate, segregation and racism could be overcome, and still….