Sitting at my desk eating a late lunch after long weekend, I was surfing the Internet looking for news from the numismatic community. I surfed to the website for the US Commission of Fine Arts (CFA) and started to read their meeting notes from their June 15 meeting. The notes include a letter to David A. Lebryk, Deputy Director of the US Mint, about the proposed designs for the San Francisco Old Mint Commemorative Coin.

Judging by CFA’s response to Lebryk, the Mint may have been thinking about concepts to use for the commemorative but did not try to execute anything until the passage of the San Francisco Old Mint Commemorative Coin Act (Public Law 109-230 [GPO: text/pdf]) and submitted designs to the CFA for consideration. Apparently, the CFA was not quite happy with the submissions. For their review of the reverse of the $1 silver coin, they wrote:

“The Commission did not like either SR-01-A or SR-01-B, because the drawing of the Mint used for both was so poor. The suggestion was to use one of the designs proposed for the gold reverse or, if it was felt necessary to use a design based on Shirl J. Winter’s medal, at least make a better drawing of it.”

When I wrote “This bill is going to put the system to a real test,” in The Granite Lady Gets Her Commem, I was anticipating problems since the bill says that the coins can be issued “only during the 1-year period beginning on January 1, 2006.”

While I applaud the Mint for its quick work and the CFA for its quick consideration, I wish the Mint would have done a better job. It is not clear if the Mint can just use the rejected reverses from the gold coin and start making dies or do they have to return to the CFA for approval. If approval is necessary they have until the next CFA meeting on July 27 to come up with a new design.

On this, the 230th anniversary of the signing of our Declaration of Independence, it is fitting that while searching my pocket change I found a Bicentenial Washington Quarter. Remember, this quarter was issued in 1975 and 1976 with the dual date 1776-1976. The reverse features a colonial drummer boy designed by artist Jack L. Ahr. Ahr’s design was selected amongst 12 semi-finalists. He was awarded $5,000 for the design.

On this Day of Independence, I wish those in the military who are helping others gain and maintain their Independence best wishes and a safe return home.

The 2006 American Buffalo Gold Proof One Ounce Coin is now on sale from the US Mint for $800. There is a purchase limit of 10 coins with delivery scheduled for July 13, 2006.

Although the Mint is selling only proof coins to the general public, dealers have sending offers to sell the uncirculated coins in the range of $675-699. As I write this, the spot price of gold is $580.

The James Earle Fraser Type 1 Buffalo design is one of my favorite coin designs. It is a truely American design. It will be interesting to see how the rest of the world reacts to this coin. I only wish I could afford one!

The US Mint has been very active the last two weeks announcing new coins and collectibles. Colorado is the latest state to be honored in the 50 States Quarters program with formal ceremonies being head Denver, the Colorado capital. Yesterday began the Buffalo 24-karat Gold Coin program with a striking ceremony at the West Point branch mint. But somewhat lost in the fanfare was the unveiling of the design for the 2007 Jamestown 400th Anniversary Commemorative.

Jamestown was founded in 1607 by members of the Virginia Company who were sent across the Atlantic Ocean on three ships to make a profit from the natural resources found in the New World. From 1607 through 1698, Jamestown was the capital of the Virginia colony and the primary gateway for shipping goods back to England and other areas of the world. Today, archeologists are excavating the original settlement as part of the Jamestown Rediscovery project. Their findings will be part of the overall 400th anniversary celebration.

To commemorate this anniversary, Public Law 108-289 [GPO: text/PDF] authorizes the minting of 100,000 $5 coins made from 90-percent gold that weighs no more than 8.359 grams and 500,000 $1 coins made from 90-percent silver that weighs no more than 26.73 grams. Surcharges from the coin will be given to the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation. The Mint unveiled the designs to the public on June 16, 2006. Line art images of the coins are from the US Mint Image Library.

Mint Sculptor-Engraver John Mercanti designed the obverse of the $5 gold coin depicting Captain John Smith conversing with an American Indian. The reverse of the gold coin shows the Jamestown Memorial Church, the only structure remaining from the original settlement. It was design by Artistic Infusion Program Master Designer Susan Gamble.

Donna Weaver, the recently retired Mint Sculptor-Engraver, design the obverse of the $1 silver coin to depict the “Three Faces of Diversity” to represent the three cultures that came together in Jamestown. Susan Gamble designed the reverse of the silver coin to depict the three ships that carried the first settlers across the Atlantic Ocean: the Godspeed, the Susan Constant, and Discovery.

Both appear to be very pretty coins in their line art form. The reverse of the coins by Susan Gamble from the Artistic Infusion Program look to be well executed and has the potential for great eye appeal in the yellow and white metals. This is going to make a nice collectable and confirm the success of the Artistic Infusion Program.