Letter
Dear Ms. McNally:
In its public meeting of 18 September conducted by videoconference, the Commission of Fine Arts reviewed design alternatives for coins and medals featuring Supergirl, Robin, and Green Lantern as part of the series celebrating the art of American comic books. The Commission was pleased to take into consideration the preferences of the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC) and the comics industry liaison for this coin series, and provided the following comments and recommendations.
Supergirl. The Commission members recommended obverse O-02, which depicts the character as superhuman as she flies through clouds against a neutral sky. However, they found the preferred reverse R-05 to be incompatible with the obverse, as it presents Supergirl as a more ethereal character, with a weak resemblance to her depiction on the obverse. They also commented that the scenes on either side are too similar, resulting in a “double-headed” coin, and they did not recommend any of the proposed reverse alternatives.
Robin. Consistent with the preference of the CCAC and the liaison, the Commission members recommended obverse O-03, citing the dynamic composition. They recommended R-04, which illustrates the backstory of Robin as a circus acrobat; they suggested that the contrast, detail, and hierarchy of the circus scene be adjusted so the audience is more recognizable. They did not recommend the CCAC’s preferred reverse alternative R-01, featuring a silhouette of Batman, which they found detracts from the narrative of Robin, who is the primary subject.
Green Lantern. Consistent with the preference of the CCAC, the Commission members recommended obverse O-03. However, they found the preferred reverse alternative R-03 to be unsatisfactory, as the light from Green Lantern’s ring highlights random or insignificant components of the various inscriptions on the three coin designs. Instead, they expressed a preference for reverse R-05—a head-on view of Green Lantern’s fist and ring—which they said is more direct, powerful, and adaptable across all the coin types.
As always, the staff is available to assist you with future submissions.
Sincerely,
/s/Thomas E. Luebke, FAIA
Secretary
Kristie McNally, Acting Director
United States Mint
801 9th Street, NW, 8th Floor
Washington, DC 20220