The E-Sylum:  Volume 10, Number 50, December 9, 2007, Article 26

PROFILE: CITIZENS COINAGE ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEMBER JOHN ALEXANDER

[This week the Cincinnati Post published a profile on
Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee member John Alexander.
-Editor]

"Alexander is a member of the 11-person Citizens Coinage
Advisory Committee that makes recommendations about the
design of coins to the U.S. Mint and the secretary of the
U.S. Treasury.

"'I applied for the position, and it's even better than
I expected,' he said. 'This committee does what a good
committee ought to do. The members listen to each other.

"'There's give and take, and people will change their minds
based on what other people have to say. Even when we disagree,
we understand and respect each other. Members say they look
forward to coming to meetings.'

"The committee meets every two months at the U.S. Mint in
Washington except for once a year when the group gathers
at whatever city the American Numismatics Association of
coin collectors is staging its annual convention.

"'One position is mandated for a person trained in U.S.
history, and when it became available, I applied for it,'
said Alexander, who was appointed to a four-year term that
began in the autumn of 2005.

"'I applied because I collected coins briefly as a child
and have always had some interest in coins. But I also
thought that here is a place where one can do some real
service based on my expertise in history.

"The committee is reviewing new designs for the back of
the Abraham Lincoln penny because the Mint will issue
pennies with four different backs in 2009 to honor the
200th anniversary of Lincoln's birth.

"While the familiar Lincoln portrait on the front will
remain the same, the new backs will represent four stages
of Lincoln's life: birth, youth, career and president.

"Alexander said designs the committee reviewed for the
first three stages were similar and not controversial:
a log cabin to represent the place of Lincoln's birth,
a young Lincoln reading by candlelight to depict his
self-education and Lincoln making a legislative speech.

"However, some of the designs to signify Lincoln's
presidency depicted a half-built dome of the U.S.
Capitol, which Lincoln helped get completed.

"'That became a real problem for the committee,' said
Alexander. 'Occasionally, we can get passionate, and
the committee overwhelmingly decided that we don't
believe that will work.

"'We want something that will depict Lincoln in the
Civil War era, maybe Lincoln with generals in a tent
or making the Gettysburg Address or signing the
Emancipation Proclamation. Something that reminds
people there was a thing called the Civil War.'

"Because of the committee's unhappiness with a half-built
dome, additional designs have been ordered and the committee
will review them at its next meeting in January."

To read the complete article, see:
Full Story

  Wayne Homren, Editor

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