QUERY: U.S. COINS DESIGNED BY OUTSIDE FIRMS

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V15 2012 INDEX E-SYLUM ARCHIVE

The E-Sylum: Volume 15, Number 7, February 12, 2012, Article 12

Speaking of coin designers, Coin Update featured this article about the Dolley Madison Silver Dollar, noting that the design of the coin was done by Tiffany & Co. at the request of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, beneficiary of funds raised by the sales of the coin. Via the Mint's Artistic Infusion program a number of outside designers have worked on coins, but these are worked under contract to the U.S. Mint. Have there been any other instances where the U.S. Mint has allowed an outside firm to contribute a design? -Editor

The Dolley Madison Commemorative Coin Program was authorized under Public Law 104-329 to celebrate the life and achievements of the First Lady, as well as to commemorate the 150th anniversary of her death. Representing an unusual departure from tradition, the obverse and reverse designs for the silver dollars were created by a well known for-profit private sector firm, namely Tiffany & Co.

The authorizing legislation for the program provided only basic guidance on the designs for the Dolley Madison Silver Dollar, stating: "The design of the coins minted under this paragraph shall be emblematic of the 150th anniversary of the death of Dolley Madison and the life and achievements of the wife of the fourth President of the United States."

The motivation for the eventual design selection of the coin came from the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Under the legislation, surcharges from the sale of the silver dollars were to be paid to the National Trust to support and fund restoration projects at Montpelier, the home of James and Dolley Madison. The National Trust commissioned Tiffany & Co. to prepare designs for the commemorative silver dollar. These designs were prepared by Tiffany & Co. and donated to the National Trust, which provided them to the United States Mint for production.

The artists who created the designs at Tiffany & Co. remained uncredited. However, the certificate of authenticity and other promotional materials for the coins did provide credit to United States Mint Sculptor/Engravers T. James Ferrell and Thomas D. Rogers who were responsible for translating the design art into three dimensional sculpture from which the dies were created.

Another question: why was this article just published this week, when the coin has been around since 1999? Regardless, it was an opportunity to ask an interesting question. Does anyone know? -Editor