Presidential designs reviewed

Four more Presidential $1 coins will be released in 2013, and now is the time to select the designs.

The Commission of Fine Arts named its favorite designs for William McKinley, Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft and Woodrow Wilson when it met Sept. 15.

In all, the CFA reviewed 44 possible designs, according to CFA Secretary Tom Luebke.

For the McKinley design, the CFA chose obverse No. 3, preferring the near profile image.

For the Roosevelt design, the CFA preferred design No. 4, noting how it conveyed the strength of his character, Luebke said.

The rich red, white and blue pattern on this top-quality coin folder creates the perfect backdrop for your beautiful Presidential dollars

For the Taft design, obverse No. 10 presented the best likeness of the President, according to the CFA.

For the Wilson design, obverse No. 2 was chosen for its near profile presentation and sculptural possibility, Luebke said. Members noted a bit of a distraction from the right side of Wilson’s glasses, which it noted is a shortcoming of not using a true profile image.

Luebke said the U.S. Mint artist/engravers were given historical medals and paintings depicting the Presidents for reference in creating their designs.

“The medals were a great inspiration for the modern pieces,” Luebke said, particularly for the designs for Roosevelt and Taft.