WASHINGTON — The United States Mint announced today that three of its coins took top honors in the 2009 Coin of the Year (COTY) Awards. An international panel of judges voted the 2007 Jamestown 400th Anniversary Commemorative Silver Dollar as the Most Historically Significant Coin; the 2007 Little Rock Central High School Desegregation 50th Anniversary Silver Dollar as the Best Contemporary Event Coin; and the George Washington Presidential $1 Coin as the Most Popular Coin. The awards were announced February 7 at the World’s Money Fair in Berlin, Germany. The United States Mint has received a total of 36 COTY Awards since they began in 1984.
“The United States Mint’s challenge is to produce artistically excellent contemporary coins that reflect our Nation’s values and history,” said Director Ed Moy. “I’m glad that the judges liked several of our efforts.”
The COTY Awards recognize the work of mints worldwide. An international panel composed of approximately 30 professional numismatists and experts judges the coin submissions. Entries span a two–year production period to allow wider participation of countries that do not issue coins with new designs as regularly as others. Finalists are chosen in 10 categories.
The 2007 Jamestown 400th Anniversary Commemorative Silver Dollar celebrated the settlement of Jamestown, Virginia, in 1607. The obverse (heads side) of the silver dollar coin was designed by United States Mint Sculptor–Engraver Donna Weaver and sculpted by Sculptor–Engraver Don Everhart. The obverse design depicts “Three Faces of Diversity,” representing the three cultures that came together at Jamestown – American Indian, European and African. The reverse design, by United States Mint Artistic Infusion Program Master Designer Susan Gamble and sculpted by Sculptor–Engraver Charles Vickers, depicts the three ships that brought the first settlers to Jamestown – Godspeed, Susan Constant and Discovery.
The obverse of the 2007 Little Rock Central High School Desegregation 50th Anniversary Silver Dollar was designed by United States Mint Artistic Infusion Program Master Designer Richard Masters and sculpted by Vickers. It depicts a group of children walking to school escorted by an American soldier, with nine stars symbolizing the “Little Rock Nine,” the first black students to attend Little Rock Central High School in 1957. The reverse design, designed and sculpted by Everhart, depicts an image of the school circa 1957.
Also issued in 2007, the George Washington Presidential $1 Coin was the first in the United States Mint’s Presidential $1 Coin Program, which honors former United States Presidents in the order they served in office. The coin’s obverse, designed and sculpted by United States Mint Sculptor–Engraver Joseph Menna, depicts a bold portrait of the Nation’s first chief executive. The coin’s reverse displays a striking rendition of the Statue of Liberty designed and sculpted by Everhart. The circulating coin features the inscriptions E PLURIBUS UNUM, IN GOD WE TRUST, 2007 and the mint mark incused on the edge.
To view an image of the 2007 Jamestown 400th Anniversary Commemorative Silver Dollar, go to /coins/coin-medal-programs/commemorative-coins/jamestown-400th-anniversary.
To view an image of the 2007 Little Rock Central High School Desegregation 50th Anniversary Silver Dollar, go to /coins/coin-medal-programs/commemorative-coins/little-rock-central-high-school-desegregation.
To view an image of the George Washington Presidential $1 Coin, go to /coins/coin-medal-programs/presidential-dollar-coin/george-washington.