U.S. Commision of Fine Arts backs clear designs for World War II coins

Designs for a silver dollar coin commemorating the legacy of the United States Infantry and for a Congressional gold medal honoring three groups of Japanese American soldiers who served in World War II were endorsed recently by the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts.

The U.S. Mint will issue no more than 350,000 coins in 2012 commemorating the legacy of the Infantry and the establishment of the National Infantry Museum and Soldier Center in Columbus, Ga.

The CFA endorsed obverse design No. 3 depicting a single soldier moving forward.

The design reflected a “strong and familiar pose of the infantry leader,” according to CFA Secretary Tom Luebke.
Reverse design No. 7 featuring two crossed muzzle-loading rifles won the CFA’s nod for “clarity and simplicity of the insignia,” Luebke said. Members did, however, support the idea of spelling out the one dollar designation.
A surcharge of $10 on each coin sold will be used to support the maintenance of the museum. The coins will be offered in proof and uncirculated qualities and will contain 90 percent silver.

The CFA supported obverse design No. 3 for the Congressional gold medal.

“This is a larger piece, so it supported the layered affect of different groupings of soldiers,” Luebke said. CFA members liked the use of the flag in the design, but asked that the depiction of the stars be reviewed.

The legible composition of the three different military insignias prompted the CFA to endorse reverse design No. 3, Luebke said.

The Congressional gold medal will be awarded to the 100th Infantry Battalion, 442nd Regimental Combat Team and Military Intelligence Service members for World War II, three groups composed entirely of Japanese American soldiers.

The 100th Infantry Battalion, which was later incorporated into the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, was made up of predominantly Nisei (second generation Americans of Japanese ancestry) members of the Hawaii Provisional Infantry Battalion.