Go ahead and take a chance

Is your opinion of the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee positive or negative?

Now comes the chance for you to make a difference on the body that makes design recommendations to the secretary of the Treasury.

An opening on the CCAC will be filled by someone who is “specially qualified by virtue of his or her education, training, or experience in numismatics,” according to the U.S. Mint.

But you have to act fast. You only have until Oct. 9 to get your application in.

Just think of having an impact on the future designs of U.S. coinage.

Nobody but the artist can claim a design as his or her own, but official guidance can make a critical difference.

If you think you have what it takes to become part of a government body that consists of 11 members, you will have to convince the Mint that you meet its requirements.

You are asked to “submit a resume, along with a cover letter, detailing specific educational credentials, skills, talents and experience,” the Mint specifies.

Since nearly all collectors are strong on experience, but short on formal numismatic education, it is necessary to emphasize your well-roundedness as it applies to numismatics and the CCAC tasks at hand.

The Mint said applications may be sent by email to info@ccac.gov.

A second method is to send them by fax to (202) 756-6525.

The third avenue for submission is to mail the application to the United States Mint, 801 9th Street NW, Washington, DC 20220, Attn: Greg Weinman.

Mailed applications must be postmarked no later than Oct. 9.

So get going.

You just might become the next holder of a seat on the CCAC.

If you are, you will have a term of four years in which to make a difference.

But don't get a swelled head. All the rest of us are still out here ready with criticisms.

Are you up to the challenge?

• Like this blog? Read more by subscribing to Numismatic News.

Buzz blogger Dave Harper has twice won the Numismatic Literary Guild Award for Best Blog and is editor of the weekly newspaper "Numismatic News."