The United States Mint recently provided the Commission of Fine Arts (CFA) and the CitizensCoinage Advisory Committee (CCAC) with a set of 30 design candidates for the reverse of the2015-2016 American Platinum Eagles. The two groups each offered different recommendations on theirpreferred set of designs.

When the Commission of Fine Arts reviewed the design candidates on September 18, they noted theappearance of an allegorical figure of Lady Liberty on the obverse and supported depictions ofeagles for the upcoming reverse designs.

For 2015, they recommended alternative #9 which depicts a bald eagle grasping an olive branch inits talons to symbolize peace. The eagle's wings are outstretched to represent its boundless spiritof freedom and a circle of 13 stars above the eagle's head represent the original 13 colonies.

As a potential continuation of the series in the following year, they recommended alternative#22. The design features a depiction of an American bald eagle as a symbol of strength and freedom.The eagle is depicted in the heraldic tradition with its talons grasping an olive branch tosymbolize peace and bundle of 13 arrows to symbolize the strength and ability to protect. The CFAsuggested refining the awkward position of the eagle's legs and to consider replacing the bundle ofarrows with wheat stalks.

The Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee reviewed the design candidates on September 24 and optedfor a different set of designs.

They recommended alternative #6 which carries a depiction of Liberty and an American bald eaglerepresenting Freedom. In the image, Liberty is shown nurturing and sustaining Freedom. The CCACsuggested removing the dish in Liberty's hand and rather showing the hand as open and extended.They further suggested showing eye contact between Liberty and the eagle, removing the inner lineconcentric with the "United States of America" text to create a cleaner design, and repositioningthe Earth to show the United States.

Their second recommendation was for alternative #7, which depicts Liberty with flowing hair androbe waving in the winds of freedom. Liberty holds a torch of enlightenment in her right and and anolive branch in her left. A bald eagle is shown clutching an olive branch with its wingsoutstretched to represent its boundless spirit. The CCAC suggested removing the olive branch in theeagle's talons to create a cleaner design.

To read the complete article, see:
CFA& CCAC Recommend 2015-2016 American Platinum Eagle Reverse Designs(news.coinupdate.com/cfa-ccac-recommend-american-platinum-eagle-reverse-designs-4504/)

For the complete roster of design candidates, see:
2015-2016American Platinum Eagle Reverse Design Candidates(mintnewsblog.com/2014/10/2015-2016-american-platinum-eagle-reverse-design-candidates/)