Crow Tribe Code Talkers Gold Medal Designs Recommended

The Commission of Fine Arts (CFA) and Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC) have recommended designs for the Crow Tribe Code Talkers Congressional Gold Medal.

In 2013, twenty-five Native American tribes were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal in recognition of the dedication and valor of code talkers from their nation to the U.S. Armed Services during World War I and II. Seven additional tribes were identified as planned recipients of gold medals at a future date.

The United States Mint is now in the process of creating a Code Talkers congressional gold medal honoring one of those remaining nations, the Crow Tribe. Five design candidates were created and reviewed by the two bodies tasked with making recommendations for U.S. coin and medal designs. The U.S. Mint presented 3 designs for the obverse and 2 designs for the reverse.

At its May 15, 2014, meeting, the United States Commission of Fine Arts preferred the obverse candidate CROW TRIBE OBVERSE – 01. This design offers a variation of the Army Air Corp Wings with CROW CODE TALKERS inscribed around the image. Of note, this is the same design preferred by the Crow Tribe.

For the reverse, the CFA opted for candidate CROW TRIBE REVERSE – 01 which has elements of the Crow Tribe seal — a sun and its rays, representations of three mountain ranges, a teepee, war bonnets, a sweat lodge, a medicine bundle, and a peace pipe. Inscribed above is ACT OF CONGRESS 2008 with WORLD WAR II shown below. This design was also preferred by the Crow Tribe.

The Citizen’s Coinage Advisory Committee followed suit, recommending the same obverse and reverse design candidates at its meeting on May 19, 2014. A motion at the meeting was made to honor the Tribe’s preferred choices and it carried without discussion.

About Code Talkers

Code talkers first served in World War I where they transmitted tactical messages in their native tongue to confuse enemy forces. Their service expanded in World War II and they are credited with safely preventing the enemy from learning military secrets.

The Code Talkers Recognition Act of 2008, Public Law 110-420, was passed by Congress and signed into law by President George W. Bush on Oct. 15, 2008. Under the terms of the Act, the Congressional Gold Medals are to be presented to the identified tribes and maintained by the Smithsonian Institution. Silver duplicate medals are to be awarded to surviving code talkers or their next of kin or personal representatives. Bronze medal replicas are also struck and sold to the public.

Obverse Crow Tribe Code Talkers Gold Medal Designs Candidates

Here are images of all 3 proposed obverse (heads side) gold medal designs:

Reverse Crow Tribe Code Talkers Gold Medal Designs Candidates

Here are images of the 2 proposed reverse (tails side) gold medal designs: