Design recommendations have been made for the 2019 quarter honoring American Memorial Park in Saipan, the largest island of the Northern Mariana Islands.
During the third week in January, the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC) and the Commission of Fine Arts (CFA) looked over 13 alternative candidates that replaced earlier designs presented in September 2017.
Both bodies recommended the same new design, which is among a group of four preferred by park liaisons. It depicts a young woman wearing traditional dress approaching the park’s Flag Circle with an offering of flowers. She is seen resting her hand on the plaque whose text honors the sacrifice of those who died in the liberation of Saipan.
In their recommendation, the CFA suggested:
"The careful study of the position and texture of the foreground plaque so that it is distinct from the memorial’s steps."
For the proposed lettering on the coin, they recommended the removal of "Court of Honor" to make the overall design "more elegant." They also questioned the idea of "Nor. Mariana Isl." as the abbreviated the name of the territory, recommending instead the use of "N. Mariana Islands" or "Northern Marianas."
Below are U.S. Mint images and descriptions of the second round of proposed American Memorial Park quarter designs.
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MP2-01 features a Marine Honor Guard near the Court of Honor and Flag Circle paying respect to those who sacrificed their lives for during the Marianas Campaign of World War II.
MP-02 features a male Marine Honor Guard and female Navy officer, near the Court of Honor and Flag Circle. Representing the coordination of all land and sea forces from the Pacific battles, they pay respect to the American service men who sacrificed their lives during the Marianas Campaign of World War II.
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MP2-03 through 06 all depict a young woman wearing traditional dress approaching the Flag Circle with an offering of flowers. In design 04, she rests her hand on the plaque whose text honors the sacrifice of those who died in the liberation of Saipan.
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MP2-07 portrays a young Carolinian man and woman in ceremonial dress standing in front of the Court of Honor and Flag Circle at American Memorial Park holding a wreath of native flowers.
MP2-09 presents the juxtaposition of a World War II soldier, in engagement with the enemy, against the backdrop of the Flag Circle and plumeria flowers. These elements recall the bravery and patriotism of those who fought and the peace that has prevailed following the battles.
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MP2-10 portrays a member of the military saluting the Court of Honor and the flags of the service branches that participated in the Battle of Saipan.
MP2-11 depicts the Flag Circle above a spray of tropical flowers.
MP2-12 and 13 feature views of the Court of Honor and Flag Circle.
MP2-14 showcases a view of the Court of Honor and Flag Circle framed by a wreath of plumeria flowers and leaves.
2019 Quarters
Introduced in 2010, the 56-quarter series celebrates national sites throughout the 50 states, the District of Columbia and the five U.S. territories.
The American Memorial Park quarter will be the second national site honored in 2019. Massachusetts’s Lowell National Historical Park quarter will precede it. The next three 2019 designs honor War in the Pacific National Historical Park in Guam, San Antonio Missions National Historical Park in Texas, and Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness in Idaho.
Hoo boy, do they ever have their work cut out for themselves on this one!
I guess we’ll be looking for “full steps” strikes, haha!
Do the Northern Mariana Islands not have a single NATURAL sight worth showing? What they’re proposing is akin to saying the islands’ only claim to fame is as a war memorial, and I find that very hard to believe.
Old Collector –
The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands also has the infamous & strangely beautiful Suicide Cliff that has a very interesting history. But, I doubt even the U.S. Mint wants the word “suicide” on any of their coins/medals!
-NumisdudeTX
Seth Riesling,
Is there a possibility that perhaps it wouldn’t in fact be all that inappropriate a gesture, however unpalatable, coming from the U.S. Mint considering the clearly consistent, year after year and across the board, decline in sales figures even as the overall population of the nation – i.e., the Mint’s available potential customer base – itself continues to grow? 😉
I like MP2-09.
Old Collector –
You picked up on exactly what I was hinting at on my last post! You are a good mind reader. If the U.S. Mint were a private business, without partial government funding, it would have been bankrupt long ago due mainly to its horrendous over pricing & inconsiderate treatment of its core collector customers in many respects as their customer base erodes drastically since 2014 (down more than 25%). Sad! (As Trump would no doubt say).
-NumisdudeTX
Seth Riesling, Very sad indeed. I’ve had that exact same thought about many a government-run, taxpayer-supported institution/organization/business over the years, which is that if they were ever to be held to the same financial standards and responsibilities that any private enterprise typically is they would not be long for this world. The Mint can keep on taking advantage of the members of the nation’s numismatic community in any way it wants to as long as it knows we have no say regarding its (increasingly poor, occasionally ridiculous) decisions operations and/or expenses, and it can continue to thumb its nose at… Read more »