The United States Mint provided information about and unveiled proposed designs for a 2024 Liberty and Britannia gold coin and silver medal — a collaborative US-UK Mint program.
This program will include a Liberty and Britannia design jointly created by the Chief Engraver of the U.S. Mint, Joseph Menna, and the Chief Engraver of the British Royal Mint, Gordon Summers.
"The 2024 Liberty and Britannia 24-karat gold coin and silver medal program marks the first original design collaboration between two of the largest mints in the world," the U.S. Mint noted.
Earlier, on Jan. 25, representatives of the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC) and Commission of Fine Arts (CFA) joined the Royal Mint Advisory Committee to review candidate options for the joint design.
Now, 6 pairs of candidate designs are up for review and discussion. On Feb. 16, the candidates were reviewed by the CFA. The CCAC will review them today, Feb. 28. The Treasury Secretary will consider recommendations from both bodies before making the final selections for the U.S. Mint’s gold coin and silver medal designs.
Background
Along with some background information about the joint program, U.S. Mint-provided descriptions and images of the candidate designs follow.
Each mint will produce coins and/or medals using the joint design and incorporating its own required inscriptions. The joint design will be used by the Royal Mint as a reverse, with its obverse bearing the portrait of the King.
The United States Mint will use the joint design as an obverse. Menna created the reverse candidate designs submitted for review to complement the exploration of the connection between the two countries, while further reflecting on the American ideal of Liberty.
Obverse Designs
Inscriptions for the gold coin and silver medal obverse designs are "Liberty" and "2024." Designs will be produced in both their one ounce gold coin and one ounce silver medal versions.
LB-O-01 invites both comparison and contrast by featuring profile portraits of allegorical Liberty and Britannia presented as complementary and balancing elements suggestive of the faces on a playing card. Each figure holds their respective symbols; Britannia, her trident, and Liberty, her torch.
LB-O-02 depicts Liberty and Britannia standing side by side, Britannia with her trident and Liberty with her torch. Each allegorical figure leans against a pedestal.
Reverse Designs
Inscriptions for the gold coin are "United States of America," "E Pluribus Unum," "AU 24K 1 oz.," and the denomination, "$100." "Liberty and Britannia" is an inscription that appears on most candidate designs. The corresponding silver medal designs include the inscription "United States of America" and optionally "Liberty and Britannia." Designs are presented in both their gold coin and silver medal versions.
LB-R-01 references the United States’ 2023 American Liberty 24k coin by pairing a bristlecone pine on the left with an English yew tree on the right. They are separated by the Atlantic Ocean with a sun rising above it, heralding new possibilities for both nations.
LB-R-02 presents the allegorical Liberty from the obverse design in full figure, her flowing hair referencing past United States coins portraying Liberty. The design stands in contrast to the monarch featured on British coins, presenting a reverse that is distinctly American.
Designs LB-R-03 and LB-R-03A also feature allegorical Liberty from the obverse design. Liberty occupies the center of the composition, while the drapery of her dress and flowing hair emulate the branches of a tree, moving past the border of the design. LB-R-03A includes the optional inscription "LIBERTY AND BRITANNIA."
