Proposed designs for the U.S. Mint’s 2026 American Innovation dollar for Wisconsin highlight the Cray-1 Supercomputer, a groundbreaking achievement in computing history.
Seymour Cray, a native of Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, spearheaded this revolution. He founded Cray Research, Inc., establishing its lab near his home, and introduced the Cray-1 in 1975.
"At its introduction, the Cray-1 Supercomputer was the pinnacle of supercomputing achievement, operating 10 times faster than competing machines of its era," the U.S. Mint’s design narrative states.
"By optimizing its components,
programming, and physical arrangement of its parts, the Cray-1 reigned as the world’s fastest computer from 1976 to 1982," the narrative added.
The U.S. Mint’s American Innovation $1 Coin Program honors pioneering achievements from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the five U.S. territories. Introduced in 2018, the series features four unique reverse designs each year, recognizing innovations or innovators that have shaped history.
Design Recommendations for Wisconsin Innovation Dollar
Six candidate designs for the Wisconsin Innovation dollar were presented by the U.S. Mint to the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC) on Feb. 18 and the Commission of Fine Arts (CFA) on Feb. 20.
Design WI-05, featuring a stylized aerial view of the Cray-1, emerged as the preferred choice, receiving support from the Office of the Governor of Wisconsin and recommendations from both advisory bodies. Inspired by typography associated with early supercomputers, the design not only captures the Cray-1’s distinctive shape but also subtly forms a "C" for both "Cray-1" and "computer."
All parties backed refinements to enhance historical accuracy, specifically adjusting the design to reflect the computer’s original configuration with an arc of twelve wedges. The CFA also suggested centering the computer geometrically on the coin – a point raised during the CCAC meeting. However, after noting that the original positioning had been carefully considered, further changes were set aside.
Ultimately, the Secretary of the Treasury will make the final design selection after reviewing recommendations from advisory panels and stakeholders.
Design Images and Design Descriptions
The U.S. Mint’s line art images and design descriptions for all the candidate designs follow.
WI-01B features "WISCONSIN" inscribed within an arrow, symbolizing the state’s motto, "Forward," and echoing the advancements brought about by the Cray-1. This design showcases a distinctive aerial view of the Cray-1. The additional inscription is "CRAY-1 SUPERCOMPUTER."
WI-02A showcases a stylized depiction of the Cray-1 against circuits on a memory board, emphasizing the data flow and connectivity that the Cray enabled. The pixelated lettering harkens back to the 8-bit computer style of early computer displays. The additional inscription is "CRAY-1 SUPERCOMPUTER."
WI-03A depicts an aerial view of the Cray-1. The additional inscription is "CRAY-1 SUPERCOMPUTER."
WI-05 and WI-05B exhibit a stylized aerial view of the Cray-1. The text across both designs is inspired by the typography associated with early supercomputers. WI-05 emphasizes the Cray not only through its shape, but also by suggesting the shape of a "C" for Cray-1 and "computer." The additional inscription is "CRAY-1 SUPERCOMPUTER."
WI-06B displays the Cray-1 encircled by binary code translating to "speed," a fitting description of the machine’s groundbreaking computing capabilities. The outer text resembles early computer printouts, while the binary code and inner text employ modern fonts, signifying the technological leap that the Cray-1 embodied and its lasting impact on technology today. The additional inscription is "CRAY-1 SUPERCOMPUTER."
