Mayflower Gold Coin And Silver Medal In 2020

I'm at a loss to understand why my explanation regarding the reason Congress didn't pass the Mayflower commemorative coin program was deleted. While I understand that we don't want to get in to political discussions, this legislation was not passed because of politics. Leaving people in the dark as to the reason simply because it pertains to politics isn't helpful for those who want to know.

The Mint has posted the considered designs.

IMO the CCAC discussion was focused mainly on the political aspects of minting these, but there was also a fair amount of discussion about the symbology and appropriateness of the designs. CCAC members continually referred to the gold coin as a commemorative without correction by the moderator.

One member mistakenly thought that the Au coin was Congressionally authorized and the moderator had to correct him and point out that the coin was being minted under the Treasury Secretary's authority.

Another member voiced concerns about whether the designs would work on a half eagle sized coin. The same member also questioned why the denomination was $10 instead of $5 because commemorative half eagles are $5 coins (I believe this is because the 1/4 ozt AGE is a $10 denomination and the Mayflower coin is being minted under the AGE authorization.)

I wonder what kind of pre-meeting packet the Mint sent to the members. You'd think it would have covered the basics like what authorizations are being used to mint the coin and medal and their specifications, but either it didn't or not all of the members read it closely enough

There was one bit news that I hadn't yet heard. The Mint is planning on issuing some kind of Mayflower set with the UK's Royal Mint. Something like is being done with Australia this year.

It was difficult at times to follow the discussion over the phone, as you couldn't always hear the speaker. In the end, I believe the CCAC didn't really come together and recommend a design. They just recommended that the Mint do what they thought would provide the best overall theme in conjunction with the UK Royal Mint. I might be wrong about this though, as at one point they DID vote to recommend a design, but after an adjournment they reconsidered that vote and decided against it.

It's always interesting listening in on these CCAC meetings

OK. It's ok to say that it was about politics, but not ok to explain political motivations nor how the same political motivations would have impacted coinage from the past. That makes it difficult to have a real discussion on the topic, but I think that I've got it. BTW, I don't really appreciate your implication that I was somehow deceitful regarding what I previously posted. I wasn't and would be perfectly happy for you to repost it as I take full ownership of it. I can't imagine that anyone would have been offended by what I wrote.

Since you cannot let it go, I will put this out on front street for everyone...

You crossed the line when you said "some who are downright hostile" in the first post and "because the left opposes anything" in the second. Those two statements will only incite those being accused of being hostile and/or those on the left to respond. Better to stop it than let it escalate. (And thank you Alpha for choosing not to engage.)

This is all that will be said on this. You either accept it or you can leave.

*** Staff Edit: Final warning. ***

BadDog, do you know if it's written in to law that commemorative coin programs must have a beneficiary?

Not that I'm aware of. 31 U.S. Code § 5112 Denominations, specifications, and design of coins gives a definition of a designated recipient organization but it doesn't mandate one. AFAIK that's up to the specific program authorization, each of which has some organization or other that has gotten their congressperson to put forth legislation commemorating their project/cause/etc.

Interesting.