Reply #9: These coins are designed by committee.

[trogdor]

Seriously.

The United States Mint’s Artistic Infusion Program (AIP) began in 2003 with a nationwide call for artists to help invigorate American coin and medal design. Applications were accepted from a wide range of artists representing a broad spectrum of artistic mediums, including painting, sculpture, graphic design, drawing and illustration, as well as other visual art disciplines.

Several hundred talented artists applied for acceptance into the program, and following a comprehensive review of the work each of them submitted, a total of 24 artists were selected to participate in the initial AIP class. Included in the group were 18 Master Designers and 6 Associate Designers. Each signed a one-year contract and the AIP was under way.

The first project assigned to the Artistic Infusion Program artists in 2004 was the 2005-dated nickel, honoring President Thomas Jefferson, the role of the Native Americans in the Lewis and Clark expedition, and the culmination of the expedition. In addition, the AIP artists created designs for the 2006 50 State Quarters® Program.

For 2005, three new artists were added to the pool, two more Master Designers and one more Associate Designer. All were invited to submit designs for the 2006 nickel, the 2007 50 State Quarters® Program, the 2006-2008 American Eagle Platinum Coin Program, and the commemorative coins honoring the 400th anniversary of the founding of Jamestown.

The class of 2007 is comprised of seven Master Designers who have been invited to submit designs for the 2008 Presidential $1 Coin Program, the corresponding 2008 First Spouse Gold Coin Program just to name a few. The United States Mint has invited eleven additional artists to participate in the 2007 program, seven Associate Designers and four Student Designers.

http://www.usmint.gov/about_the_mint/artisticInfusion/