Design Winner for 2014 Baseball Commemorative Coins Announced

The United States Mint today has announced the winning design for the obverse of 2014 National Baseball Hall of Fame Commemorative Coins. As required by the authorizing law, the winning image is emblematic of the game of baseball.

The design features the likeness of a baseball glove and is the work of artist Cassie McFarland of San Luis Obispo, California. It will appear on all three commemoratives coins of the program including a $5 gold coin, a $1 silver coin and a 50c clad half-dollar.

"Ms. McFarland, who is 27 years old, drew inspiration for her design from a ‘well-loved glove’ that was a constant fixture in her family home when she was growing up in the historic railroad town of Roseville, California," describes a press release from the United States Mint. "McFarland, a practicing figurative painter and photographer, holds a bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts Studio Art and Design from California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo."

Also included on the obverse of each coin will be McFarland’s initials. In addition to the recognition, she receives $5,000.00 as the prize for winning.

Not required for the reverse design which was selected and announced in July, a Baseball Coin Design Competition for the obverse image was held by the US Mint from April 11 through May 11, 2013. The competition was required by the National Baseball Hall of Fame Commemorative Coin Act (Public Law 112-152), which authorized the coins, and saw 178 submitted entries.

Ms. McFarland’s winning design successfully completed the gauntlet of reviews held by US Mint officials, the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, the United States Commission of Fine Arts and the Citizen’s Coinage Advisory Committee. The Secretary of the Treasury made the eventual selection after consulting with the organizations.

When issued, the 2014 National Baseball Hall of Fame Commemorative Coins will venture into new territory for the US Mint as they mark the first curved coins ever released by the bureau. As requested by the authorizing law, the obverse of each will be concave with a convex reverse. This design element is particularly appropriate for the chosen designs as the common convex reverse depicts a baseball with the recently announced concave obverse offering the glove design.

Under the commemorative program, the US Mint can produce and sell up to 50,000 $5 gold coins, 400,000 $1 silver coins and 400,000 half-dollar clad coins. Surcharges will be collected on the sale of each ($35 per gold coin, $10 per silver coins and $5 per half-dollar) with the proceeds forwarded to the National Baseball Hall of Fame to help finance its operations.