February 27, 2008
BREAKING: U.S. Mint Rejects D.C. Quarter Design
Update III: Mayor Adrian Fenty has released a statement responding to the U.S. Mint: “We were asked to submit ideas that were ‘emblematic of the District of Columbia.’ I can think of nothing more unique and characteristic than our status as the only American citizens without full voting rights in Congress. Even after we are successful in changing that status, it will still be an important part of our history. We respectfully disagree with the Mint’s determination, but will submit an alternative inscription that best represents the city.” Back to the drawing board.
Update II: It looks like we're the first outright rejection. According to the U.S. Mint, "There occasionally have been controversial proposals that would have been rejected; however, we invariably have been able to avoid the finality of a formal rejection through our deliberations with the state before it approved its narrative submissions. We want to promote the quality of the collaborative process with the District of Columbia and with the U.S. Territories by encouraging robust and frank discussions on their quarter design narratives. Releasing examples of the United States Mint’s predecisional consultations with the states would not be conducive to this process."
Update: We're waiting to hear from the U.S. Mint if they have ever rejected a proposed design, or if the District will have the dubious pleasure of being the first. And as for the U.S. Mint's logic, well, we think it's a little shaky. Sure, D.C. residents know what "Taxation Without Representation" means in practical and political terms. But to the rest of the U.S., the phrase may well be more closely associated with the Boston Tea Party, an important event in this country's early history. Would the U.S. Mint have acted differently had this been proposed by, say, Massachusetts? And isn't the phrase a good step removed from saying "We Want the Vote" or "Please Support Voting Rights for D.C."? We think so.
Hot off the presses from the U.S. Mint:
The United States Mint has notified District of Columbia officials that their proposal to include the inscription "Taxation Without Representation" does not comply with the law that authorizes the D.C. commemorative quarter-dollar coin.Hell, we kinda figured that this is what would happen, but not necessarily this quickly.Changing how the District of Columbia (the Seat of Government of the United States) is represented in Congress is a contemporary political issue on which there presently is no national consensus and over which reasonable minds differ.
Although the United States Mint expresses no position on the merits of this issue, we have determined that the proposed inscription is clearly controversial and, therefore, inappropriate as an element of design for United States coinage.
The United States Mint has followed an established process for analyzing proposed narratives and design proposals for all the quarters in the 50 State Quarters(r) Program and will do so for the District of Columbia and United States Territories Quarter Program. The United States Mint looks forward to working with District officials to develop narratives that will lead to a quarter honoring the District of Columbia of which the entire Nation can be proud.
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Bummer. I was hoping there'd be time before the decision came down to petition them to include it. Perhaps they had an inkling there would be an outpouring of support and thus let the ax fall as quickly as possible.
Duh
I didn't know there was national consensus that we all agreed to "Live Free or Die"
And look what happened to NH...God smote their old man to oblivion.
Well, I guess we're down to "Bitch Set Me Up!"
Now for Plan B: a halfsmoke nestled between a pair of Snowballs and a napkin that says, "EAT ME." You got a problem with that, U.S. Mint?
so it can be put on license plates but not quarters?
How about:
"Washington, DC: We Hate You, Too"
"Washington, DC: Home of the Half-Smoke"
"Washington, DC: The Bitch Set Me Up"
I didn't know there was national consensus that we all agreed to "Live Free or Die"
Oh come on, that's the most bad ass state slogan by far!
I would settle for "Live and Let Die" on the DC Quarter. Any takers?
also, there have been lawsuits over "Live Free or Die" being on NH license plates yet they put that on their quarters. controversy anyone?
hypocrisy at its best.
@MSto: Pretty sure the Fed. doesn't regulate state or the District's plates design and slogan, aside from plate size.
There have also been lawsuits in favor of it (see: motorcyclists not required to wear helmets in NH...ahh such a Libertarian haven)
@MSto: The Federales don't and probably can't regulate what is put on a state's or district's plates. That kind of explains the whole proposed "Confederate Pride" plates in Florida and the "Free Tibet" ones here in VA. DoT probably only regulates plate dimensions
Before everyone freaks out, we need to remember this is just fiat money. When we move to the Amero there will be plenty of space on the new bills and coins to make a statement about the consent of the governed.
Excuse the duplicate
Whatevs. No probs as I understand that you are trying to knock Monkey down from top of the totem pole or banana tree or seedy panda shaving midget peep hole booth.
The thing is that as much as you may think it's a great idea to use a quarter to protest what you see as an injustice, personally I'm glad we don't have quarters from South Carolina arguing that life begins at conception or quarters from Virginia suggesting the temperature and vitality of the hands from which we will take their guns.
So let's just accept that they're going to put on a panda and move on.
So let's just accept that they're going to put on a panda and move on.
Make it a shaved panda exercising his Second Amendment rights and you gotta deal.
DCist should ban quarters in protest.
Did someone mention shaved pandas?
This had to be a record for the Mint to reject a quarter design. Pretty impressive. Now DC Vote will complain, some more designs sans license plate mottos will be submitted, and the world will go about its business.
Wouldn't it be cool if we submitted a totally blank quarter as a protest?
I suggest we use the coin to educate tourists on how to use the Metro.
Something like, "Stand on the Right, Walk on the Left."
Although the mint might get sued if tourists hurt themselves walking on escalators, so maybe just "Stand on the Right."
it's time we revert to putting ben's on the quarter. anything, please god, that isn't federal in nature.
if it's a picture of the monument, i'm gonna barf.
They should make the DC quarter worth 20¢ out of protest.
Or something like that.
They'll still say "In God We Trust," right? Reasonable minds all agree about that.
cminus - that's a genius idea.
Has anyone actually seen the Mint's " established process for analyzing proposed narratives and design proposals for all the quarters in the 50 State Quarters(r) Program"? Seems to me that it would likely only apply to, (insert Lewis Black "her-HERP!" here) states.
I like the walk on the left, stand on the right...really thats ingenious. On a serious note the quarter is no place for this protest. Keep the protest in the streets, get people interested in other ways. And how many of you moved here knowing full well you were going to get taxed without reps in congress and still moved here? Lifers have a legit arguement, transplants dont. I knew the situation but still moved here, do you honestly believe the one DC vote will actually make a difference in the legislation that gets passed, are you dreaming of the chance to be the tiebreaker or deciding vote...it wont happen....lets move on.
Big L, nice to see you appreciate and believe in representative government.
How about we design the back of the quarter so that it looks exactly like the front, only with a banner beneath Washington's head that reads "ceci n est pas une quarter?"
That'll really mess with the tourists.
How about...
"excuse me, is that your bag?" with a big ugly purse in the center.
optional: have that big ugly purse be taking up an entire seat during rush hour.
Land of the free, huh?
Excuse me, but does national consensus even matter? We're talking about verifiable fact. D.C. citizens do not have a right to vote, yet they are obligated to pay a Federal income tax. Exactly where is the controversy here?
Now if the quarter said, "Taxation without Representation," and "Give us the vote, Bitches!"
then, you'd have a controversy.
True: 100% of DC citizens pay federal taxes without having representation.
Fales: 100% of US citizens trust in God.
True: 100% of DC citizens pay federal taxes without having representation.
False: 100% of US citizens trust in God.
Screw the U.S. Let's see what Canada will do for us.
Balls.... I "fale".
Oh, and damn right about the national conscensus. I can't recall getting asked if I wanted Old Man Mountain on New Hampshire's quarter.
In all seriousness, what now? Is there a backup submission plan or are we going to be totally gully and say "suck it Mint. How dare you lump us with PR anyhow."?
Honestly. A statement of fact is too controversial to engrave on our quarter. Screw them.
Good for the U.S. Mint. I could never stomach the "Taxation Without Representation" slogan.
You're all wrong, the DC slogan is controversial precisely because we are, in fact, represented.
There can be only one redesign, and it must involve putting Louie Gohmert on the DC quarter.
guest 33,
Where did I state I didnt believe in a representative government? D.C. has a delegate yeah they dont get to vote on important things like appropriations but those votes are all strictly party line, do you really beieve adding one more democrat vote for yes and one repub in utah voting no is going to make a difference? The District has been this way for 200+ years and you moved to the district knowing full well when you got here what the situation was. This is the way it is and the way it should always be. I moved here, I knew what I was getting in to...there was no representative for D.C. As to the quarter arguement there were clear guidelines given to the District in what they could submit but they said fuck it were going with a protest slogan...they deserved to be denied.
Am I correct in inferring that Big L would have advised the colonists simply to return to England?
No you would be incorrect