Augusta, ME: Maine Treasurer, Henry E.M. Beck today announced the state’s participation in the United States Mint American Innovation $1 Coin Program, a multi-year series to honor innovation and innovators by issuing $1 coins for each of the 50 states. Four new $1 coins with distinctive designs will be released each year from 2019 through 2032. Maine’s $1 Innovation Coin is scheduled for release in 2024. According to Treasurer Beck, “Maine has a unique opportunity to showcase a state-specific innovation and/or innovator in the field of science, its impact and connection to the state and we encourage the public to submit ideas,” he said.
The Office of the State Treasurer, (OST) will be accepting submissions from the public by mail, email and its website (https://www.maine.gov/treasurer/american-innovation-coin.shtml) through June 1, 2021.
Treasurer Beck said of the program, “We are excited to be involved and to be able to involve the public in the process of deciding the coin’s theme,” he said. “Maine is a diverse state with many innovators and innovations, all worthy of this type of recognition. It will be tough to make a decision,” he said. Treasurer Beck made clear that the ideas should not include artistic renditions, but rather be concepts in writing only, supporting the reason behind the idea.
Once Maine people submit concepts, a selection committee will assist Governor Mills in determining the concept for approval by the US Treasury. The US Treasury then will use its own artists to create a design for Maine’s coin that is emblematic of the innovation concept approved by the committee.
FMI about criteria for submissions, go to https://www.maine.gov/treasurer/american-innovation-coin.shtml or contact Gregory Olson, Deputy Treasurer by phone 624-7477 or email Gregory.Olson@Maine.gov.
FMI about the National Program, https://www.usmint.gov/learn/coin-and-medal-programs/americaninnovation-dollar-coins
The Office of the Treasurer of State is established in Article V, Part Third of the Constitution of the State of Maine. The core duties of the Treasurer’s Office are debt management, cash management, trust fund administration and unclaimed property administration. Other major tasks assigned to the Treasurer are directorships on many of Maine’s quasi-governmental debt issuing agencies and distributions under the Municipal Revenue Sharing Program.
