Obverse
Reverse
Reverse: Eagle exploring the solar system.
Coin Designs by Daniel Carr.
The earliest Astronaut dollar design is a pencil sketch. The rest are examples of the sculpting and rendering capabilities of the VS3D (Virtual Sculptor) CAD/CAM software.
Click on any thumbnail image to view a larger image.
First sketch, 1987.
In 1987, Congress was considering whether or not to issue a new US $1 circulating coin. Various proposals were considered. I submitted this sketch to members of Congress and the US Mint. I received various letters in reply, but legislation allowing a dollar coin to be produced did not pass at that time. This sketch was shown in Numismatic News in 1987.
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Obverse: Apollo Astronaut on the moon.
Reverse: Eagle exploring the solar system. |
Astronaut dollar, first virtual model, 1997.
In 1998 I began experimenting with some computer software I was writing for surface modeling. At the same time, debate over a new dollar coin was heating up. I used my software to create this virtual sculpture. I submitted it to several dozen members of Congress, the US Mint, and various publications. It was featured on the front page of Coin World.
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Obverse: Apollo Astronaut on the moon. 13 stars represent the future colonization of space.
Reverse: Eagle and sun with 50 rays, US Treasury seal, and the US Federal Reserve seal.
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Astronaut dollar, second virtual model, 1997.
Shortly after creating the first model, I revised it to produce this version. It was also featured on the front page of Coin World, a few weeks after the first version appeared there.
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Obverse: Apollo Astronaut on the moon with US flag. 13 stars represent the future colonization of space.
Reverse: Eagle and sun with 50 rays. |
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Click here to see various circulation states of this coin. Click here to see a time-lapse virtual movie of the obverse wearing down in circulation. Click here to see a time-lapse virtual movie of the reverse wearing down in circulation. |
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Edge |
50 incuse stars (alternating orientation). |
Two dollar prototypes, 2000.
In 2000, Senator Phil Gramm held a symposium to discuss the state of US coinage design. I requested to make a presentation at this meeting, but no such presentations were being accepted. I was told, however, that I could send a written statement. I prepared and sent a statement which again called for the use of an Astronaut design. I prepared renderings of a possible bi-metallic $2 circulating coin of the future, similar in composition to a successful $2 coin that Canada currently has.
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