The Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC) is a government committee that advises the Secretary of the Treasury on U.S. coin and medal designs. It was established in 2003 to represent American citizens and coin collectors. The committee consists of specially qualified experts, representatives of the general public, and people recommended by government authorities. It meets at least twice annually to discuss designs, commemorative releases, and more.
Establishment of the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee
The 108th Congress of the United States government established the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee in 2003 by enacting Public Law 108-15. This law created the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee and abolished the Citizens Commemorative Coin Advisory Committee. It also continued membership from the previous committee to the new one, the CCAC. It states that the committee was formed to advise the Secretary of the Treasury on themes and designs for coins and that the committee is subject to the authority of the Secretary of the Treasury. The law also consisted of the act to change the design of the 5-cent coin.
Responsibilities of the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee
The CCAC’s primary responsibilities are advising the Secretary of the Treasury on themes and designs for coins and medals produced by the U.S. Mint. They meet at least twice a year or at the call of the Secretary, chairperson, or majority of the members. They have met at least four times each year for the past two years. The meetings are open to the public and streamed live on YouTube. After each meeting, the minutes, transcripts, audio files, images, and recommendations are available on the CCAC website.
In their most recent meeting on June 18th, 2024, the CCAC looked at designs for the 2026 Native American $1 coin and the Iran Hostages Congressional Gold Medal. Before that, the CCAC’s meeting on May 20th, 2024, reviewed the designs submitted for the Joe Biden Jr. Presidential Medal. During this May meeting, they recommended to the Secretary of Treasury Janet Yellen which designs they preferred for the obverse and reverse of the medal. They also gave suggestions on the inscriptions on that medal.
Members of the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee
There are eleven members of the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee. The Secretary of the Treasury appoints CCAC members for four-year terms. They are selected based on criteria outlined in the legislation that formed the CCAC. Three members are chosen to represent the general public’s interests, one for their expertise in sculpture or medallic arts, one for their expertise in American history, and one for their expertise in numismatics. The other four members are selected based on recommendations from each of the following people: Speaker of the House, minority leader of the House, majority leader of the Senate, and minority leader of the Senate.
According to the CCAC website, the current members are:
| Name | Term | Qualification |
| Jeanne Stevens-Sollman | 2024-2028 | Sculpture or Medallic Arts |
| Sam Gelberd | 2024-2028 | Numismatics |
| Kellen Hoard | 2023-2027 | Represents General Public |
| John Saunders | 2022-2026 | House Minority Leader Recommendation |
| Dr. Harcourt Fuller | 2021-2025 | Recommended by the Speaker of the House |
| Arthur Bernstein | 2021-2025 | Represents General Public |
| Dr. Peter Van Alfen | 2020-2024 | Numismatic Curator |
| Donald Scarinci | 2020-2024 | Recommended by Senate Minority Leader |
| Mike Moran | 2020-2024 | Recommended by Senate Majority Leader |
| Annelisa Purdie | 2024-2028 | Represents General Public |
| Dr. Christopher Capozzola | 2023-2027 | American History |
Serving on the CCAC is considered an honor, and members are not paid for their service. However, they are reimbursed for their travel and lodging if any is necessary. Past members of the committee include NBA player Kareem Abdul Jabbar, German numismatist Ute Wartenberg, and Susan Kare, a former graphic designer for Apple.
How the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee Affects Collectors and Investors
The Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee doesn’t directly affect collectors and investors, but their advisory role can influence designs and themes of commemorative coinage. This role affects collectors and investors by altering the Secretary of Treasury’s decisions on the type of coins or medals the U.S. Mint produces, ultimately affecting the kind that might end up in a collection or portfolio. These decisions could affect a person’s decision to buy or not buy a commemorative coin but won’t affect their overall investment or collection strategy.
