Sen. Phil Gramm, chairman of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs, has announced that the committee will host a symposium to examine coin design, both ancient and modern, foreign and U.S.

Gramm said his goal is to encourage new U.S. coin designs that are "worthy of a great nation."

"We may not be able to match the golden era of coin design under Theodore Roosevelt, but we should try," Gramm said. "We are the greatest nation in the world, and our coins should reflect it."

The discussion, scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 13, will be preceded by an exhibition of coins from the National Numismatic Collection of the Smithsonian Institution.

WHAT:
Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs
Symposium on Coin Design

WHEN:
Wednesday, September 13, 2000
9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. Exhibition
10:00 a.m. - 12 noon Discussion

WHERE:
Room 538, Dirksen Senate Building

WHO:

The Honorable Jay W. Johnson
Director
United States Mint

Mr. T. James Ferrell
Artist/Engraver
United States Mint
Philadelphia

Dr. Richard G. Doty
Curator of Numismatics
Smithsonian Institution

Mr. H. Robert Campbell
President
American Numismatic Association

Ms. Ute Wartenburg
Executive Director
American Numismatic Society