Recommending obverse and reverse designs for a congressional gold medal honoring the Foot
Soldiers of the 1965 Selma to Montgomery Voting Rights March was the
task of the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee June 16.
The CCAC recommended an obverse design depicting marchers crossing
the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Ala. The reverse depicts a voter
placing their vote in the ballot box, noting the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
Coin World editor-at-large Steve Roach wrote about the Foot Soldiers medal after
President Obama signed the legislation clearing its way in March:
In the findings, which provide historical background, the
legislation notes, “March 7, 2015, will mark 50 years since the
brave Foot Soldiers of the Voting Rights
Movement first attempted to march from Selma to Montgomery on
‘Bloody Sunday’ in protest against the denial of their right to
vote, and were brutally assaulted by Alabama state troopers.”
On that day, more than 500 voting rights marchers — known as “Foot
Soldiers” — gathered on the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Ala., “in
peaceful protest of the denial of their most sacred and
constitutionally protected right — the right to vote.”
As they crossed the bridge, the “Foot Soldiers” were confronted by
Alabama state troopers who responded with force, and the event was
covered by news stations around the nation. The day would be known
as “Bloody Sunday.”
Two days later, Dr. Martin Luther King led nearly 2,500 people for
a second, peaceful march, in an event later known as “Turnaround Tuesday.”
The legislation adds, “Fearing for the safety of these Foot
Soldiers who received no protection from federal or state
authorities during this second march, Dr. King led the marchers to
the base of the Edmund Pettus Bridge and stopped. Dr. King kneeled
and offered a prayer of solidarity and walked back to the church.”
In response to these marches and other events, President Johnson
announced a plan for a voting rights bill to secure voting rights
for all U.S. citizens on March 15, 1965.
Here is a comprehensive collection of the designs reviewed by the CCAC on June 16:
Full coverage of this week's CCAC recommendations:
United States Mint releases image mock-ups for 2016 gold dime, quarter dollar, half dollar
Nancy Reagan First Spouse coin designs being reviewed by CCAC
National Park Service commemorative coin designs, Part 1: gold $5 coin
National Park Service commemorative coin designs, Part 2: silver dollar
National Park Service commemorative coin designs, Part 3: copper-nickel clad half dollar
1965 Selma Foot Soldiers' congressional gold medal designs reviewed
Designs for Borinqueneers' congressional gold medal reviewed by CCAC