*NOTE: All design proposals can be seen toward the bottom of this post.*

The Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee recommended designs for the congressional gold medal to honor the Office of Strategic Services that reflect the covert nature of the World War II spy agency.

Revised design proposals for the congressional gold medal honoring the exploits of the members of the OSS were scrutinized Sept. 19 by the CCAC, with the Commission of Fine Arts set to review them on Sept. 20.

Did you buy a winner or a loser from the U.S. Mint? Also in this week’s print issue of Coin World, we not only learn more about rare coins, but collectible rare cars as well.

The obverse design recommended Sept. 19 by the CCAC for the gold medal features the inscription OSS with each letter partially revealing and partially concealing the silhouettes of three figures — a woman in civilian garb, a paratrooper falling to earth, and a man in a suit. Each is rendered as a shape only, without internal detail, hinting at the way OSS agents sought to operate anonymously, in the shadows. The design also features the dates “1942-1945,” the years during which the OSS operated.

The CCAC-recommended reverse design features the OSS Spearhead inscribed with code words related to important OSS missions and agents.

Both recommended designs were also favored by the OSS Society.

The medal was authorized under provisions of Public Law 114-269.

According to the public law, "The Office of Strategic Services (OSS) was America’s first effort to implement a system of strategic intelligence during World War II and provided the basis for the modernday American intelligence and special operations communities. The U.S. Special Operations Command and the National Clandestine Service chose the OSS spearhead as their insignias."

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The CFA previously reviewed proposed designs at their June 15, 2017, meeting and made recommendations. At its June 21, 2017, meeting, the CCAC and OSS Society could not come to complete agreement on the proposed designs and refinements were requested.

Nine obverse and eight reverse designs were provided to the two panels for review at their September sessions.