Crafting Superman™ at the U.S. Mint

Key Concepts

• Superman as a symbol of hope and humanity.
• The "S" shield representing "Hope."
• Superman's Kryptonian origin versus his human upbringing and values.
• The American Dream as a design motivation.
• Clark Kent's aspirations and the iconic "It's a bird, it's a plane, it's Superman!" reference.
• Comic book characters as personifications of American ideals.

Design of the Superman Coin Series

Obverse Design (Joseph Menna, Chief Engraver)

• Main Topic: Designing the obverse (front) of the Superman coin series.
• Key Points:
  • Superman is presented as representing "the best of us," being "eminently human," and standing for "hope."
  • The goal was to imbue the "S" shield, which comic enthusiasts know stands for "Hope," with a feeling of hope.
  • A central theme was celebrating Superman's humanity, acknowledging his Kryptonian birth but emphasizing his powers derived from the yellow sun and the values instilled by his parents on a Kansas farm.
• Technical Terms:
  • Obverse: The front or face of a coin.

Reverse Design (Joseph V. Noorigian)

• Main Topic: Designing the reverse (back) of the Superman coin series.
• Key Points:
  • The primary motivation was the "American dream," defined as the idea that "anyone can be anything."
  • The design depicts Clark Kent looking up at the sky, observing a plane, and aspiring to great accomplishments.
  • A bird is perched on a fence post, gazing back at the viewer.
  • This bird element is a direct reference to the classic Max Fleischer Superman cartoons, specifically the line, "It's a bird, it's a plane, it's Superman!"
  • The intention was for the viewer to notice the connection and follow-through between these design elements.
• Technical Terms:
  • Reverse: The back or tail side of a coin.

Philosophical and Ideological Underpinnings

• Main Topic: The representation of ideals through comic book characters.
• Key Points:
  • Joseph Menna views his role as an opportunity to honor his love for comic books at this stage of his career.
  • He argues that these characters "manifest ideals that are particularly American."
  • The coin program is seen as a way to "celebrate them as personifications of those ideals."
• Supporting Evidence/Arguments: The inherent nature of Superman's narrative – an alien raised with human values, striving for good, and embodying hope and the potential for greatness – aligns with core American tenets of aspiration and self-improvement.

Synthesis and Conclusion

The design of the Superman coin series by Joseph Menna and Joseph V. Noorigian aims to capture the essence of the iconic superhero as a symbol of hope and humanity, while simultaneously celebrating the American Dream. Menna's obverse design focuses on Superman's inherent goodness and the meaning of his "S" shield as "Hope," emphasizing his human upbringing and values. Noorigian's reverse design illustrates the aspirational spirit of the American Dream through Clark Kent's dreams of achievement, directly referencing classic Superman imagery. Both designers see these characters as powerful personifications of distinctly American ideals, making the coin series a meaningful tribute to these concepts.