What happened to the People's Golden Moment?

 

The US Mint stated that "A Golden Moment" had too much detail

That's the reason the directors at the US Mint gave as to why "A Golden Moment" was altered as seen below. Please compare the two images of the actual coins at CAQuarter.com, and you will see that "A Golden Moment" has no more detail than the minted John Muir Commemorative Coin. "A Golden Moment" may actually have less detail.

Simply put the US Mint lied, and there is undeniable proof.

 

The following are the exact renditions presented by the US Mint to the Citizens Coin Advisory Committee and the Commission of Fine Arts for the purpose of review and ultimate selection. Both panels were not allowed to see the original art presented to the People. As a result the People's Choice was immediately eliminated from progression throughout the review process.

Designs are shown in the order of most votes received based on the official results of the public polling for the top twenty design finalists. The top three vote receivers were submitted by Governor Gray Davis then the two John Muir related designs were added by Kevin Starr. I was told later that the "Sequoiadendron Gigantea" had a tiny figure of John Muir at the base of the tree. The official results may be seen in the report providing evidence of Fraud.
Original Art Submission US Mint Rendition

 

21.10% Most People voted for "A Golden Moment"

Please notice the original submission of "A Golden Moment" in comparison to the US Mint rendition
created based on recommendations made by Kevin Starr:

"A Golden Moment" has been removed
No detailing or shading, just poorly traced outlines of bear and miner
—Please note the massive amount of intricate detailing given to the John Muir design shown below—
—clearly too much detail to be coinable as presented by the US Mint—
A clump of scribbles (actually increasing detail) replaces elegant poppies
A jumbled mess in place of sequoias
Complete removal of waterfall and mountain range
Something Fowl replaces Strong Eagle in hovering "V"
—Please note how a bird in a hovering "V" was added to the John Muir US Mint rendition—
Diminished sparkle from pan

Artistic Appeal Lost

Professionalism Completely Lost

It is a fact that I created more professionally presented artwork when I was in grade school than the "artist" who made certain that the People's Choice looked as though a toddler attempted a poor trace through thick cardboard.

There is definitely some majorly bad Karma coming to all involved who enacted this Fraud, including the "artist".
18.09%  
11.59%  

5.84% Most People voted a John Muir coin UNDESIRABLE

The original designer of the John Muir submission stated in an interview (published shortly before the announcement of the John Muir Commemorative) that the selection process was beyond politics, and that he wasn't worried about the outcome. I find it very peculiar that he is the only one of the top five finalists that even mentioned politics.

The thought of politics never entered my mind until I discovered the act of Political Fraud that was used to have the John Muir Commemorative replace the design that actually represented the People's Wishes. Afterwards one of the other finalists shared with me their thoughts that maybe the submitter of the John Muir design knew all along about the politics involved and the great desire Kevin Starr had for a John Muir coin.
2.46%  
 

CAQuarter.com

How do you like being lied to by our US Mint?