Prolific stamp and coin artist Joel Iskowitz created the design that the Dolley Madison First Spouse gold coin reverse is based on. In the artist rendering, I thought the proportions were excellent, and this was my favorite reverse design among the 2007 First Spouse coin designs. However, I'm not happy with the way Don Everhart engraved this coin. Dolley is almost lost in the added details of the Washington painting behind her. Also, I know this nitpicking but, I think Joel's initials, where they're placed (on the left on the floor) are distracting from his lovely design. I don't know whether he chose this placement or not, but it could have been more subtle.
Now, having nitpicked about the initials, I want to say that in general I think our fabulously gifted coin and stamp artists here in America get nowhere near the public recognition they should get. Most Americans probably can't even name a single coin or stamp artist, although Glenna Goodacre (best known for the Sacagawea Dollar) has made some modest inroads toward becoming a household name.
Now, having nitpicked about the initials, I want to say that in general I think our fabulously gifted coin and stamp artists here in America get nowhere near the public recognition they should get. Most Americans probably can't even name a single coin or stamp artist, although Glenna Goodacre (best known for the Sacagawea Dollar) has made some modest inroads toward becoming a household name.