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A Leading Voice in America’s 250th Anniversary Coin Debate

Donald Scarinci is a nationally recognized numismatics expert with over 35 years of experience, specializing in the historical and artistic foundations of American coinage.

Federal Advisory Service with the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee

In 2005, Scarinci was appointed by the U.S. Secretary of the Treasury to serve on the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC), the federal body responsible for advising on the design of U.S. coins and medals. He has served continuously since his appointment and is the longest-standing member of the Committee, having been nominated or reappointed by a total of five different U.S. Secretaries of the Treasury. His tenure reflects sustained confidence in his judgment and expertise at the highest levels of federal coinage review, and his historical and design insight has directly influenced national coin and medal programs of enduring public significance.

Numismatic Scholar, Lecturer, and Author 

Outside his federal service, Scarinci is recognized as a scholarly voice in the numismatic community, evidenced by frequent invitations to lecture from prominent organizations such as the American Numismatic Association, Medal Collectors of America, Colonial Coin Collectors Club, Token and Medal Society, and the American Numismatic Society. His annual lectures at the New York Numismatic Club further demonstrate his sustained influence and engagement within the community. He also lectures annually at the New York Numismatic Club. He is also the author of Coin of the Year: Celebrating Three Decades of the Best in Coin Design and Craftsmanship, an illustrated reference catalog documenting every winning entry in the prestigious Coin of the Year awards, widely regarded as the “Oscars of numismatics.” An updated edition of the book is currently in development.

Judicial Recognition and Professional Distinction

Scarinci has been qualified in California courts to provide expert testimony on numismatic matters, influencing judicial decisions in complex cases. He has also advised New Jersey courts on evaluating numismatic estates, directly impacting the accuracy of estate settlements. His distinctions include Fellow status in the American Numismatic Association and the American Numismatic Society, plus service on the J. Sanford Saltus Award Committee for medallic art, helping recognize outstanding contributions to the field.

The United States 250th Anniversary Coin Program’s National Debate

Most recently, Scarinci’s expertise has been featured in national media coverage of the United States’ 250th anniversary coin program, including The New York Times article “The War on ‘Wokeness’ Comes to the U.S. Mint” and NPR’s report “New Redesigned Coins Marking the Nation’s 250th Birthday Begin Circulating.” In both pieces, he is cited for his historical and numismatic perspective and has advocated for thoughtful Semiquincentennial coin design, highlighting the lasting impact that these decisions will have on how future generations interpret American history, symbolism, and national identity.