American Innovation dollars are coins of a United States Mint series which began in 2018 and will run through 2032. Each state gets its own coin to showcase an innovation, innovator or group of innovators.
Gov. Gavin Newsom took to X on Thursday to invite ideas for California coin's design: "Calling all members of the Tortured Coin Designers Department. CA is getting its own $1 coin to honor innovation, slated to be issued in 2026 - and we need your help! What is a CA innovation you'd like to see featured on the coin? Send ideas to: coinsubmissions@gov.ca.gov."
In submitting his ideas (two of which are at left) to Newsom for the coin, Jim Stanley, press secretary for California state Assembly Republicans, wrote:
"Under your bold leadership, California has developed a truly unrivaled method of incinerating money. While most people would think it impossible to spend $24 billion on homelessness only to see the problem grow rapidly, you have proved the naysayers wrong. Like a perpetual motion machine operating in reverse, you have seemingly broken the laws of physics to pour an unlimited amount of energy and resources into homelessness programs while producing no results.
"P.S. I don’t think minting a bunch of $1 coins will put much of a dent in the $73 billion deficit you’ve presided over, but you certainly get points for creativity."
Here's more of what Newsom got in response:
Yes--let's make a memorable $1 CA State Coin @GavinNewsom Here are two I think are top contenders. First one really has good imagery. CA flag, palm tree, warmth from the fire. Maybe just edge CA flag closer to the fire to catch a spark. https://t.co/3FzUghy35m pic.twitter.com/6JsvdKcMX8
— Walk Safe (@SacWalkSafe) April 26, 2024
This is weird, even for Gavin Newsom. In an apparent play on Taylor Swift’s new album title “Tortured Poets Department” he’s asking for suggestions for “Tortured Coin Designers Department” to design a $1 “Innovation Coin.” Is this a desperate move to reduce rhetoric $73 deficit?… https://t.co/sjYv98lhoT pic.twitter.com/vEBOolYLFw
— Houman David Hemmati, MD, PhD (@houmanhemmati) April 25, 2024
Necessity is the mother of innovation dear @GavinNewsom We all need to 💩. I’m liking this CA $1 coin contender. pic.twitter.com/AupTG7mCxv
— Walk Safe (@SacWalkSafe) April 26, 2024