Proposed designs for the United States Mint’s 2026 American Innovation dollar for California have been unveiled, revealing it will feature Steve Jobs.

Raised in Los Altos, California, Jobs was a visionary entrepreneur who revolutionized the technology industry with innovations in personal computing, smartphones, and digital media.

“Steve Jobs transformed society’s relationship with technology by integrating it into our daily lives through user-friendly, accessible, and aesthetically pleasing design,” the U.S. Mint’s design narrative states.

“Jobs’ relentless pursuit of his vision not only revolutionized personal computing but also laid the foundation for the digital age, cementing his legacy as one of the most influential innovators of the modern era,” the narrative concluded.

The U.S. Mint’s American Innovation $1 Coin Program celebrates innovation and pioneering achievements from each of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the five U.S. territories. Launched in 2018, the program features annually released coins, with four unique reverse designs per year, each honoring a significant innovation or innovator.

Design Recommendations for California Innovation Dollar

Six candidate designs for the California Innovation dollar were presented to the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC) on Feb. 18 and the Commission of Fine Arts (CFA) on Feb. 20. Liaisons from the state and both advisory bodies provided their recommendations.

Stakeholders, represented by Dee Dee Myers, senior advisor to Gov. Newsom and director of the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development, favored 7C overall, with 07A as a secondary choice. Both designs depict a young Steve Jobs seated before Northern California’s oak-covered rolling hills.

The CCAC recommended 10A, highlighting his iconic speeches and ability to connect with audiences.

Meanwhile, the CFA did not strongly favor any single design but acknowledged that 01B offered a clearer link between Jobs and his innovations. Ultimately, however, they supported any selection made by the stakeholders or CCAC, recommending the use of a proportional font and ensuring the inscription “Make Something Wonderful” was included if not already present.

In the end, the Secretary of the Treasury will make the final design selection after considering recommendations from the advisory panels and stakeholders.

Design Images and Design Descriptions

The U.S. Mint’s line art images and design descriptions for all the candidate designs follow.

CA-01B captures Steve Jobs in his characteristic speaking pose, evoking his famous product presentations and visionary speeches. It incorporates circuit patterns emerging from his hands and flowing around his figure, symbolizing his innovative spirit. Through his emphasis on design, usability, and consumer appeal, Jobs helped reshape how people interact with technology in their daily lives. As Jobs remarked about his purpose, “There’s lots of ways to be, as a person. And some people express their deep appreciation for their species in different ways. But one of the ways that I believe people express their appreciation to the rest of humanity is to make something wonderful and put it out there. And you never meet the people, you never shake their hands, you never hear their story or tell yours – but, somehow, in the act of making something with a great deal of care and love, something’s transmitted there.” The additional inscriptions are “STEVE JOBS” and “MAKE SOMETHING WONDERFUL.”

CA-04A depicts a tree with branches that blend with computer circuitry, symbolizing how Steve Jobs drew inspiration from California’s natural landscapes to shape his technological vision. The intertwining circuits and branches reflect the intuitive and organic user experience he would champion, reflecting the harmony he found in the natural world. A falling leaf draws attention to his name, representing how his influence continues to resonate even after his passing. The additional inscription is “STEVE JOBS.”

CA-05A displays Steve Jobs within a computer screen and a keyboard below, conveying Jobs’ early implementation of the personal computer for public use. His name appears on the screen in a font evoking early computers. The monitor contrasts with the textured surrounding to mimic light emanating from a computer screen. The additional inscription is “STEVE JOBS.”

CA-07A and CA-07C present a young Steve Jobs sitting in front of a quintessentially Northern California landscape of oak-covered rolling hills. Captured in a moment of reflection, his posture and expression reflect how this environment inspired his vision to transform complex technology into something as intuitive and organic to us as nature itself. CA-07A shows Jobs with his hands on his knees, while CA-07C renders his hands in front of his lap. The additional inscriptions are “STEVE JOBS” and “MAKE SOMETHING WONDERFUL.”

CA-10A features Steve Jobs speaking, recalling his legendary speeches and emphasizing his ability to connect with audiences. The minimalistic fonts honor his aesthetic vision and approach to design. The additional inscription is “STEVE JOBS.”