Steve Jobs an ideal selection for California’s $1 innovation coin

Steve Jobs would be the face of California innovation on a $1 coin subsequent yr, and it’s laborious to consider a better option. The co-founder of Apple and longtime Palo Alto resident, who died in 2011, made an awesome impression on how we reside at present — from private computer systems and smartphones to streaming music and “Toy Story.”

However don’t take my phrase for it. Jobs was nominated by Gov. Gavin Newsom, and DeeDee Myers — director of the Governor’s Workplace of Enterprise and Financial Growth (GO-Biz) — gave a presentation to the Residents Coinage Advisory Committee on why the Silicon Valley icon was the proper choose on Feb. 18.

“Innovation is woven into every fiber of California, but our state’s specific brand of innovation is the perfect embodiment of Steve Jobs,” Myers instructed the committee. “Steve’s legacy can’t be summed up with just one product or one company. He goes well beyond that. He was an expansive man with an expansive mind who wasn’t confined to just science and technology. His greatest contributions came from his ability to integrate art and humanity and design into that technology.”

Myers offered six potential designs for the coin, which might be a part of the U.S. Mint’s American Innovation collection, to the committee, which recommends designs to the U.S. treasury secretary.

The designed most popular by the governor’s workplace and Jobs’ household pictured a youthful Jobs sitting cross-legged amid a California panorama with oak timber and rolling hills, together with the inscription “Make Something Wonderful.” Myers stated that picture higher conveyed Jobs’ love of California nature, which was an vital a part of who he was. Different designs included Jobs’ picture with circuit designs and keyboards and one simply featured his title with a tree rising circuit-like branches.

However the committee opted to suggest a design with a extra acquainted picture of Jobs — older and carrying glasses and his trademark black turtleneck. The design — which isn’t ultimate and might be altered earlier than the coin is minted in 2026 — is fittingly easy and chic.

Artwork Bernstein, the previous govt director of San Jose regulation agency Hopkins & Carley who sits on the committee, stated he most popular the extra iconic picture, regardless of the governor’s suggestion.

“This is the Steve Jobs that we saw introducing so many wonderful products to the public,” stated Bernstein, who lives in Los Altos Hills however as soon as lived throughout the road from the Jobs home in Palo Alto.

VROOM VROOM: For a number of years now, the theme of the Silicon Valley Auto Present has been “The Future of Drive,” however this weekend’s present on the Santa Clara Conference Heart could actually reside as much as that.

Amid the Porches, Teslas, Toyotas and Volkswagens, you may wager that the flying automobile from San Mateo-based producer Alef will stand out from the group. Alef’s Mannequin A — which is designed to drive on streets like different automobiles however take off vertically and fly above visitors when wanted — might be on show on the present, which runs Friday although Sunday.