Mint Expected to Balk at Voting Rights Message

In addition to monuments, birds and flowers, there were calls for exploding manhole covers and red-light cameras. One person suggested a picture of Alexander "Boss" Shepherd, the 19th-century public works czar, eating a hot dog from Ben's Chili Bowl, a well-known restaurant. Another sent a drawing of a subway escalator, apparently aimed at educating clueless tourists. "Step to the Right on Metro Escalators," the motto read.

Scott and her team did not limit themselves to the e-mails, calls and letters from residents. They checked out local blogs that solicited ideas, which ran from the serious to the sarcastic.

The suggestions included making use of such potential D.C. symbols as a rat and a crack pipe. One blogger called for commemorating a takeout joint called Fish N Stuff.

"People were definitely into this," Scott said.

The final selections were made by Scott and a three-person committee of D.C. residents named by city dignitaries. They included Ayanna Smith, a communications professional; Natalie Ludaway, a lawyer; and Michael Fauntroy, a political science professor and nephew of the District's first congressional delegate .

The official District submission includes "narratives" of what the design should include, rather than actual drawings.

The U.S. Mint will study the ideas and then hold further talks with the city. Greg Hernandez, a Mint spokesman, declined to say whether the voting-rights proposals would be rejected.

"We just received them. They're being reviewed," he said.