Sacramento, California – California has selected Steve Jobs for the American Innovation $1 Coin in an exceptional tribute to one of technology’s pioneers. Including a larger series by the U.S. Mint, this project honors the particular contributions made by American states, territories, and the District of Columbia to the history of innovation in the country.
Steve Jobs stands for California’s strong tradition of technological innovation because his work with Apple and Pixar changed the worldwide tech scene. Governor Gavin Newsom’s announcement of the decision fits the state’s position as a creative powerhouse with forward-thinking attitude.
“Innovation and California are synonymous, and Steve Jobs encapsulates the unique brand of innovation that California runs on: innovation not driven by business alone, but as a vehicle to forever change the world,” said Newsom.
Established in 2018, the American Innovation $1 Coin Program seeks to honor America’s rich legacy of creativity and innovation through the creation of an original coin series. Every coin has a design representative of an invention or innovator important to its state or region, therefore highlighting the several successes together forming the American narrative.
The selection of Jobs as California’s coin’s face indicates his ongoing influence on technology and culture. Jobs, co-founder and CEO of Apple, was essential in bringing ground-breaking devices like the Apple II and Macintosh, which let a larger audience access advanced computing. With the release of the iPhone, iPad, and iPod, which changed entertainment, communication, and information access in general, his vision went beyond computers.
Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) Director Dee Dee Myers submitted the state’s nomination of Jobs and his legacy to the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC), which will forward design ideas to the Treasury Secretary for ultimate approval this week. The U.S. Mint leads and helps in this effort. The coin of California will be created and accessible in 2026.
Jobs’s decision also represents his personal and professional perceptions that technology should be simple, fun, and above all, easily available.
“The goal, according to Jobs, was to “bridge the gap between sophisticated technology and ‘the rest of us’ who make up most of humanity…to make complex technology easy to use and fun to use,” Jobs famously said. This philosophy has not only driven innovation but has also democratized access to technology, making it a ubiquitous part of everyday life.
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California’s adoption of Jobs for the American Innovation Coin highlights the state’s continuous dedication to honoring leaders who have pushed the bounds of what is possible, therefore reflecting the attitude of research and openness that defines the Californian way of life. As the coin reaches the hands of Americans in 2026, it will serve as a lasting reminder of how Jobs and California continue to inspire the next generation of innovators.
