Steve Jobs will be the face of California innovation on a $1 coin next year, and it’s hard to think of a better choice. The co-founder of Apple and longtime Palo Alto resident, who died in 2011, made an overwhelming impact on how we live today — from personal computers and smartphones to streaming music and “Toy Story.”
But don’t take my word for it. Jobs was nominated by Gov. Gavin Newsom, and DeeDee Myers — director of the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) — gave a presentation to the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee on why the Silicon Valley icon was the right pick 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 told 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 presented six potential designs for the coin, which will be part of the U.S. Mint’s American Innovation series, to the committee, which recommends designs to the U.S. treasury secretary.
An image of the preliminary design for the $1 coin for California in the American Innovations series featuring Apple co-founder Steve Jobs. This design was recommended over others to the U.S. treasury secretary by the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee on Feb. 18, 2025. (Frame from U.S. Mint YouTube)
The designed preferred by the governor’s office and Jobs’ family pictured a younger Jobs sitting cross-legged amid a California landscape with oak trees and rolling hills, along with the inscription “Make Something Wonderful.” Myers said that image better conveyed Jobs’ love of California nature, which was an important part of who he was. Other designs incorporated Jobs’ image with circuit designs and keyboards and one just featured his name with a tree growing circuit-like branches.
But the committee opted to recommend a design with a more familiar image of Jobs — older and wearing glasses and his trademark black turtleneck. The design — which isn’t final and could be altered before the coin is minted in 2026 — is fittingly simple and elegant.
Art Bernstein, the former executive director of San Jose law firm Hopkins & Carley who sits on the committee, said he preferred the more iconic image, despite the governor’s recommendation.
“This is the Steve Jobs that we saw introducing so many wonderful products to the public,” said Bernstein, who lives in Los Altos Hills but once lived across the street from the Jobs house in Palo Alto.
VROOM VROOM: For several years now, the theme of the Silicon Valley Auto Show has been “The Future of Drive,” but this weekend’s show at the Santa Clara Convention Center may really live up to that.
Amid the Porches, Teslas, Toyotas and Volkswagens, you can bet that the flying car from San Mateo-based manufacturer Alef will stand out from the crowd. Alef’s Model A — which is designed to drive on streets like other cars but take off vertically and fly above traffic when needed — will be on display at the show, which runs Friday though Sunday.
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Alef is currently taking pre-orders for the electric car — which is expected to cost around $300,000 — so there won’t be any test flights at the auto show. But you can still take a test drive of some non-flying vehicles from Toyota, Lucid, Tesla, Cadillac and Volkswagen. And everyone’s favorite mascot, SJ Sharkie, will be there Sunday at noon (which is perfect for Family Day, when kids 12 and under get in for free). Tickets and more details are available at www.svautoshow.com.
AT THE MOVIES: It should be a busy weekend at downtown San Jose’s 3Below Theatres. The movie house is hosting the Silicon Valley Queer Film Festival on Friday and Saturday, divided into six screening blocks plus some live performances. You can check out the lineup and buy festival passes or individual tickets at 3belowtheaters.com/svqff.
And with the Academy Awards coming up March 2, big time movie buffs know 3Below is where you can find the Oscar-nominated short films in one place, screening in animated, documentary and live action blocks (as well as full-length nominated films like the riveting “September 5” about the 1972 Munich Olympics terror attack). Get showtimes at www.3belowtheaters.com.
