Tuskegee Airmen on-screen

The production process is pretty much the same these days for all U.S. coins, although some designers still work mainly in clay, while others use software tools like Adobe Illustrator or Photoshop.

For the first step, a designer, in this case medallic artist Phebe Hemphill, works on the new coin's design in Photoshop. Here, she shows the design for a special commemorative medal--which the U.S. Mint also makes, in addition to coins that are put in circulation--honoring the Tuskegee Airmen.

Click here to read the related story on the production of American coins and medals at the U.S. Mint in Philadelphia. And click here to check out the entire Road Trip 2010 package.