If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. |
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
The state quarter powers-that-be should be reminded...
I am reading Taxay's _History of U.S. Commemorative Coinage_, and it is a
pretty interesting book. I noted this passage as I was reading this morning that would be good advice for the various committees and the US Mint when they decide on Statehood Quarter designs. I would say that the comparison is like apples and oranges--the quarters are cirulating commems while the halves are not and were not, for the most part, but the bill for the commemorative half discussed was passed with the idea that the coin would be a circulating half dollar. Maine was up for a commemorative half, by an act passed May 10, 1920. Since the coins were to be dated 1920, time was of the essence in getting the designs ready to go. By May 14th a design was submitted to the chairman of the Commission of Fine Arts. The chaiman forwarded the design to one Mr. James E. Fraser, of Buffalo nickel fame. Fraser nixed the design and recommended that the design be made by a "medallic sculptor of note." Charles Moore, chairman of the Commission of Fine Arts writes his response to the proposed design to a Mr. Houston, Secretary of the Treasury: "Dear Mr. Secretary: The design for the coin commemorating the one- hundredth anniversary of the admission of the state of Maine to the Union as submitted to the Commission of Fine Arts would result in a coin far below the standard set by the new fifty-cent piece. The design proposed is positively bad, and would bring humiliation to the people of Maine, if it should be executed. The Treasury Department and the Mint would also suffer criticisms from the people who have now been aroused to a feeling and demand for an artistic coinage. Experience proves that there is only one way in which to get a satisfactory design for a coin,--the method followed in the case of the new coinage. A model should be made by a medallic sculptor of known excellence. It is a mistake to pass upon a design for a coin on the basis of a drawing. The drawing may show the intrinsic badness of a design as does the drawing submitted; but only a model will show defects not disclosed by the drawing. Our new silver coinage has reached a high grade of perfection because it was designed by competent men. We should not return to the low standards which have formerly prevailed. This is especially true in the present instance, where the coin goes ultimately to collectors, and becomes a permanent memorial of the State of Maine." (Don't hold back, Mr. Moore, tell him what you *really* think of that drawing!) The bill as introduced, provided for the coining of *circulating* commemoratives, but Moore recognized that collectors would be the ones to preserve the coins for future generations. This is what happens when pride of workmanship, not the almighty dollar, is the driving force behind coin design. With this attitude, is it any surprise that the "new coinage" he talks about are the Walking Liberty Half, the Standing Liberty Quarter, the Mercury Dime, and probably the Buffalo Nickel...in other words, the golden age of American Coinage? What we have today is the low-relief, spaghetti hair, clip art designs of committees (usually), further debased by cost saving measures at the mint. Pweh! This post is longer than I meant it to be. I got a little carried away on my soapbox. Chrysta |
Ads |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
"Chrysta Wilson" wrote in message
This post is longer than I meant it to be. I got a little carried away on my soapbox. Chrysta Good info and salient points were made. Thanks, Chrysta. -- Ed Hendricks ANA# R178621 eBay: edh. |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
GLIMPSES OF A MYSTERY | GLIMPSES OF A MYSTERY | Books | 0 | August 29th 04 06:07 AM |
CPK Dolls & Misc Items--- FS | Sue from NY | General | 0 | August 28th 03 05:53 PM |
Ref: Iowa State Quarter ... I predict ....."MS65-FS" = "Full Siding" | MIckey | Coins | 3 | August 2nd 03 02:43 AM |
State Quarter trading my D's for your P's | HEADHUNTERS55 | Coins | 0 | July 23rd 03 06:34 PM |
S Mint State Quarter | Dr. Richard L. Hall | Coins | 3 | July 23rd 03 12:49 PM |