The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1884-11-22
DEVICES On CuIN,
the History of the Vignstte, that
Adora our Metallic currency.
tChicago Inter-O,eau.l

one sue OF the gold and silver coins of
the United States there should be an
impression emblematic of liberty, with
an inscription of the word "liberty" and
the year of the coinage, and upon the
rever the figure or representation of an
eagle, with the inscription United States
OF America"
The act of January. 1887, made si,ni.
lar provisions; and when the silver bill
providing for the restoration of the
dollar OF our daddies" was enacted, it |
was provided that the same inscription
should be placed on the standard dollar. |
But few people outside tina mnts under.
stand the care and delcacy required to
produce well-inished coins; but the work
Of coming Or perfecting piece is nothing
compared with the designing and en-
craving of die. The extremely lin.
tied space presented by the surface of
coin for a display of artistic embeilish.
nent is Of itself very unfavorAble con.
dition imposed upon the inventive faculty
Of the artist, and when the more rigid
Limitation upon the relief is considered,
it is obvious that tho artist has to work
with sllackles on his hands to an extent
unknown in any other department Of art.
1t has often been the case that arti Is of
wellknoHn reputation, but having no
experience in the engraving Of coins, has
had designs of great artistic merit re.
iected simply for the rea 'on that such
designs were not adapted to the purpose
for which they were intended
The device on our coins emhlematic of
Liberty is no doubt devi ed from simi.
lar device on the coins of the Roman Re.
public, anterior to Augustus, and has
much of classic authority in its favor.
1t. adoption does not seem to have been
determined by any specific act or instruc.
tions, and in fact the journals Of the
Senate and other proceedings Of Congress
show that the head of the President was
at first intended as the device for one
side of the coins.
The first coins struck were cents. in
1893, on which the emblem was female
head, with hair flying wildly behind. In
1895 the cap of Liberty was introduced,
supported on wand projecting behind
the head. In 1896 or 1897 the cap " as
discarded.
The fr>t silver coins were struck in
, 1894. The head of Liberty, with aow.
ing hair, and without the cap, formed
the diverse. This style was maintained,
, with slight notifications, until about the
, year 1908, when more pleasing head Of
Liberty, with hair dressed and cap, was
: adopted. The device was taken from
life and was considered model in good
, taste of the fashion OF the time. The in
scription of the word Liberty was at thu
. time transferred from the margin OF tht
E coin to the band Of the cap.
g The first gold coins struck in l79'
, were ornamented with head of Libert,
, and a cap head dress, corresponding witt
| the fashionable head. dress of that period
t This continued until 1907, when tn
o head dress on the gold coins was made tt
e conform to that on the silver. Upon tn
n change of standard in 1884 the libart.
h cap of the goddess was remove ell from tn
!. head and the hair confined by band IN
scribed with the word Liberty. Th
). next change took place at the end OF tn
g year 1888, the hair being looped up be
/. hind and entwined with braids, coupl
8 of stray curls hanging loosely upon tn
q neck, and the front Of the head emoe
# li,hel with tiara inscribed Liberty
70 Since then the change, in the artistic d.
=. vices and designs upon coins have bee
p. few and unimportant. The reverse OF
our larger coins have always presented
70 a certain extent tho heraldic elemen
le forming the arms OF the Union' anu
10 doubt in accordance with the aim 'st un
o ver,a usage Of the independent sove
" eighties, of presenting device on :,
III reverse Of their coinage bearing herald
&c illusions more or less elaborate. TO u
the arms of the Government or soverril
authority. In the various changes ma
at from time to time, every ef'rt mas :,
m hs doubt been made to present as beautll
~ ~ coins as the limited space would perm
=, and also to secure designs which wm
no present no difficulty in mechan,eN
10 ecution. The head OF IL, berty' on :
,e. standard dollar. designed by ayoane = !
.e .e. gli.h engraver, is ch..te and beaatlf
a. and ia considered by artists the b;s1
" ecuted head that has ever appeared W
United States coins. 1t is so well
,es tributed as to be susceptible of easy w
of under the lie, and, like its predece'