The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-06-29
NEW STYLES OF COINS.
Designs Wanted for the Dollar and
Smaller Pieces.
Wocbipufop Gfor

Designs Wanted for the Dollar and
Smaller Pieces.
Washington Star.
Now is the time for artists all over the
country to get out their tools and see what
they can do at making designs for the new
United States coins that will soon be is
sued. Within few days the bill that has
already passed the House will be approved
by the Senate-only the prolonged silver
discussion has delayed it-giving authority
to the director of the mint, with the ap-
proval of the secretary of the treasury, to
change the patterns of Uncle Sans coins
as may seem to them desirable. When
this shall have been made law Director
Leech will advertise for designs. and the
contest will be thrown open to all, am
ateurs and professionals, with awards of
not less than $500 for each one accepted.
Up to the present time the law has not
permitted any alteration in the coins of the
nation save by special act of congress in
each case. But the passage of the bill re-
ferred 10 will give the director of the mint,
with the secretary's approval, power to
make changes according to his discretion
once in twenty-five years. Thus it will be
rendered possible to steadily improve the
beauty of the American coins, which for
the most part are today considered bad,
artiffciaily speaking. To begin with. the
entirely.
1--WE are going to have something en-
tirely new for the silver dollar said Dr.
rector Leech yesterday. Designs on coins
ought always to mean something, but
should like to know how that Philadelphia
schoolmarm's head signifies liberty. We
shall drop her and put in her place some
Washington, but that rema aims to be de-
termined-and leewaN will be given to the
artists who contend in order that the great
est variety of ideas and suggestions may
be obtained. As for the eagle on the other
side, it must 60. We want an eagle in place
OF it that is of the heroic type and doesn't
look like turkey buzzard."
How about the half-dollar?"
THAT as well as the other subsidiary
coins-the quarter and the dime-needs
alteration. Of course, all three have the
same designs. The eagle on the back
seems to me very creditable sort of Bird
and rather think we shall retain it as it
is; but the young female sitting on a cot
ton bale we should do away with. / don't
in the least know what We shall put in her
place, but We certainly don't want her."
And the penny?"
1.-The Indian must be wiped out. IL is q
well-executed head. artistically speaking;
but the law says that the design on the
face of the penny must typify liberty.
less it is liberty very badly abused, with an
overdose of bad whisky thrown in. We
shall put something in place of the red
man, though | haven't notion what at
present. Let the competing design
ers make their own suggestions. The
nickel, as it is now, is pretty
fair-looking coin, | think Whether or
not it will be changed have not yet deter
mined. The gold coins will not be altered.
They are admirable as they are now. Be-
cause of their greater value more trouble
was taken originally in the designs for
them. The stars around the edges OF the
subsidiary coins will be increased in num-
Der to correspond with the number of
states in the Union as Ii now is. Colonel
Bob lngersoli. in the last number of the
4reHG, declares it an outrage that the words
In God We Trust should appear on United
States coin; but | am not prepared to say
that the motto will be removed. When the
bill has passed the Senate giving me the
authority advertisement will be made for
designs for the coins in open com petition.
Probably the secretary of the treasury and
myself will call into consultation number
of first-rate artists, who will give US their
judgment in the matter.
When the time comes competitors
should send in their designs, if possible. in
the shape OF models OF plaster or Fapier-
mache or any convenient substance, and
not merely drawings. If you are ordi-
narily vain you will hide somewhere in the
designs you offer the initials OF your last
name. On the silver dollar at present is
the initial an" of the designer in two
places-on the edge of the neck of the God
oess OF Liberty, where il is cut off close to
the hair. and on the other side of the coin,
where the brzzard clasps the arrows and
olive branch in its claws. The twenty-dol-
lar gold piece. the handsomest of all Uncle
Sans coins. shows the initials OF the de-
signer, -. =. l..