Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-06-05
NEW COINS FOR UNCLE SAM.
Fresh Designs Wanted for the Dollar,
Half, Quarter, Dime and Penny.

Now is the time for artists all over the coun-
try to get out their tools and see what they can
do at making designs for the new United
States CONS that will soon be issued. Within a
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 approval 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 a law Director
Leech will advertise for designs and the con-
test will be thrown open to all, amateurs and
professionals, with awards of probably not less
than $500 for each one accepted.
Up TO the present time the law has not per-
mltted any alteration in the COINS of the
nation save by special act of Congress in each
case. But the passage of the bill referred 20
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 il will be rendered possible to
steadily improve the beauty of American coins.
which for the most part are today considered
very bad, artIstIcally speaking. To begin with
the design for the silver dollar is to be altered
entirely.
THE SILVER DOLLAR.
1--WE are going to have something entirely
new for the silver dollar" said Director Leech
to a STAR reporter 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 i'll her place something very
dlferent-may be a head of Washington. but
that remains to be de~termined-and leeway
will be given to the artists who contend. in
order that the greatest variety of ideas and sug-
gestIons may be obtained. As for the eagle on
the other side. it must go. We want an eagle
III place OF it that is of the heroic type and
doesn't look like a turkey buzzard."
How about the half dollar!'
That, as well as the other subsidiary coins
the quarter and the Gme-needs alteration.
OF course all three have the same designs. The
eagle on the back seems to me a very credlta-
bic sort of bird, and l rather think We shall re-
tain it as it is; but the slab-sided young female
sitting on a cotton bale We shall do away With.
l dom in the least know what We shall put in
her place, but we certainly don't want her"
THE INDIA To GO.
And the penny
1.-The Indian must be wiped out. 1t is a WELL
executed head. artistically speaking: but the
law says that the design on the face of the
penny must typify liberty. I don't see how an
Indian typifes liberty, unless 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 L haven't notion what
at present. Let the competing designers
make their Own suggestions. The nickel. rs it
is now, is a pretty fair-looking coin, l think.
Whether or not il will be changed
l have not yet determined. The gold
coins will not be altered. They are admi-
rable as they are now. Because of their
greater value more trouble was taken origi-
naliy IN the designs for them. The stars
around the edges of the subsidiary coins will
be Increased IN number to correspond with
the number OF states in the Union as il now is.
Col. Bob 1ngersoll. in the last number of the
Arena declares it an outrage that the words
In God We trust should appear on United
States coin; but 1 am not prepared to say that
the motto will be removed. When the bill has
passed the Senate giving me the authority adj
vertlsement will be made for designs for the
COINS IN open competition. Probably the Sec
tary Of the Treasury aud myself will call into
consultation a number OF first-rate artists who
will give as their judgment in the matter."
ARTISTS OPPORTUNITY.
When the time comes competitors should
send in their designs, il possible, in the shape
of models of plaster or papier mache or any
convenient substance, and not merely draw
ings. Here is a great opportunity for some
ingenious persons TO earn fame and a pretty
sum of money by turning out one or two ac-
ceptable suggestions. Doubtless the advertise
ment OF the director of the mint will be ac-
companied by some definite instructions as 70
what is required in a general way, so that there
will be something 70 so upon. IL You are ordi-
narily vain, you will hide somewhere IL the de-
sign you offer the initial of your last name.
On the silver dollar at present is the initial
M" of the designer in two places-on the
edge of the neck of Liberty, where it is cut of
close to the hair, and on the other side Of
the coin, where the buZzard clasps the arrows
aud olive branch in its claws. The so gold
r,a.o lanlo,.aat Of all Inela Same casna