Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-06-01
JINGLING BEAUTIES.
Uncle Sam Wants Fresh Designs for
His Dollars and Dimes.
A CONTEST THROWN OPEN TO ALL.
Director Leech's Criticisms Of the Hard
Money Now Agoing.
THE SCHOOL MARIN AND THE INDIAN
WRITTEN FOR THE DrspArcH.1


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 issued.
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-giying 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. As quickly as this shall
have been made law l. rector Leech will
advertise for designs, and the contest will be
thrown open to all, amateurs and profess
sionals, 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
referred to will give the Director of the
Mint, with the Secretary's approval. power
to make changes according to his discretion
once in 25 years. Thus it will be rendered
possible to steadily improve the beauty of
American coins, which, or the most part,
are to-day very bad. artistically speaking.
To begin with, the design for the silver dol
lar is to be altered entirely.
NEW SILVER DOLLAR.
1--WE are going to have something entirely
new for the silver dollar" said Director
Leech to me when visited him in Wash
ington last week. designs on coins ought
always to mean something; but 1 should
like to know how the Philadelphia school,
marm's head signifies Liberty. We shall
drop her and put in her place something
very different-may be head of Washington;
but that remains to be determined, and lee
way will be given to the artists who contend,
In order that the greatest variety of ideas
ana suggestions may be obtained. As for
the eagle on the other side. it must CO. 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 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 a very
creditable sort Of bird, and I rather think
we shall retain it as it is; but the slab-sided
young female sitting on q cotton bale we
shall do away with. I don't in the least
know what we shall put in her place, but
we certainly don't want her."
"And the penny?"
THE INDIAN AND LIBERTY.
"The Indian must be wiped out. It is
well-executed head, artistically speaking:
but the law says that the design on the lace
of the penny must typi y Liberty. 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 a notion what at present.
Let the competing designers make their own
suggestions. The nickel, as it is now, is a
pretty fair-looking coin, 1 think. Whether
or not it VII be changed I have not yet de-
termined.
1.-THE gold coins will not be altered; they
are admirable as they are now. Because 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 number, to cor
respond with the number OF States in the
Union as it now is.
Colonel Bob Ingersoll, in the last num-
Der of the arena, declares it an outrage that
the words, In God We Trust should ap-
pear on United States coins; but am not |
prepared to say that the motto will be re- |
moved. When the bill has passed the Sem
ate giving me the authority shall adver-
tise TOR designs for the coins in open COM |
petition. Probably the Secretary of the |
Treasury and myself will call into consul |
tation number OF frst-rate artists. who |
will give us their judgment in the mat
ter"
INSTRUCTIONS FOB COMPETITORS,
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 drawings. Here is great
opportunity for some ingenious Pitts
burger to earn fame and pretty
sum of money by turning out one or two |
acceptable suggestions. Doubtless the ad- |
vertisement of the Director OF the Mint will |
be accompanied by some definite instructions |
as to what is required in a general way, so
that there will be something to go upon.
Ii you are ordinarily vain, Won will hide |
in the design you offer the initial |
Of your name. On the silver dollar at pres
ent is the initial "M" of the designer in two |
places-on the edge of the neck of Liberty. |
where it is cut off and close to the hair, and |
On the other side of the coin, where the
buzzard clamps the arrows and olive |
branch in its claws. The twenty-dollar gold |
of all Uncle Sans coins
yshows the initials of the designer, 81, B, |
RENE BAcHE