The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-06-30
NEW STYLES OF COINS.
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 q 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 APP
prevail 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
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 TO 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,
artiffcialy speaking. To begin with. the
design for the silver dollar is to be altered
entirely.
1--WE are going to have something en-
tirely new for the silver dollar" said Di-
rector Leech yesterday. Designs on coins
ought always to mean something, but /
should like to know how that Philadelphia
sehoolmarm's head signifies liberty We
shall drop her and put in her place some
thing very dinerent-maybe head of
Washington, but that remains to be de-
termined-and leeway 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 go. 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 l rather think we shall retain it as it
is; but the young female sitting on 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. 1t is
wel-executed head, artsticslly speaking;
but the law SAYS that the design on the
face OF the penny must typify liberty. |
don't see how an Indian typifys liberty I'M
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 thei- own suggestions. The
nickel, as it is now, is pretty
fair-looking coin, / think. Whether or
not il will be changed have not yet deter
mined. Tire 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 il now is. Colonel
Bob 1ngersoii, in the last number of the
iresla, declares 1t 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 competition.
Probably the secretary of the treasury and
myself will call into consultation number
of Erst-raJe 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 papier-
mache or any convenient substance, and
not merely drawings. IL 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 M" of the designer in two
places-on the edge of the peck of the God
dess of Liberty, where it is cut off close TO
the hair. and on the other side of the coin,
where the buzzsrd clasps the arrows and
olive branch III its claws. The twentv-doi-
lar gold piece, the handsomesf OF all Uncle
Sans coins. shows the Initials of the de-
signer, -. j. L.