The state herald., 1890-08-15
NEW HEAD FOR A DOLLAR.
C0N0HEss mas DECIDED TO
CHANGE THE DESIGN


CHANGE THE DESIGN
a Chance fer tho Coin Artiats--They Can
Send In Their Ideas, and the Govern.
( msnt May In Turn Reward Thorn.
Firm in the belief that the present is q
period Of advancement in art, and in
spired by an overpowering ambition to
elevate the esthetic tastes Of the masses,
tho lawmakers at Washington have
passed bill authorizing the director of
the mint to change tho pattern and dc.
signs Of all coins except those Of gold,
and this csthetic measure bids fair to
become a law.
Just at present tho indications are that
the new law will give general satisfac-
ton. For long time people engaged in
the rather pleasant occupation Of hand
ling coins have insisted that irrespective
of their purchasable value the coins Of
tho nation should possess claims to
artistic excellence. Furthermore, it is
claimed md not denied that from purely
esthetic point Of view the American coin
will not bear comparison with its foreign
rivals, and that even the penny Of dc.
spised Canada outclasses @Uncle Sans"
in size, weight, and beauty.
Tho proposed act requires the Secretary
Of the Treasury and the director Of the
mint to SEQ that the designs on all coins,
with the exception Of the double eagle
gold piece, he changed at lecst once in
every 25 years Any American ciszen,
irrespective Of color, age. or politics, b
allowed to furnish the authorities At
Washington with original designs for
the new coin. All native designers, pro-
fessional or otherwise, arc then given .
chance to make a bid for glory and .
money prize. The amount OF this prize
Is to be fixed by the Secretary Of the
Treasury. The Secretary and the director
OF the mint arc to constitute the board
of award. They are to pass Judgment
on all the designs offered, and their de-
cision Is to be final. In other words,
these two gentleman arc given the power
to transform the outlandish looking eagle
into n mild hammered gameoock, or put
one Of the imported gayety dancers in
the position now occupied by the young
WoIhuh AZ tuO uA1p<iys
Colonel Bosbyshell. the superintend.
mt of the Philadelphia Mint, talked
ontertainingly Of the features Of the pro-
posed law. II suppose, said tho col.
onel. shat. considered from q purely
artistic standpoint, the proposed changes
in the designs OF our coins are necessary.
The designs for coins in England, France,
and other countries are often changed.
and rs a natural sequence the coins OF
these countries are masterpieces of the
s.ampcrs' art. On the contrary, our
coins are antique and commonplace In
the matter Of design. Although the bill
is not as yet law, and II will be some
thing less than year bcfors the new
dies are cut and ready for use. we arc
daily receiving letters and draughtA Of
proposed designs from people ambitious
to have finger In the proposed changes.
Idon't know what financial Inducements
the Government intends oderihg to these
amateur coin builders, but do know
that there are a great many contestants
who seem content 10 strive for the glory
alone.
"Yes. there have bcen some novel ideas
offered already. One man. an architect,
with an Office on Arch street, Philadel.
phia, has scheme for combination
gold and silver coin. His idea is 10 put
gold medallion on the face of n silver
piece, and grade the amount Of gold
used to the face value OF the coin in ques-
ton. For instance. there would be just
10 cents worth Of gold and silver in u
dime. and dollars value Of metal In n
silver dollar. The architect hasn't given
me the details Of his scheme ms yet. but
must con'ess that II bears tho merit Of
novelty. A great many people who i'm.
ngine they know great deal about coins
lose sight Of tbs fact that design TINT
looks remarkably well on paper is prao.
tically worthless for our purposes. A
coin engrsver--and there arc only three
in this country-is the sole judge of what
can he done in the waj -. reducing de-
signs. Unlike tho medal cngraver tho
coin man must give you design with
only an apparent relief. whereas tho
medal man has TO deal only with positive
md absolute reliefs. Tho three coin en-
gravers in this country are in the employ
Of the Government. and they average in
wages 3d. 900 apiece. 1t Is very fair pay,
but they earn their money. After tho
Washington officials have selected tho
designs 1t will take year or more to
sink the dies and get them working prop.
erly."
The head on tho standard dollar was
the work Of Philadelphia artist, Mr..
Thomas Eakins. and III foundation for
the design wss the profile OF Miss Nan.
ME Williams. who Is a. prcscn. or was
recently Philadelphia school teacher.