Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1891-08-20
UNCLE SANS COINS.
Something About the New Designs
Some Private Hints.


at is not likely" writes Rene Bache,
"that another competition will ever be
tried for the production of designs for
United States coins" said Assistant Di-
rector of the Mint Preston. "The one
Just ended was too much of failure
Doubtless it was the first contest of the
sort ever opened by any government to
the public at large. The result is not
very fattering to the boasted artistic de-
velopment of this country, inasmuch as
only two of the three hundred sugges-
tions submitted were good enough to re-
ceive honorable mention. So the affair
has been handed over to the engraving
force of the Philadelphia Mint, which
will produce the dies required according
to such patterns as its own sense of the
beautiful suggests"
The designs for Uncle Sans coins
hitherto have been produced at the
money making establishment in Philadel-
phia, where the dies for all the mints are
turned out. Anticipating a severe pop
ular criticism, the Chief Engraver will do
his utmost to render the five cameo pic
lures called for as unexceptional as pos
sible, esthetically speaking. There must
be substitute of some kind, represent
ing Liberty, for the Quaker City school
marin on the dollar, the reverse of which
requires better type of bird than the
present buzzard. Also the unprepossess-
ing female, seated upon cotton bale, is
to be removed from the half-dollar,
quarter and dime. Plaster casts of the
patterns evolved will be submitted for
approval to the Director of the Mint and
the Secretary of the Treasury, and, as
soon as they have been pronounced sat
isfactory, dies will be made, and small
change of new and lovely mould will
thereafter jingle in the pockets of the
| people. No alteration is to be made in
the gold coins, because they are really
exquisite now and could hardly be i'm
| proved upon. 1t is realized that the
| money of a nation is expressive of its
art culture. Therefore, lest posterity
| imagine the present generation to have
silver pieces should be as handsome as
may be.
1t was for fear lest posterity should
suppose us to have been heathens that
the motto, "In God We Trust" was put
on United States coins. The idea was
originated by Pennsylvania clergyman
named Watkinson, who also suggested
that, instead of pagan goddess, the OBJ
verse should bear an all-seeing eye, will
halo around it and flag below. "This
will relieve us from the ignominy Of
beotbenism - he said sin fbe view oI
| future antiquarians."
| Secretary of the Treasury s p. Chase
took tbe nronos;tion into serious consider
| alton finally selecting an Cod w,
Trnst, n +bo hest forn7 for tho leoend
which onnoorod Grs+ in 1894 an ono com
and twofaont n;eoas
Tho b;otorIr of tho ;ssue &c oo;ns IN
+b;s corntrv v nr;roto ;ndir;anols and
oon,non;os would n,oko n vor,, ;n+orost;no
hooL Wben cold was str,oL in NortE
Coroi;ro n man namod Raohtler started
n mint of bis own there which wos ohoI.
;sbed bv law in 1S4o Half-eacles onnr.
ter,eogIas and ono,dolIor n;eces ;ssned
bv him were lorgoly c;rcplated in tbe
Sorth and Wast A1thonnh of hnrast
Ia thor, NOW, aLo,t Oh nas aoa. rndar
Su Ssooiuo ny 49, 1900 oo bbo,,t tho san,a
80 Ta,". Sp.;a ao;a Wv Ia ~,
Gan,,.;a c,n, III" I o TSue 81 -, -
1eao sd ,;ntod iUaJn oa,,las " o,d tmont,' fna ~,
al . r;anna nou ~, s;aaahIo a1o nIo
MIA M paeoes On ood'iuoiaolo oa "ne';o s'"io, -.
CaI;f "nd ol"nn'ln - -
Insinnss af str;l;nn aoId oo;ns 3D. dnr;n q, %
tbe 1 same ~ ner;nd T,t9eraliv rail % thnre was 3
o,roat ta,ltat;or, p 60 - 4Iosa ao;ns ~
,1p nuS nf " ;fan;on . Gmnnoso M
No MarmogSs mS IN ''nI GTtah 70 % ;Ssmad ~ enoleo hale
oaolaS nnd ao,hio o,f,Ios suu h;oS hora n"n a.
the 1 obrnrSo "na on oua ,s;+h h" tha i Ionond W'
.iuau II on ~ - mi' Ms n,
mora boi;nosS I about tban, +ban n,r;tw u
muat o t;.:an@e ] o. 'no I IN n ~ p"...y