New-York tribune., 1907-12-16
THE ST. GAUDENS COINS.
7. ID. Bremen, Medallist, Says VaI-
uabIe Precedent Is Set bu Them.

To the Editor Of The Tribune
Sir: Much has been said for and against the
new SO and $40 gold pieces designed by our
late master. Augustus ST. Gaudens. AS a med
ast and having had experience in producing
coins 1 beg the privilege of space in your es
teemed paper to state some facts on the sub
iect. 1t is most unfortunate that our great
sculptor is no more with us and that he was
called away before he had time to finish his
comrnendable attempt to bring forward coins
that express in their design more than the mere
value commodity. In his design one sees
the embryo of beautiful conception. If he
had had the necessary time to make changes as
he was used to do in all his creations the re-
suit would have been no less than in any of his
masterpieces.
Whatever the result and the opinions of the
individuals may be. indebted to Mr. ST.
Gaudens for the departure which he has brought
about The precedent that he has set for us
will find its echo forever after. Master of low
relief that he was, his illness did not allow him
the time to investigate certain laws and dicta-
tions that separate methods from the meth
DDS the Greeks employed in their coinage The
Greeks used shotlike piece of metal. and struck
it while it was hot with the blow of a hammer
They had ring to hold the dies together or
to effect milled edge. and the result was an
most every coin, but this accidental outline fig
ured in the design of the coin and added to its
beauty. We have presses that made to
strike hundreds of pieces In an hours time. and
a fat metal disk is used. This disk must be
made to fill the entire surface of the coin 10 be-
accidents and irregularities cannot enter in our
coins. and therefore no high relief can be pro-
duced with artistic result.
Mr.. st. Gaudens was very fond of cutting into
the background of his low reliefs, and did so
most effectively, but in a coin or medal that IS
to be produced other than by casting where the
metal flows i'll while hot any raised edge q
die will prevent the cold metal from pressing
into the cavities which go to make up the de-
sign, The designing of coin requires, apart
from its artistic effect. also a calculation of
empty we'll as filed spaces When the two
dies meet to press the metal disk the pressure
must be effected with an equal distribution, or
the result will be such as the $50 gold pieces
in question show-namely, raised burr which
in much handling will disappear with consid-
cradle loss of the intrinsic value of the coin.
Distances and round forms can be effected in
the coin without resorting to high relief, but
foreshortening of any forms in a coin is d most
dangerous attempt. from the fact that a coin 8
mission is even when it is worn off by constant
circulation. that it's original design shall bear
out to the very limit of the inner surface. Any
foreshortening that will lose Its full modelling
will also lose its meaning, resulting in very un-
satisfactory
The coins of the later issues of France and
Belgium are good examples of what can be done
with low relief. The engravers OF the Mint have
been blamed by some for the unsatisfactory re-
suit and beg to say a few words in their de-
fence The translation OF a model into the steel
dies is not at present done as it was up to the
latter part Of the last century. A reducing ma
chine does the translation with mathematical
correctness and the result of the translation
from a 15-inch diameter surface TO a 1-inch
diameter surface is entirely the problem of the
designer.
AS already stated above. thanks to this event,
wa have reached a moment in our medallic his
tory which is most noteworthy. and while we
are considering the subject may suggest some
slight changes in our law which limits the issue
Of new, coin models TO the interval of twenty
FIVE wears a period entirely too long for the his
toric as we'll as the educational value of coin
series? The Greeks and Romans not only
changed their coins with the ascension of each
new ruler, but also had new series for each
important event Should not d more frequent
change of design Of our coins in circulation
prove practical. we can we'll afford the expense
of new designs for limited issue which may be
sold at premium and thus mark our events as
go along. VICTOR u bhIN4'I'
New York. Dec. 16. 1901.