Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-12-09
THE NEW DOUBLE EAGLE.
r. T. Noble Receives New Coin, Fresh
From Mint.

Probably the first of the new double
eagles of the ST. Gaudens brand TO
reach Maine, or this section of Maine
at any rate, was received Saturday by
the well-known coin collector. Frank
T. Noble, coming to him direct from
the mint, and Mr.. Noble takes pleasure
in showing it to his friends.
1t has been said that thing OF
beauty is a joy forever, and while the
possession of a sufficient number or
the new coin might prove the truth
of the latter part of the saying ii could
never bring joy on account of its
beauty The general opinion of those
who have seen the gold piece is that IL
is the homeliest creation that has been
passed as a coin of the realm The $50
goldpiece which all of us have seen at
one time or another is Of design
which at once attracts the eye OF the
beholder on account of its beauty. but
when the two are laid side by side the
new coin suffers by comparison even
as would a dump cart with touring
car.
The design of the new coin is said
to be artistic, and it may be. i'll a way,
but admitting that it is, it certainly
it not practical. and will find objec-
ton i'll the banks because the coins
cannot be piled one on top of the
other. A noticeable feature of the
coin is it's width of rim, and the abb
Sence of milling, substitute for the
latter having been found in the pres
ence of the words: E Pluribus Unum.'
and a few stars, all of which is very
shallow and probably would not be dis
cernible after the coin had been IN
circulation for q short time or had
been through process of sweating.
The distinctive feature of the OBJ
verse of the coin is the figure of the
goddess Liberty, who is shown COM
ing directly into the foreground, ana
is in such high relief above the back
ground as to give the impression that
she was about to step off the coin al
together. The pose of the goddess Is
decidedly heroic, and while of course
her garb is feminine the figure reminds
one of that of the boy in the we'll
known poem Excelsior" Both arms
are raised, and while in one hand she
bears the olive branch of peace the
other hand grasps something which
has been interpreted by some to be the
big stick" One foot also Is raised as
in stepping forward and rests on
rock. Behind her is q series of suns
rays. and one paper has been unkind
enough to say that the general effect
is that of fairy fay coming through
the rye. 1t might be said, too, that
the general appearance Of the goddess,
with her hair flying, her arms out
stretched and her robe trailing, to-
gether with her general air OF aban-
don, would give one the idea that she
NAV have been going through the rye
also.
over her head are the words
United States Of Amcrica-Twenty
Dollars" and down in one corner IS
the date, not in numerals as has been
the custom heretofore. but in Roman,
as follows: "MCMVII." This, too. is
perhaps in accordance with the rest OF
the design, very artistic, but 1t is
doubtful if the majority of American
people would know how to translate II,
even after they had succeeded III To-
eating it, the lettering of the date
being very small.
The reverse of the coin is in keep
ing with the Obverse-very artistic.
Here is shown the American eagle
in full flight, and he has the whole
back side of the coin to himself, eX-
cept that underneath wealth or
suns rays which suggests the explo-
sion of a mine. He is a ST. Gaudens
eagle and his general appearance sug-
gests doubtful parentage, also the work
of the nature faker, for instead of hav-
ing his feet gathered up under him as
do all birds Of that family when n.y.
ing. they are trailing out behind him
in a way that suggests that patient
sentry of the marches, the blue heron.
In fact the whole pose of the BIRD
suggests languor, and he has more OF
the bearing of a turkey buZZard than
Of the king of birds.
In spite of the appearance of the new
coin however it would not be well to
refuse to accept them on that ac-
count. but if they come your way Just