Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-12-07
Collection now on
1886,


II .was after a wait OF thirty-three
wears, from 1909 to 1896, a pause as YET
unexplained that the next EFFORT at
dollar coinage was made by ire Gov
eminent.
Earl. in the latter year dies We're
ordered prepared for new dollar ana
Mr.. Christian Gobretcht. the then chief
engravcr, was given the commission 10
execute the design and dies. The pro-
duct Of his skill resulted in the beau
tif,l flying eagle dollar (of which three
superp specimens are shown in the ex-
hibiD which is now known to nuisma-
fists the world over as the Flying
Eagle Dollar of 1896
The design of this very handsome
piece considered by competent judges
to be the most beautiful as we'll as
artistic coin ever issued by our gov
arnmcnt, was entirely original with
Gobretcht who discarding all previ-
1usiy conceived ideas and used de-
signs produced instead OF the head and
lust OF Iibart, q full length seated
figure htlding in her left hand . lib
erty poe with cap. her right hand
resting oil shield bearing a scroll
with "LiBERTI" and below the ctii-
~ the date ''1s26." In very small let
t.rs at the base of the figure is seen
&C. GOBEETCHT," the artists sig
nature.
On :hC reverse side of the coin is u
particularly handsome representation
OF hyinE eagle in field of 26 five
pointed stars surrounded by the in
scrip;ion, UNITED STATES OF
AMERICA ONE DOLLAR"
The % stars in the field of the re-
verse are claimed to have been in
tended by the designer to represent
he states: Of the Union but with Az
kansas Icing admitted that year the
number would only be twenty-f five
while not until 1891 did Michigan come
into TIC fold as full nedged state
which would nave completed the gal
axy of the artist.
Possibly the error may have been
fatal to its continuance. for the coin
age was suspended after about one
thousand spe cimcns were struck and
t is now extremely rare
If there We're any whose artistic
temperament lead them to laud the
conception Of the flying eagle as por-
trayed Dy Tie iate st. Gaudens on the
new y26 gold piece. they should exam
ne this ole but beautiful design OF the
same, as produced by the mint en-
yraver Gobretcht on his beautiful fiy-
ing eagle dollar
No silver dollars We're coined for
circulation after this first effort until
1880.
In 1876 afte, Il lapse of thirty seven
ears, with tho above noted slight in
corruption, the Government began
,Sain, this time in earnest, the coin
,ee Of a silver dollar, and modified
'orm Of the Gobretcht dollar was is
sued. The seated figure of Liberty.
originated by Gobretcht on his pattern
# 1896 was retained but the beautiful
lying eagle reverse was discarded for
ONE reason in favor Of the design OF
standing defiant eagle, a type used
there after for many years upon our
liver coinage. The effigy on the OBJ
'erse was surrounded by thirteen
'tars representing the thirteen origi
,al states.
Ihis design for silver dollar with
7ut change except as to date. VAS
Nsed year after year until 1873 when
he series Terminated and these now
"f-fasEioned dollars passed into his
.Dry.
'r'''"' CO." grove nota.iv r"-1 :"
nd Je ''n"-- fn"- doIIs rr oc tr;- ,,~t
cries we're struck and in consequence