Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-06-11

After July !, all half-dollars quarters
and dimes turned out by the United
states mints are to bear new designs
For twenty-five years now the Ameri-
can people have been circulating the
same old styles OF coins. and coins
like everything else. 20 out of date
The half-dollar. for instance. Is re-
ported by the mint authorities TO be
growing more and more unpopular.
and In order that il may not meet the
same fate as tho old-rashioned two
cent piece. II Is to attract the public
attention by new design out OF
NIFTY or more models submitted bv sew
erai scuiptors to Secretary McAdoo and
voted upon by the Fine Arts Commits
sion. tho designs OF Adolph \. Vein
man We're accepted for the half-dollar
and dime. and that of Hermon 4 Mac
Nell for the quarter-dollar Both men
are sculptors of note whose work is
we'll known throughout the country.
on the diverse side of tho new de-
sign for the half-doliar Is fun
length figure OF Liberty. against "a
background OF the stars and stripes
unfurlcd 10 the breeze. striding toward
the da VIII Of new day and bearing
laurel and oak branches. sHnbolical
OF civil and military glory. on the
reverse side Is an eagle perch cd on a
ciin. with wings untolded. while from
the rock springs "a sapling OF mountain
pine similar To that used on the first
pine-iree shillings OF Massachusetts.
The design OF the new quarter was
doubtless inspired by the nations in
terest in preparedness. AS the law
provides that the hgurc o! Liberty, as
we'll a the word. shall adorn this coin.
Liberty is depicted approaching the
gateway of the country, her left arm
appraised and graspinE a shield In a
q, in "a, d.. u if. l,a. tFyI .
arm bears the olive branch of peace
on both the half-dollar and the quar-
ter are the words. I'm God We Trust"
The reverse side OF the quarter also
shows eagle. with wings extended.
and bears the inscription. United
States OF America and "E Pluribus
Unum" below. There is an outer cir
Gle of olive branches irter;wincd with
ribbon. unfurled to the breeze.
Dime Bears Olive Branch.
The new dime Is not elaborate in
design. bearing on its diverse side the
profile of Liberty. and on the other
side the "Fasces" design. which Is
bundle OF rods and battle-aN. signify
ing unity. /, is also decorated with
the familiar olive branch Of peace.
The coinage laws Of the United
States provide that there may be
change OF design every twenty-five
years. requiring only that each coin
shall bear the figure OF Liberty. The
change made during the ensuing TWEEN
tv-hvc wears requires a special act OF
Congress Thus. Congress authorized
the Philadelphia mint TO strike spe-
cial coin or medal TO honor the Wright
brothers for their success with the
aeroplane. Congress annually au-
thorzes the minting of many specia!
medals and coins for various historical
societies and eXpositions.
There is the Mckinley Memorial So
ciety. for example. made on OF Ameri-
cans who are devoted to the memory
Of the martyred president The Phila-
delphia mint strikes special Nckin-
ley medal which it sells 10 the So
ciety for one dollar. and which the
society In turn sells TO philanthropists
and collectors for two dollars. In TINS
way considerable fund was raised
not long ago with which the society
erected a splendid monument to Nc
Kinley in his birthplace at Niles, ONO
The various eXpositions follow prac-
ticallv the same plan. y coin worth
0f,y NAV be sold to them at that price
bv United States mint, and the same
coin brings hundred dollars at the
exposition. The government reaeems
| it. of course. at the original price OF
fifty dollars, that being It's ac'uai
value in gold.
Military Medal. Minted.
In addition to these special private
| coins or medals. the government au-
| thorizes the mintinG or military meoh -
which are bestowed OH soldiers VINO
| have performed valuable service 10 the
! country. There are Civil War medals.
| Suanish War medals, medals OF the IN
! dian wars, the Boxer Rebellion ana inc
| Philippine Instruction. me civil
| war medal bears on it's diverse side
| tbe head of Abraham Lincoln and the
| words. UNITED States Army, while on
| the reverse Is border of stars within
| which is a circle of laurel inclosinE
the words "For Merit" The Spanish
! American war medal shows a castle
| surrounded by leaf scrolls: that of
| the Philippine Insurrection bears the
| unusual design Of a palm tree balance
| scales and ancient lamp; the Chinese
! Relief medal has on It's diverse side
| n Chinese dragon, and the Indian wars
/ medal shows an Indian on horseback
| buffalo head surrounded by leaf
! scrolls.
At first thought, the design on n
| coin seems comparatively unimpor
| tant matter, and one wonders why pco-
| ple should go to so much trouble to
| plan them when plain round piece
| of gold, silver or copper would answer
/ the same purpose. But coins them
! selves have always had a curious sig
nificence in the history of the world
and It's individual nations. To-day the
| coin collections OF numismatists both
in this country and in Europe arc the
means OF tracing the remote and vague
! history of lost nations and peoples. For
| kingdom OF Bactria until some ancient
| coins Of that realm were unearthcd In
! Afghanistan about forty years ago.