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344
DESIGN
I the NEW
There are many things to be considered in
making a relief for the face of currency. It is,
in fact, unlike the producing of any other medallion
or medal. In the first place, the coins
must be made so that they will "stack". No
matter how beautiful the work may be, if this
practical point is not considered the result is
failure.
It was James Earl Fraser—shown in the
two photographs at the right—who made the
design of the buffalo nickel. Many think that
the Indian head on the five-cent piece is a portrait
of an individual Indian, but Mr. Fraser is
very definite in his denial of this. The head
is a composite made from five different models,
and is the sculptor's ideal of an American Indian.
Before the work on the relief even was
begun, portrait busts were made from each of
the mod Is, then portrait reliefs; this means
that ten distinct portraits were completed before
our new coin design was started.
It seems to be the ambition of every sculptor
to make a Lincoln. Many have been fortunate
enough to have their attempts placed in public,
but the portrait of Abraham Lincoln, made by
VictorD. Brenner—at the
left, bottom—is the most
widely known of any. It
is doubtful if there is a
man or woman in the
United States, rich or
poor, who has not seen
I this work, for it is on the
penny. The beauty of
L this coin lies in its utter
A simplicity, the simplicity,
»\ it would seem, that was
jgA one of the great man's
va\\ greatest qualities.
1
Mr. Victor
David Brenner
and His Relief
of Lincoln
Which Was
Used on the
Cent
On many of our paper
money designs there are
portraits of statesmen but
this is the only coin, so
far, to bear one. The
large relief made by Mr.
Brenner for this purpose
is considered one of the
best Lincolns extant.
The figure on the half
dollar made by Adolph
Weinman—at the left, top
—is one of peace and prosperity.
Her right hand is
extended toward vast
spaces in an attitude of
welcome. In her arm she
carries a sheaf of laurel,
her hand is dressed in a