A portrait of Anna Williams, the model for the Morgan Dollar

K6AZ · May 7, 2003 2:18PM

It's been a while since I posted the image of this, and thought it might be a good time to do it again. I own one of the original art pieces, not a reproduction.

stman · May 7, 2003 2:24PM

Hey that's pretty neat. Is this the art piece you own? She looks like she's ready to chew someone out.

RKKay · May 7, 2003 2:27PM

Interestingly, one of Morgan's children disputed that Anna Williams was actually used for the dollar design. See the last paragraph of this link from the Society of US Pattern Collectors.

Re: Anna Williams

BTW, that really is an awesome piece of art to own.

K6AZ · May 7, 2003 2:27PM

Yes, it was a 8x11 print that was a supplement to that newspaper. There have been repros floating around on eBay, but I have one of the originals.

joejeweler · May 7, 2003 2:30PM

Not bad......but her hair looks shorter in this work than on the coin.

This was a good fit for her........on the Morgan dollar. I'm pretty sure she couldn't have been used on the early "bust" coinage, however, had she been alive then of course.

K6AZ · May 7, 2003 2:35PM

I know about that letter, and have a hard time believing it. It just happend to turn up in 2002? There is an abundance of evidence that Anna Williams was in fact the model for the dollar; George Morgan was known to claim he didn't use any model in respect for Anna Williams' wishes to remain anonymous.

dragon · May 7, 2003 2:45PM

Are those die striations on her face??

dragon

Cam40 · May 7, 2003 2:49PM

Thats great.Thanks for posting it again as I must have missed it the last time.

mrdq · May 7, 2003 2:51PM

<< <i>Are those die striations on her face??

dragon >>

Looks like they're on the holder!

Cam40 · May 7, 2003 2:53PM

Are those die striations on her face??

Nothing a little photoshop-dip wont cure.
I can `curate` it.

RKKay · May 7, 2003 2:54PM

The claim does seem suspicious, especially in light of the similarities between Anna Williams and the Morgan, Schoolgirl and Shield Earring Dollars.

ANACONDA · May 7, 2003 2:55PM

Thanks for sharing that - very cool.

Her profile, especially her chin and nose look just like the profile on the
dollar.

That's what i like about this forum. Always something interesting.

Cam40 · May 7, 2003 3:08PM

In a similar story. I saw Antique Roadshow on TV once someone brought in some original photos of the Indian
and/or Buffalo of the emfamous nickel series.Thought that was cool.

Also some wymsical painting by Frank Zappa at a age 10 or so? bought by a
nextdoor neighbor at the Zappa garage sale.

K6AZ · May 7, 2003 3:46PM

<< <i>Are those die striations on her face?? >>

Heh heh.. nope. They are creases in the protective shrink wrap the print is wrapped in. It has a cardboard backing.

Gilbert · May 7, 2003 6:17PM

They are creases in the protective shrink wrap the print is wrapped in.

Thank God. I thought your (or somebody's) cat had taken a swipe at it.

Deadhorse · May 7, 2003 7:19PM

At the risk of sounding sexist, I'm still trying to figure out if I were to meet her in real life, would I think she was:

A) Unattractive

Very average in looks

C) Pretty

D) Extremely attractive

E) Strikingly beautiful (no pun intended)

I know she was shorter than average and in her time that would have been quite short by today's standards. She was a little overweight.

But there IS something remarkable about that face. Timeless beauty perhaps.

Why am I thinking about that movie "Somewhere in Time"?

ClausUrch · May 7, 2003 9:36PM

Cool; she's got that "Elvis" thing going on with her upper lip. Could be Elvis' great grandma??????

ccrdragon · May 7, 2003 10:42PM

The info available on these boards never ceases to amaze me - great stuff!!

JOHNandBEA · May 8, 2003 1:54AM

Thanks!!! for sharing that.............

John

A portrait of Anna Williams, the model for the Morgan Dollar

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