The three most prolific designers of Federal Coinage

Gemini

The three most prolific designers of Federal Coinage-
Do you have a favorite?..
Show a favorite coin or something if you can...

Christian Gobrecht-
Half Cents (1840-1857)
Half Dimes (1837-1875)
Dimes (1837-1891)
Quarters (1838-1891)
Half Dollars (1839-1891)
Dollars (1836-1873)
$2.50 Gold (1840-1907)
$5 Gold (1839=1908)
$10 Gold 1838-1907)

James B. Longacre-
Flying Eagle Cents
Indian Head Cents
Two Cents
Three Cent Nickels
Nickels (1866-1883)
Three Cent Silver
$1 Gold (1849-1889)
$3 Gold (1854-1889)
$20 Gold (1849-1933)

Robert Scot
Half Cents (1794) (1800-1808)
Large Cents (1796-1807) (1816-1837)
Half Dimes (1794-!805)
Dimes (1796-1807)
Quarters (1796-1807)
Half Dollars (1794-1807)
$2.50 Gold !795-1807)
$5 Gold (1795-1807)
$10 Gold (1795-1804)

dragon

Gemini, How could you leave out St. Gaudens????

Gemini

Dragon I was going for the most prolific of designs and not necessarily the best..

dragon

oh, ok

flaminio

I'm not even sure "prolific is the right word here. Scot and Gobrecht got their designs on a lot of coins, but it was basically the same picture pantographed to different sizes. St Gaudens only got two coins (three if you count his pattern cent), but they are entirely different and both extraordinary.

dragon

Well then I would also vote for Bela Lyon Pratt, the $2.5 and $5.00 Indians are beautiful and certainly very prolific coins having an incuse design and all.

dragon

MacCoin

I liked Scots early work but it seem he lost it after 1808. the 09 designs started to get bland. Capped bust are nice but the draped bust does it for me.

matteproof

Flamino makes a great point. St. Gaudens only had two shots (or 3) at design and all were astoundingly beautiful. Christian Gobrecht also only had a few designs - mostly the SAME design - which was unfortunately used on too MANY series (a mistake I believe). Gobrecht also had his hand in the design of the terrific 1836 Reeded Edge Half Dollar.

The Scott Designs were nice because they really memorialize the spirit of that era (though, like Gobrecht, this basic design was also used in too many Series).

St. Gaudens was "forward" thinking and his designs do suggest this. The "high relief" was a bold attempt, in a more primitive era, at creating a "3d effect" (holographic?) on a coin. The $10 Indian is an astoundingly beautiful design in all of it's simplicity yet complexity. The "Indian" on the obverse is very much "European" yet she adorns the traditional Indian headdress and feathers, all of which symbolize the UNITY that ideally should have occurred between the American Natives and the European Pilgrims. But alas, the reality did not meet with the symbol (they usually don't) and that forward thinking unity was looted under the weight of greed, avarice, and broken promises.

One thing is certain; the designs of "moderns" are dismal and predictably absent of true artistic influence. Most of the modern designs look like "art school students run amok." Ditto the Sac Dollar, SBA, Modern Commems and other modern coinage. NASTY! The time is LONG overdue for SERIOUS artistic design on our coinage. America is the GREATEST Nation in the world. Our coins should represent our greatness as well as our commitment to TRUE art by REAL artists. Our coin designs should not represent the arrogant politically correct stabs by the tasteless with an agenda.

matteproof

FC57Coins

I'd be interested to see if commemorative folks chime in on this one. I think if I'm not mistaken the list might change somewhat if commemorative designs, both old and new, are brought into the picture.

Gemini

>I'm not sure "prolific' is the right word here<
You are right Bob I guess I missed there. I was trying to show more or less how many different denominations their work affected and not necessarily the difference in designs.
I admire all the engravers whether their work appeared on a single circulating coin or commemorative issue or whatever and I could live very happily with James Earle Frasers single contribution of the buffalo nickel which in my opinion is one of the best small coinage designs of all time...