Best designer and best/most typical work

ChangeInHistory

Taking into account their longevity, impact, and artistry, who is your favorite designer (Reich, Longacre, Frasier, etc) and which coin best represents them and their work.

originalisbest

Weinman. Walking Lib half.

D

James B. Longacre. I think it's impossible to pick a coin that represents the work the best .


-Daniel

ccex

Interesting question. If you hadn't said "artistry" I'd vote for Charles Barber, whose Isabella Quarter I love, but who is remembered for the everyday dimes, quarters, and halves which still bear his name. His efforts to lower relief of the coins that replaced his designs must have frustrated more artistic sculptors such as Weinman, St. Gaudens, Hermon McNeil, or even George Morgan, whose designs were The many Barber designs have had a great impact on bringing collectors into the hobby, even though a typical Barber design is never considered as an example of artistry. Still, they wore well.

For artistry, I can't decide between A. St. Gaudens and his proteges James and Laura Fraser. Choosing their best design is an exercise which eliminates none of their work from consideration. Which other designers have typical work among the most popular contenders for the best design ever? ($10 "Indian" eagle, $20 "Saint", Buffalo Nickel, Oregon Trail half are all contenders for both best and typical).

For impact alone, I'd have to give the nod to Frank Gasparro, who is also a contender in the longevity department. Look at all those folks who collect (or at least hoard) Kennedy Half Dollars, Ikes, SBAs, and Lincoln Memorial cents -- all coins minted in numbers which don't give Christian Gobrecht or James Longacre a fair chance. Perhaps Gobrecht or Longacre (or Victor Brenner) should win if longevity were weighted heavily.

Combining all of impact, artistry, and longevity my vote would go to Robert Scot, who gets credit for transferring a Gilbert Stuart portrait to coin (Draped Bust) and the lovely Flowing Hair designs of 1794-95. Perhaps Robert Scot remained chief engraver too long, as evidenced by the ugly "Matron Head" large cents or his ineptitude as a die sinker after his vision started failing (remember the "office boy reverse" 1820 dime?) Yes, Robert Scot gets my vote as the best designer of U.S. coins (edging out Charles Barber). While some of his designs are considered at best mediocre, I think of former Nebraska senator Roman Hruska who argued that America is full of mediocre citizens who deserve representation, too.

Oldnewbie

Dr. Lewis Feuchtwanger and his amazing cent.

pursuitofliberty

I'm glad I read thorugh everything before I posted.

Combining all of impact, artistry, and longevity my vote would go to Robert Scot, who gets credit for transferring a Gilbert Stuart portrait to coin (Draped Bust) and the lovely Flowing Hair designs of 1794-95. Perhaps Robert Scot remained chief engraver too long, as evidenced by the ugly "Matron Head" large cents or his ineptitude as a die sinker after his vision started failing (remember the "office boy reverse" 1820 dime?) Yes, Robert Scot gets my vote as the best designer of U.S. coins (edging out Charles Barber). While some of his designs are considered at best mediocre, I think of former Nebraska senator Roman Hruska who argued that America is full of mediocre citizens who deserve representation, too.

I agree with you CCEX, except I can not consider his designs mediocre, especially in the context of what he was working with then, even compared to a few years later.