Interesting fact about the Mercury dime and the model for it

Longacre

I was reading the Renaissance of American Coinage book, and it has tons of interesting facts that I did not know previously. In discussing the Mercury dime, it states, "the primary prototype for the portrait on the dime was probably Weinman's Union Soldiers and Sailors Memorial, dedicated on November 6, 1909 in Baltimore, MD. When photos of the dime are compared with the head of Victory from the Memorial, the resemblance is unmistakable (Ed.: the book shows the two side by side and it's true). It is likely that Weinman also based part of the dime's Winged Liberty on a 1913 portrait bust that he made of Elsie Kachel Moll Stevens, wife of the lawyer (later poet), Wallace Stevens. The Stevens' rented an apartment from Weinman when they lived in New York. [Mint Director Woolley] states in his unpublished autobiography, "Weinman only told me that she was the wife of a lawyer friend of his and that the cap in which she posed was made from the top of an old stocking."

Pretty interesting stuff-- posing with a sock on your head!

XpipedreamR

They said that he likely added the wings because he like the look of depth/relief that wings gave, in general.

topstuf

My gramma always wore those neat stockings that rolled up to half calf. Jeez, what silly lookin things. Neat lady, but stoopid socks.

Longacre

<< <i>They said that he likely added the wings because he like the look of depth/relief that wings gave, in general. >>




I was going to put another post on that. That commentary was interesting as well.

UncleJoe

The wings represented "freedom of thought" if I remember what I had read some time ago.

Joe.

Conder101

Keep up the reports Longacre and the rest of us won't have to buy the book.