Has anyone else ever heard that the Classic Cent heads were modeled by a young boy?

renomedphys · December 5, 2024 12:19PM

Greg Hannigan once told me that a young Greek boy was the model for the Classic Head cents. I have often wondered if there was any truth to this.

Mr_Spud · December 5, 2024 12:31PM

AI told me the following which suggests that the headband was worn by young male Greek athletes, so maybe that’s where the “young Greek boy” model rumor came from.

Mr_Spud · December 5, 2024 12:36PM

And here’s the source that AI pulled that tidbit of info from https://www.ngccoin.com/coin-explorer/united-states/cents/classic-head-cents-1808-1814/#:~:text=The Classic Head Cent design&text=Miss Liberty is surrounded by,winners of local sporting competitions.

PerryHall · December 5, 2024 12:44PM

@renomedphys said:
Greg Hannigan once told me that a young Greek boy was the model for the Classic Head cents. I have often wondered if there was any truth to this.

>

That sounds like the type of story that Walter Breen would have made up.

CaptHenway · December 5, 2024 1:02PM

I had not theory. What does Vermeule say?

bakeandshake · December 5, 2024 1:04PM

it kinda does resemble Telly Savalas sporting a mid-1980’s Eddie Van Halen wig. so maybe 🤔

CaptHenway · December 5, 2024 1:30PM

Vermeule (Numismatic Art in America, Second Edition) is not of much help. In a short section titles "Early Neoclassic Cents" he mentions the Cents of 1808-1814 and the Half Cents of 1809-1836 modeled after them. He seems to be saying that it is a continuation of the previous "so-called Turban Head type," but with the turban "...reduced to a thin band over a mass of unruly locks and curls..." He makes no suggestion that the model might have been male, and compares the figure to the "blowsy barmaid" epithet hurled at earlier versions of Miss Liberty.

He practically ignores the gold versions of this head from the mid-1830's. All in all, he is worthless in answering the OP's question.

Creg · December 5, 2024 5:17PM

@CaptHenway said:
Vermeule (Numismatic Art in America, Second Edition) is not of much help. In a short section titles "Early Neoclassic Cents" he mentions the Cents of 1808-1814 and the Half Cents of 1809-1836 modeled after them. He seems to be saying that it is a continuation of the previous "so-called Turban Head type," but with the turban "...reduced to a thin band over a mass of unruly locks and curls..." He makes no suggestion that the model might have been male, and compares the figure to the "blowsy barmaid" epithet hurled at earlier versions of Miss Liberty.

He practically ignores the gold versions of this head from the mid-1830's. All in all, he is worthless in answering the OP's question.

I learned that “blowsy” is not the same as “blousy”.

Has anyone else ever heard that the Classic Cent heads were modeled by a young boy?

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