Why did pennies go without designer initials from 1910 through 1917?
mr1931S
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I read somewhere long ago that Charles Barber, chief engraver of the Mint, was working behind the scenes to make sure Brenner didn't get recognition on the coin he designed past 1909 starting with the 1910 issues. Barber died early in 1917. The year following Barber's death, 1918, was the first year the "V.D.B." initials were restored to the Lincoln cent and on Lincoln's shoulder next to the rim is where they appeared and remained for penny issues to the current day.
I was looking for a biography book on Barber to buy but can't find where anyone has ever written Barber's biography. The failure of the Mint to have no designer initials on pennies for some eight years must have left a bad taste in more than a few mouths, not just Brenner's.
Einstein’s view of God was non-traditional and pantheistic, focusing on the harmony, order, and intelligibility of the cosmos rather than a personal deity. His quotes reveal a profound respect for the universe’s mysteries, a belief in rational laws, and a moral philosophy grounded in compassion and understanding, bridging science and spirituality.
“My religion consists of a humble admiration of the illimitable superior spirit who reveals himself in the slight details we are able to perceive with our frail and feeble mind.”
Albert Einstein (14 March 1879--18 April 1955)
Comments
You answered your own question. Barber did not like the competition, and he died in 1917. His successor, Morgan, did the right thing.
Barber must have been a very intimidating figure. I surmise that Morgan didn't want to step on Barbers issues, so he waited till he passed away before restoring the V.D.B. to the Cent.
Pete
Well, Barber was Chief Engraver until he died, so it wasn’t Morgan’s call to make until he inherited the title.
Maybe it was just an innocent error of omission. The “VDB” was dropped in 1909, and the obverse was not updated for a few years after that, in 1918.
I am not as hard on Barber as some people. He knew how to make dies which were durable and which produced consistently well struck coins. The artists who created the “pretty designs” did not succeed in those aspects. Barber picked up the pieces and came up with worthy substitutes like the $10 Indian and St. Gaudens $20 gold pieces.
They were harsche.
Thank you Capt. I wasn't sure about Barber's involvement in the V.D.B. debacle of 1909. Has a book on Barber, Charles E., been written?
Einstein’s view of God was non-traditional and pantheistic, focusing on the harmony, order, and intelligibility of the cosmos rather than a personal deity. His quotes reveal a profound respect for the universe’s mysteries, a belief in rational laws, and a moral philosophy grounded in compassion and understanding, bridging science and spirituality.
“My religion consists of a humble admiration of the illimitable superior spirit who reveals himself in the slight details we are able to perceive with our frail and feeble mind.”
Albert Einstein (14 March 1879--18 April 1955)
My favorite follower has chimed in with a contribution.
Einstein’s view of God was non-traditional and pantheistic, focusing on the harmony, order, and intelligibility of the cosmos rather than a personal deity. His quotes reveal a profound respect for the universe’s mysteries, a belief in rational laws, and a moral philosophy grounded in compassion and understanding, bridging science and spirituality.
“My religion consists of a humble admiration of the illimitable superior spirit who reveals himself in the slight details we are able to perceive with our frail and feeble mind.”
Albert Einstein (14 March 1879--18 April 1955)
This is a great question that seemed simple at first but actually goes deeper when I thought about it. Barber was a good engraver but was he a toxic leader who blocked others from recognition? What were the internal politics like at the mint from the 1890s through the teens? Did Barber want someone to succeed him and if so, who?
As to a Barber biography, I am not aware of any, but also think a book about the head engravers an the internal politics at the mint for the last 200-ish years would be really interesting.
I saw the word "vainglorious" written with regard to Barber. Barber's Nickel design, the LIBERTY HEAD, was certainly a good design. There are no designer's initials on LIBERTY HEAD nickels, of course. I'm thinking Barber had a problem with Brenner's initials appearing on the penny as they did. In addition to their hugeness on Lincoln cents of 1909, the initials "V.D.B." simply appearing on the coin was a source of irritation for Barber. After all, Barber's initial, a humble "B" as seen on coins he designed, was very inconspicuous. What an outrage for a vainglorious one to endure. There must have been a lot of fear of Barber at the 1909 Philadelphia mint.
Einstein’s view of God was non-traditional and pantheistic, focusing on the harmony, order, and intelligibility of the cosmos rather than a personal deity. His quotes reveal a profound respect for the universe’s mysteries, a belief in rational laws, and a moral philosophy grounded in compassion and understanding, bridging science and spirituality.
“My religion consists of a humble admiration of the illimitable superior spirit who reveals himself in the slight details we are able to perceive with our frail and feeble mind.”
Albert Einstein (14 March 1879--18 April 1955)
I highly recommend Roger Burdette’s “Renaissance in American Coinage” series for information about the latter Charles Barber years.
Press reporting a the time shows that it wasn't Barber that was the instigator of the initial's removal, but Secretary of the Treasury, Franklin MacVeagh. There was some suggestion to replace VDB with a simple "B", but since both Brenner and Barber shared that initial, Barber blocked this suggestion. It took the replacement of both Barber and MacVeagh to see the initials restored. This Reddit post has a scan of a Washington Post article from August 6, 1909.
It's interesting to read that the announcement of the initial's withdrawal and removal saw an immediate rush from the public to hoard the new pennies, on the assumption the ones with the initials would become more valuable. It's also interesting to see that Brenner himself was angry about the final design of the VDB coins as his submitted design included his entire name, not just his initials.
Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius, "Meditations"
Apparently I have been awarded the DPOTD twice.
Barber probably threatened to quit working for the Mint if something wasn't done about Brenner's initials. Secretary MacVeagh likely caved to Barber's demands. Just another farcical chapter in American history.
Einstein’s view of God was non-traditional and pantheistic, focusing on the harmony, order, and intelligibility of the cosmos rather than a personal deity. His quotes reveal a profound respect for the universe’s mysteries, a belief in rational laws, and a moral philosophy grounded in compassion and understanding, bridging science and spirituality.
“My religion consists of a humble admiration of the illimitable superior spirit who reveals himself in the slight details we are able to perceive with our frail and feeble mind.”
Albert Einstein (14 March 1879--18 April 1955)
Barber and Morgan had a warm relationship. I think he is wrongly vilified.
Hard to say what really happened. B.L.P. was OK in 1908, but V.D.B. was not OK in 1909.