Lincoln has grown cartoonish through the years

shylock · August 21, 2007 8:43AM

It's time to take him out of his misery

Burks · August 21, 2007 8:49AM

The 2003 one you can't tell where his hair ends and his beard begins.

mrearlygold · August 21, 2007 8:55AM

His nose should have been shown much longer

mozeppa · August 21, 2007 8:56AM

man!....he did look good in 1919.

mozeppa · August 21, 2007 9:02AM

66RB · August 21, 2007 9:03AM

He seems to be angrier with every reworking of the dies!

<< The 2003 one you can't tell where his hair ends and his beard begins. >>

He does seem to also be more 'wolfmanlike' as the years march on

mozeppa · August 21, 2007 9:04AM

<< He seems to be angrier with every reworking of the dies! >>

its the neanderthal brow line that he has developed over the years that makes him look angry.

cladking · August 21, 2007 9:08AM

I like his portrayal on the 1969 issue the most.

He is cartoonish now which dovetails well with money that costs more than it's worth.

OneCent · August 21, 2007 9:09AM

Man was his profile "chiseled" in 1919. Superb!!!

I would agree that he now looks right out of the movie "American Werewolf in London"!!!!

fivecents · August 21, 2007 9:28AM

WOW!

What a transition over the years.

No mercy killing until after 2009.....after that, go for it.

coinkat · August 21, 2007 9:34AM

Yup... and next it will be GEICO commercials...

dizzyfoxx · August 21, 2007 9:38AM

Incredible difference between 1919 and 2003. Like just about EVERYTHING else, they just don't make 'em like they use to.

SpaceMonkey · August 21, 2007 9:47AM

i saw a thread here while back that showed the same progress with washington on the quarter.. wow... what a difference... anyone want to dig that one up?

/ed

tahoe98 · August 22, 2007 3:13AM

shouldn't the hair be gray by now?

Pentimento · August 22, 2007 3:28AM

<< i saw a thread here while back that showed the same progress with washington on the quarter.. wow... what a difference... anyone want to dig that one up?

/ed >>

I didn't get to see that one! Hope someone knows what the thread was called.

Longacre · August 22, 2007 3:33AM

Great visual thread. Thanks for sharing.

ModernCrapNut · August 22, 2007 4:05AM

I've noticed a big difference in the Kennedy Half over the years also.

Cocoinut · August 22, 2007 4:12AM

JFK's portrait has deteriorated badly over the years as well. Every time the Mint tinkers with it, they make it worse. The hair is cartoonish, and his head has shrunk, and the relief of the coin, like all of the other denominations, is lower. It's sad that the Mint engravers can't do a better job.

Jim

cucurbit · August 22, 2007 4:34AM

<< i saw a thread here while back that showed the same progress with washington on the quarter.. wow... what a difference... anyone want to dig that one up?

/ed >>

It's here but the pictures no longer work.

coinsarefun · August 22, 2007 4:46AM

<< Incredible difference between 1919 and 2003. Like just about EVERYTHING else, they just don't make 'em like they use to. >>

did I forget to say....I agree

Jcarney · August 22, 2007 4:49AM

They've done this to all our coins. Lincoln and Kennedy are the worst. Victor D. Brenner must be spinning in his grave.

SpaceMonkey · August 22, 2007 4:52AM

<< 

<< i saw a thread here while back that showed the same progress with washington on the quarter.. wow... what a difference... anyone want to dig that one up?

/ed >>

It's here but the pictures no longer work.

>>

nice detective work!

now... we just need DHeath to post them back!

/ed

veryfine · August 22, 2007 5:10AM

shylock,
What are a perfect way to illustrate your point. It's a sad reality, isn't it? The washington quarter is a close second. Compare a 1938 to a 1998.

Message to the Mint and its modern engravers:
YOU DO NOT NEED TO CARVE OUT EVERY SINGLE STRAND, COIL OF HAIR AND FACIAL WRINKLE! It shows an insecure and unsophisticated artistic approach. And if you want to keep lowering the relief to the point that it looks like play money, then use more simple abstract designs.

The gold St. Gaudens bullion coins are another example of lame aesthetics. Compare it to the original high relief concept. Of course that relief is impractical today, but I am referring to the detail. St. Gaudens knew that a bolder, more sculptural approach was more visually powerful. Maybe things will change for the better one day, but at the rate we're going, I doubt it.

SeattleSlammer · August 22, 2007 5:44AM

He does look leaner and meaner back in the day.

JRocco · August 22, 2007 10:12AM

His head was in proportion to his chest back then, now his chest bears NO resemblance to a chest.....

In fact, now his head bears NO resemblance to a head either

IGWT · August 22, 2007 10:26AM

A political opponent once accused Lincoln of being two-faced. Lincoln replied, "If I had two faces, would I'd be wearing this one?"

Myqqy · August 22, 2007 10:30AM

I think all modern mint engraving blows, and this sums it up so well...

dpoole · August 22, 2007 10:31AM

I do wonder why the Mint decided to allow this horrendous progression.

It's like architecture. I've always thought it was just as inexpensive to design a build a good looking edifice as an ugly one. What was the exigency that they abandon that elegant earlier portrait??

Neat thread, Shylock!

Connecticoin · August 22, 2007 10:40AM

Victor D. Brenner would be horrified!!

Coxe · August 22, 2007 10:44AM

I think he looks a wee bit more ethnic. (Sorry about my amateurish photoshop.)

drwstr123 · August 22, 2007 10:47AM

Is the style of 'engraving' following society or leading it?

veryfine · August 22, 2007 10:52AM

Lincoln's portrait looks like a crumbled up piece of foil that was flattened out to a low (i mean no) relief.

And what's up with the Kennedy Half? It doesn't even resemble JFK anymore.

21Walker · August 22, 2007 10:54AM

null

Would you not be pissed off if someone shot you in the head????????????........Rick

FK's portrait has deteriorated badly over the years as well. Every time the Mint tinkers with it, they make it worse. The hair is cartoonish, and his head has shrunk, and the relief of the coin, like all of the other denominations, is lower. It's sad that the Mint engravers can't do a better job.

Again, see the first response and also consider he isI no longer composing but rather decomposing..........ln all seriousness, I've noticed the same thing..........Rick

Coxe · August 22, 2007 10:55AM

<< Lincoln's portrait looks like a crumbled up piece of foil that was flattened out to a low (i mean no) relief.

And what's up with the Kennedy Half? It doesn't even resemble JFK anymore. >>

And GW's hair too. I guess the BEP engravers got too idle and just had to mess with them.

veryfine · August 22, 2007 11:02AM

<< 

<< Lincoln's portrait looks like a crumbled up piece of foil that was flattened out to a low (i mean no) relief.

And what's up with the Kennedy Half? It doesn't even resemble JFK anymore. >>

And GW's hair too. I guess the BEP engravers got too idle and just had to mess with them. >>

And they do strange and awkward retooling of the relief where anatomical structure is tampered with. Look at Washington's neck and flattened cheekbone.

coinkat · August 22, 2007 11:04AM

I think Kennedy has become more cartoonish as well.

AUandAG · August 22, 2007 11:09AM

<< man!....he did look good in 1919. >>

Well, duh! He would be a lot younger in 1919 don't ya think?

bob

I do see two different bow ties, three different noses and two different cheek bones plus various hair cuts!

Newcomp103 · August 22, 2007 12:00PM

Yeah....but he's almost 100 years older now!

Connecticoin · August 23, 2007 9:37AM

<< null

Would you not be pissed off if someone shot you in the head????????????........Rick

FK's portrait has deteriorated badly over the years as well. Every time the Mint tinkers with it, they make it worse. The hair is cartoonish, and his head has shrunk, and the relief of the coin, like all of the other denominations, is lower. It's sad that the Mint engravers can't do a better job.

Again, see the first response and also consider he isI no longer composing but rather decomposing..........ln all seriousness, I've noticed the same thing..........Rick >>

21Walker, the link is bad

Hugegut · August 23, 2007 9:57AM

commoncents05 · August 23, 2007 10:22AM

That's why I love Matte Proof Lincolns. The coins show Lincoln in all his glory, are always fully struck, and the matte surfaces are awesome. Colorful MPLs are the best, IMO. Blay's 1919 in PCGS MS69RD is the best looking BS that I've ever seen. His 1916 in 67RD is also very nice.

-Paul

WaterSport · August 23, 2007 10:43AM

He even looked better then when he was having a bad year in 1922. Lets hope they do him justice in 2009!
WS

gargoyle62 · August 23, 2007 12:31PM

Wow, I never noticed. Thanks for pointing this out. The picture comparison was great.

Mercfan · August 23, 2007 12:47PM

I suspect that this degradation of the obverse image is the main reason why I just can't get excited about collecting Lincoln's minted after 1958. Oh well.

And anytime I see an XF or better from pre-1920, it makes my heart go

pb2y · August 23, 2007 2:53PM

Poor old Liberty has been portrayed many ways also.
Flowing hair, matron, petite, silly head, booby head,
sitting, standing, walking, school girl and holding a torch.

firstmint · August 24, 2007 3:45AM

Perhaps the biggest change in Lincoln's portrait occurred between 1968 and 1969. Cladking already posted that he liked the 1969's best.

I remember when the first "S" Mint proof sets came out in 1968. I looked at what was supposedly the finest examples that the U.S. Mint could produce. Honest Abe Lincoln had no beard at all. Apparently, someone at the Mint noticed this as well, because the following year his hair and beard were nicely re-engraved.

What a difference a year makes....

gonzer · August 24, 2007 4:48AM

G**dam* hippie! Where'd his ear go? It's all a Commy, pinko plot!

shylock · August 24, 2007 7:56AM

Cladking has a thing for the 1969 Lincoln design, and I understand why.

It's a dead ringer for the slightly worn down original Brenner Lincolns of the 1930's.

A PCGS MS67RD 1969

Compared to two of the great PCGS MS68RD Thomas Irwin Lincolns from the 1930's:

The best of the Lincoln design came from Brenner's original, even as it wore down.

cladking · August 24, 2007 8:16AM

<< Cladking has a thing for the 1969 Lincoln design, and I understand why.

It's a dead ringer for the slightly worn down original Brenner Lincolns of the 1930's.

The best of the Lincoln design came from Brenner's original, even as it wore down. >>

You're right it is. The bust is also a little smaller and the whole thing seems a little more "compact" so it's not quite as busy.

There are some extremely well struck examples and even the master dies were reworked, I believe. The '68 issue is usually "mushy" but the '69 is usually very distinct.

Lincoln has grown cartoonish through the years

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