James Ross Snowden DIR. U.S. Mint asking for new designs in 1853

mrdq · July 10, 2007 12:55PM

What design came out of this circular? Any historians know?

In this Circular he's saying

"The law having imposed no restriction in relation to the devices, the Director abstains from advancing any suggestions on the subject, it being his wish that the designer should be entirely untrammeled in the exercise of his judgment and skill"

CaptHenway · July 10, 2007 1:12PM

Interesting piece. I had not heard of it before.

He may have been trying to embarass Longacre into quitting. Read
Taxay's "The U.S. Mint and Coinage" to see what He had to put up with.

TD

mrdq · July 11, 2007 1:20AM

no guesses? or no historians

RWB · July 11, 2007 2:13AM

I don’t believe any coins or medals resulted from the request. Changes to existing coins were made by Longacre.

denga · July 11, 2007 10:05AM

mrdq Tuesday July 10, 2007

What design came out of this circular? Any historians know?
In this Circular he's saying

"The law having imposed no restriction in relation to the devices, the Director abstains from advancing any
suggestions on the subject, it being his wish that the designer should be entirely untrammeled in the exercise
of his judgment and skill"

***************************************

A very interesting discovery. In mid July 1853 Snowden wrote Treasury Secretary James Guthrie suggesting such
a contest and the idea was approved by Guthrie on July 21. By the 26th the circulars had been prepared and
Snowden duly informed the Treasury that the contest would proceed.

Over the next few months entries were received from numerous artists. On December 29 Snowden notified Guthrie
that “I am not prepared to recommend any of them [the drawings] for coinage.” Snowden went on to note that he
wished to pay the best three artists $30 each for their entries. One of these three was William Barber, later (1869)
to become the chief engraver.

Denga

mrdq · July 11, 2007 1:31PM

GREAT followup Denga, where is that information from?

denga · July 11, 2007 10:23PM

mrdq Wednesday July 11, 2007

GREAT followup Denga, where is that information from?

************

These materials are in the bound volumes of letters received by the
Treasury Department from the mints, which are in the National
Archives. Volume 10, for example, covers the year 1853.

Denga

RWB · July 11, 2007 11:10PM

Most of the Philadelphia Mint materials prior to 1873 are now located in the Philadelphia Center City NARA location. The mint documents were "regionalized" some years ago, and now you have to visit several cities just to see one complete set of correspondence. Treasury Dept records (RG 56) are mostly in College Park, MD but there are others in Philadelphia. US Mint is RG 104.

PS: William Barber joined the staff as assistant engraver in 1865; his son was hired in 1869.

STONE · July 11, 2007 11:28PM

Maybe they were discussing about how they needed to adjust the weights of coins, therefore changing the design of the coin all together would have been deemed appropriate. Although we know that they only added arrows next to the date.

That's my assessment atleast.

Mark · July 12, 2007 1:09AM

That's a really very interesting letter. I guess this was the first time the mint ran a semi-contest with outside engravers for coin designs. Or, does anyone know, did the mint run any sort of contest prior to this letter?

Thanks in advance for answers.

mrdq · March 3, 2009 10:37PM

" The mint documents were "regionalized" some years ago,"

Any idea how many regions there are?

Old post resurrection but I'm back to digging online again.

RWB · March 4, 2009 12:39AM

NARA regional locations (extract). Facilities with significant US mint documents in bold.

Alaska
• Anchorage - NARA's Pacific Alaska Region (Anchorage)
California
• NARA's Pacific Region
• Laguna Niguel - NARA's Pacific Region (Laguna Niguel)
• San Francisco (San Bruno) - NARA's Pacific Region (San Francisco)
Colorado
• Denver - NARA's Rocky Mountain Region
District of Columbia
National Archives Building
(Archival Research Room, Microfilm Research Room)
HABS/HAER Division, National Park Service
(A NARA Affiliated Archives with an Archival Research Room)
Library of Congress Prints & Photographs Division
(A NARA Affiliated Archives with an Archival Research Room)
Georgia
• Atlanta - NARA's Southeast Region
Illinois
• Chicago - NARA's Great Lakes Region (Chicago)
Maryland
College Park - National Archives at College Park
(Archival Research Room, Microfilm Research Room)
Massachusetts
• Boston - NARA's Northeast Region (Boston)
• Pittsfield - NARA's Northeast Region (Pittsfield)
(Microfilm Research Room only, no original records)
Missouri
• Kansas City - NARA's Central Plains Region (Kansas City)
• St. Louis - Archival Research Room in the National Personnel Records Center
New York
• New York City - NARA's Northeast Region (New York City)
Pennsylvania
• Philadelphia - NARA's Mid Atlantic Region (Center City Philadelphia)
Texas
• Fort Worth - NARA's Southwest Region
Washington (State)
• Seattle - NARA's Pacific Alaska Region (Seattle)

DUIGUY · March 4, 2009 1:47AM

Over the next few months entries were received from numerous artists. On December 29 Snowden notified Guthriethat “I am not prepared to recommend any of them [the drawings] for coinage.” Snowden went on to note that hewished to pay the best three artists $30 each for their entries. One of these three was William Barber, later (1869)to become the chief engraver.

Thank Goodness! CM-39 by William Barber 1869

mrdq · March 4, 2009 11:56AM

Thanks RWB

RWB · March 5, 2009 1:07AM

The on-line catalog at NARA does not match the finding aids.

James Ross Snowden DIR. U.S. Mint asking for new designs in 1853

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