At what point were plaster models of coins commonly used, or was another method employed?
Longacre
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In another thread, an excessively prominent member posted a picture of a plaster model of the Peace Dollar. Does anyone know:
(1) At what point did the use of plaster models become commonplace?
(2) In early times, what other methods were used, or did engraving start immediately rather than using models?
(3) Were plaster models used because of design competitions, or for another reason?
(4) With design competitions, were other methods accepted, such as only drawings, or did competitions designate the only plaster models would be accepted?
(1) At what point did the use of plaster models become commonplace?
(2) In early times, what other methods were used, or did engraving start immediately rather than using models?
(3) Were plaster models used because of design competitions, or for another reason?
(4) With design competitions, were other methods accepted, such as only drawings, or did competitions designate the only plaster models would be accepted?
Always took candy from strangers
Didn't wanna get me no trade
Never want to be like papa
Working for the boss every night and day
--"Happy", by the Rolling Stones (1972)
Didn't wanna get me no trade
Never want to be like papa
Working for the boss every night and day
--"Happy", by the Rolling Stones (1972)
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<< <i>In another thread, an excessively prominent member posted a picture of a plaster model of the Peace Dollar. Does anyone know:
(1) At what point did the use of plaster models become commonplace?
(2) In early times, what other methods were used, or did engraving start immediately rather than using models?
(3) Were plaster models used because of design competitions, or for another reason?
(4) With design competitions, were other methods accepted, such as only drawings, or did competitions designate the only plaster models would be accepted? >>
I would tell you, but I would not want to offend you by being overly "prominent,"
TD
http://macrocoins.com
1918/7 Buffalo Nickel
the first time the mint was able to successfully use their reduction lathe from full size plaster "galvanos" was for the Peace Dollar.
http://macrocoins.com
Ancient. Plaster, clay and wax were in use for medal and coin reductions from 17th Century (earlier?) through the 1950s.
(2) In early times, what other methods were used, or did engraving start immediately rather than using models?
Depends on how early…. Early reduction lathes could only do rough out of large design elements, but quickly improved.
The Roman's sent clay busts of the new emperors to the mints so die cutters could get the likeness right.
(3) Were plaster models used because of design competitions, or for another reason?
They were and are easy for the sculptors to manipulate. They can also be copied so the same basic design can be modified to suit client instructions.
(4) With design competitions, were other methods accepted, such as only drawings, or did competitions designate the only plaster models would be accepted?
Most only accepted plaster models, largely to weed out people with limited sculptural skill. (Now we hire them for the AIP.)
“The Janvier Premiers and Philly Fails
[1] “The Mint purchased a new Janvier Reducing Lathe in 1907, but didn’t actually use it successfully until late in 1920! The new machine was capable of reducing in size a model design of approximately 12 to 16 inches in size (what is called a Galvano) to the exact size of a die needed to strike the actual coin.
[2] “The Mint first tried the direct reduction in 1907 on Augustus St. Gaudens’ new $20 Double Eagle design. Due to unknown technical problems, they were unable To do it. It seemed the Mint could not get the Janvier to operate properly and correctly and satisfactorily cut on a direct reduction from a larger-size Galvano. They scrapped the direct reduction process and fell back to a compromise position.
[3] “As a consequence, Brenner's Lincoln Cent, Frasier’s Buffalo Nickel, Weinman's Winged Liberty Head Dime, and Macneil's Standing Liberty Quarter (to name a few) were all reduced outside the Mint to a more manageable 9 inch size by the Medallic Art Company located in New York, NY. From this point, the Janvier was able to successfully reduce the size to the exact dimension needed to produce dies for coinage.
[4] “The first coin that The Mint was able to fully re-produce (without the outside reduction) on the Janvier goes to Anthony De Francisci’s 1921 Peace Dollar. It took the Mint 14 years to master the use of the new Janvier Reducing Machine. One year short of 100, the Janvier is still in use today. It must have been a heck of a complicated piece of equipment!”
[1] & [2]
The mint bought its Janvier lathe in Nov 1906. It was used successfully to make the EHR normal and small size reductions, and the 1906 pattern $20 reductions. Barber & Morgan did the rather poor 1906 reductions and Henri Weil (later of Medallic Art Co. fame) came to the mint and helped them make good reductions and dies from Saint-Gaudens’ plaster models. No “galvanos” or “electrotypes” were made.
[3]
This paragraph is almost completely false. Pratt’s half eagle design was reduced from plaster models by Barber. The first Lincoln cent reductions were made from casts by Medallic Art, but the final ones for use were from composite electrotypes made by Barber. Buffalo nickel steel reductions were made by Medallic Art, with the final version cut by Barber from Fraser’s plaster model (using the MACO product as a guide). The three 1916 coins were all reduced from bronze casts about 5” in diameter made outside the Mint – likely by Tiffany & Co. Original plaster models were about 9-inches.
[4]
Peace dollar reductions were made from bronze casts provided by Jim Fraser to Morgan. Some detail was lost, but not as much as collectors used to think. (Photos of the obverse cast exist.) Mechanical reduction lathes are no longer used by most large mints.
http://macrocoins.com