On a scale of 1 to 10, how well do you like Seated coins?

I don't know why Barbers get a lot of knocks. For my eye, they look great in proof or toned.

 

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@Cascade, this is just for you

 

In order to stay on topic, Seated coinage? Maybe 3/10...?





Just kidding... 9/10

 

10 great series in US coinage

 

I like them well enough when they are attractively toned prooflikes with a good pedigree. Usually, however, I'm not a huge fan.

 

I'll go up to 4 for toners

 

I really want to like this post due to the anacs hotel-soap slabs but I just can't do it

 

Are you trying to copy Doug?

 

Haha. That thought did occur to me when I was tying it lol

 

Overall they get a 9. I gave them a 10 but the Russian judge only gave them an 8.
(Olympic humor not political humor don't get upset)

 

I really like the dime.

 

Very low; down in the 2-4 range.
BUT
There is an exception.
I put together a full set of Seated Liberty Arrows at Date coins.
I like things that are off the beaten path.
That is 45 coins and I have them in an NGC Custom Registry Set.

http://coins.www.collectors-society.com/wcm/CoinCustomSetView.aspx?s=19422

 

About 4. The obverse design is too static for me. I like the reverse much better.

The designer attempted a classically stable, triangular composition based on Renaissance paintings, such as Raphael's Madonna of the Meadow, which were becoming available to those in The States studying the field, whether through travel or publications. However, this ordinarily very strong design in a painting didn't translate well, I don't believe, to the format of a coin: there's little eye movement through the design and not much depth to the form of the figure.

Compare the visual energy of the Walking Liberty Half or Mercury Dime obverse to see just how static and rather plain the Seated Liberty figure is (and the same could be said, of course, and has, for Barber's designs).

That's not to say I don't appreciate these issues, though. I appreciate their visual quaintness in an historical sense, particularly the Barbers.


Raphael, Madonna of the Meadow

PS: look at the similarity of Liberty's left arm holding the shield to the Madonna's arm holding the child and also the obvious foot jutting out in the lower right. He likely drew upon this very painting.

 

I think the most artistic seated design is on the patterns of Joseph Bailly, who was an outside-the-mint sculptor. His effort presaged the artistic blossoming of U.S. coinage in the early 20th century. A shame his design never made it into production, but he was up against William Barber, the chief engraver. Unlike St. Gaudens later, Bailly had no powerful political champion to counter the Barber hegemony, so that was that.

Cal

 

Thanks. I've forgotten most of what I've read about the Liberty Seated design. I remember there were at least two designers involved and, based on my knowledge of art history, am assuming that the originator of the seated design had either traveled to Europe or had access to images (engravings or something) of Renaissance masterpieces and was anxious, in designing the coin, to incorporate his expertise. I've modified my above comment to reflect this.

 

Hey @oval_man just curious what the meaning behind your handle is?

 

I love the seated liberty design. But more so on quarters, halves, and dollars. Dimes and half dimes I think it's too much design on a small coin.

As far as Barbers go, I despise them. The only barbers I will get are for a type set. They are always too worn and when they are unc they want more than I'm wanting to pay for them. The design is just too flat. Also Charles Barber didn't like Victor D Brenner, so that factors into my opinion as well.

 

Gorgeous!

 

Don't forget the 20 cent piece! I like them, even though I just have one circulated piece, just had to put in a plug for them.

 

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