WHO IS ANDREW O'CONNOR? He is the Sculptor who, inadvertently, was responsible for the Obverse Lincoln Head design on the 1918 Illinois Centennial (100 year) Commemorative Silver Half Dollar. Before I show you the photo of the Illinois Centennial Commemorative Half Dollar, let us review what we know about this special coin. 1). It was the first souvenir coin issued to commemorate a state's admission into the Union. 2). The reverse was designed by J. R. Sinnock, designer of the Roosevelt Dime (his rendition of the Illinois State Seal). 3). George T. Morgan, designer of the Morgan Dollar, designed the obverse using the head of a Statue of Abraham Lincoln, sculptured by Andrew O'Connor, as the model. The statue is made of bronze and has resided at the Illinois State Capitol in Springfield, Illinois since 1918. O'Connor, an Irish immigrant, studied sculpturing under the capable tutelage of Daniel Chester French (creator of the massive seated Lincoln Statue which dominates the front of the Lincoln Memorial Building which, itself, dominates the reverse of the Lincoln Head Cent's reverse since 1959)! Statue of Lincoln: (showcase.netins.net photo) http://showcase.netins.net/web/creative/lincoln/art/capstat.htm 1918 Illinois Centennial Half Dollar: (coinpage.com photo) http://www.coinpage.com/coin-image-468.html Thought you should know the whole story... Clinker
Hey good Friend... Thanks to you! For a while I thought no one enjoyed this post enough to comment. You made my day! :hug: Clinker
I think that is one of the most beautiful commemoratives that was ever made. I normally dislike the presidents on any kind of coin, but that coin has a beautiful design, both of Lincoln, and the eagle. I'm also impressed at the fact that basically Andrew was a little bit of the inspiration behind the Morgan Dollar! Excellent thread Clinker
I think plenty of people like it I've learned that a lack of replies doesnt realy mean people dont like your post.
Hey, again... Thanks for reading AND commenting on this article post. Comments, like yours, keep this okd guy going! Clinker
