In total, there are 53 individual programs responsible for the various coins of the the classic US commemorative coin series. Within the series, there are 48 types of half dollars, one quarter dollar, one silver dollar, five types of gold dollars, two types of gold quarter eagles and and one type (in two varieties) of gold $50 coins.
(Note: Some programs included silver and gold coins.)Of the 58 classic-era type coins, women either designed or had a significant design role in 13. Here's a quick survey of these coins (by designer):
Laura Gardin Fraser Laura Gardin Fraser (LGF) is the most well-known of three female designers of US commemorative coins, and is the only woman to have her designs featured on coins of the classic as well as modern era. She was also a prolific medalist, receiving commissions from the public and private sectors. LGF leads the way with four designs used on five different type coins of the classic series:
1. 1921 Alabama Statehood Centennial Half DollarThe Alabama Statehood Half Dollar is the first US coin designed by a woman. (For a look at a couple of women who had the opportunity to precede LGF, check out
Quick Bits #21 - Women Who Could've Been 1st
2. 1922 Ulysses S. Grant Birth Centenary Half Dollar and Gold DollarThe 1922 U. S. Grant Birth Centenary coin program was the first US commemorative coin program to use the same design for two denomination - one silver ($0.50), one gold ($1.00).
3. 1925 Fort Vancouver Centennial Half DollarThe Fort Vancouver Centennial Corporation originally hired Sidney Bell, a "local" artist in Portland, OR, to create the designs for its coin. His efforts were rejected, however, by the Commission of Fine Arts and
Laura Gardin Fraser was brought in to rework Bell's portrait of John McLoughlin (which Bell based on a portrait painting by John Urquhart), to fully develop the reverse design and to create the models for the half dollar.
4. 1926-39 Oregon Trail Memorial Half DollarThe coin's design is the result of a collaborative effort between LGF and her husband
James Earle Fraser (of "Buffalo" Nickel and Norse-American Centennial medal fame). James Earle designed the Conestoga Wagon side and Laura Gardin handled the Native American side; LGF prepared the models for both sides, however.
In addition, LGF's proposed designs for the
Washington quarter were used on the Gold Half Eagle of 1999 to commemorate the bicentennial of George Washington'd death. The same obverse design can also be found on the coins of the new
American Women Quarters Program.
Juliette May FraserJuliette May Fraser did not have an extended association with numismatics; it appears her only foray into the field was with the 1928 Hawaiian (European) Discovery Sesquicentennial Half Dollar. She was born and and raised in Honolulu, HI, and also attended school there until traveling to the mainland for college and art instruction. She returned to Hawaii annd enjoyed a successful professional career as an artist,
1. 1928 Hawaiian (European) Discovery Sesquicentennial Half DollarJuliette May Fraser created the artwork for the designs for the 1928 Hawaiian (European) Discovery Sesquicentennial Half Dollar, Chester Beach handled the sculpting duties.
Gertrude Katherine LathropAnimals were among American artist Gertrude Katherine Lathrop's favorite art subjects. They are central design elements on each of the two US commemorative coins designed by Lathrop: 1936 Albany, NY Charter 250th Anniversary Half Dollar and 1936 New Rochelle 150th Anniversary Half Dollar.
1. 1936 Albany, NY Charter 250th Anniversary Half DollarA beaver is found on the obverse of the coin; it is symbolic of the Albany, NY area's first major industry - the trapping and trading of beaver pelts.
2. 1936 New Rochelle 150th Anniversary Half DollarThe obverse of the New Rochelle Half Dollar depicts a scene involving Lord Pell and the "one fatt calfe" he received as part of the land purchase deal he had made with the French Huguenots (Protestants) who came to the New World to escape religious persecution; New Rochelle was founded in 1688.
Check out
Women Designers: Part II for more.
For more of my topics on commemorative coins and medals, including more about each of the coins presented here, see:
Commems Collection.
Posted 12/19/2022 3:31 pm
Very Informative Read...Thank You.
