Multiple coins within the classic US commemorative coin series were designed by the same artist (
Laura Gardin Fraser and William Marks Simpson are two artists with multi-coin credits). Gertrude Katherine Lathrop is also a member of this club. She designed/modeled the 1936 Albany, NY 250th Anniversary of City Charter Half Dollar and the 1938 New Rochelle, NY 250th Anniversary Half Dollar.
Lathrop was an artist/sculptor who lived/worked in the Albany, NY area - she was born in Albany. Her selection for the Albany coin by the Albany Dongan Charter Committee was "easy" as she was familiar with the area's history and its beaver fur trading industry. Her design for the Albany is generally well-regarded, though Commission of Fine Arts (CFA) sculptor-member, Lew Lawrie, initially had issues with the small size of "LIBERTY" on the coin's reverse. When the Chief Sculptor-Engraver of the US Mint,
John Sinnock, didn't see an issue with the motto's small size, Lawrie withdrew his objection and the designs proceeded.
1936 Albany, NY 250th Anniversary of City Charter Half Dollar
Lathrop was not the first choice for the New Rochelle, NY 250th Anniversary. She came into the picture when the CFA rejected the New Rochelle Commemorative Coin Committee's coin designs/models developed by Pitt Skipton (Committee Chair) and Lorrilard Wise, a local New Rochelle artist-sculptor.
The CFA suggested the New Rochelle Committee go with an artist with experience designing coins and Lathrop's name and her work on the Albany coin came to the Committee's attention. Lathrop's obverse design featuring Lord Pell and the original "fatt calfe" presentation was accepted by the CFA, as was her fleur-de-lis design for the reverse.
1938 New Rochelle, NY 250th Anniversary
For both coins, Lathrop used live animal models as she worrked up the coin designs. This, no doubt, was a major contributor to the realistic depictions found on each coin.
So there's a two-piece "mini" set of US commemorative coins that share a common designer - Gertrude Lathrop. Both feature excellent, true-to-life depictions of animals central to the history of each city.
For other of my posts about commemorative coins and medals, including a number about the Albany, NY and New Rochelle, NY coins, see:
Commems Collection - follow the US Classic link.
The following links will provide quick access to posts about the designs found on each coin:
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1936 Albany, NY Charter 250th Anniversary, Design Discussion-
1938 New Rochelle 250th Anniversary, Design Discussion
Posted 05/26/2024 09:04 am
