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Bedrock of the Community
 United States
11917 Posts |
 David Akers writes Description:
Obverse. Head of Liberty facing left wearing a beaded coronet inscribed LIBERTY. Thirteen stars surround the head, and the date, 1877, is below the bust. Similar in general appearance to the regular double eagle except that the head is wider and the hair is more thick and wavy. Reverse. Eagle with outspread wings wearing a shield on its breast and holding three arrows in its left talon and an olive branch in its right. An ornamental scroll to the left of the shield is inscribed E PLURIBUS and a similar scroll to the right reads UNUM. Above the eagle's head are rays and an oval of 13 stars containing the motto IN GOD WE TRUST. Above the rays is the legend UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and below the eagle is the denomination FIFTY DOLLARS. Comments: The proposal for a U.S. fifty dollar gold piece was initiated in California in 1854. Businessmen in San Francisco sent a petition to Secretary of the Treasury James Guthrie requesting him to authorize the striking at San Francisco Mint of a fifty dollar gold piece of the same shape and fineness as the regular U.S. double eagle. The denomination would greatly have facilitated counting operations in California since no banknotes of any denomination were in circulation there. Guthrie approved of the idea and a measure authorizing a one hundred dollar gold piece (a union) and a fifty dollar gold piece (a half union) was introduced in the Senate by California Senator William Gwin. The measure passed the Senate on June 16, 1854 but was defeated in the House, probably because such denominations were not needed in the East where paper currency was readily available. It was a known fact that two fifty dollar gold pieces of differing designs had been struck at the U.S. Mint in 1877, but R.C. Davis, in his pattern listing of May, 1886 in The Coin Collector's Journal, stated that "of these extraordinary patterns one specimen only, of each variety was struck in gold for the cabinet of the U.S. Mint, but owing to the lack of appropriation they were rejected, and melted up by the Superintendent and Coiner." In 1909, however, they turned up in the collection of William H. Woodin who no doubt had obtained them directly from the Mint. Capt. John W. Haseltine and Stephen K. Nagy of Philadelphia sold both pieces to William Wooding of New York for a reported $10,000 each, a record price at the time. Shortly after his widely acclaimed purchase, Woodin came under considerable pressure from the Government to return the coins to the Mint Collection. In late 1909, he did so and the December, 1910, Numismatist reported that the "condition attending Mr. Woodin's disposition of the pieces, so far as we have been able to learn, have not been stated by those who are parties to the transaction more than it is understood that the matter was consummated to the entire satisfaction of Mr. Woodin." Wooding certainly had good reason to be completely satisfied since in the transaction he obtained an enormous number of patterns from Archibald Louden Snowden, former Superintendent of the Mint, many of them previously unknown to collectors. IN NECESSARIIS UNITAS - IN DUBIIS LIBERTAS - IN OMNIBUS CARITAS THE MAN IN THE ARENA, Theodore Roosevelt at the Sorbonne Paris on April 23, 1910: " It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself in a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat." My coin website: https://fairfaxcoins.com |
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Moderator
 United States
190135 Posts |
Fantastic write-up.  |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
11917 Posts |
 "Here are photos of the only known surviving pattern design by Hermon MacNeil for the 1916 Standing Liberty quarter. If there are any minted specimens out there they have yet to turn up. The photos are of his cast for the design. On the upper step at the base of the wall are two dolphins, one on each side of Liberty's feet. The dolphins represent the Atlantic and Pacific oceans much as they did on the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition gold dollar designed by Charles Keck or Robert Aitken's $50 gold piece. Above each dolphin's tail is a laurel branch symbolic of civil triumph; at the upper rim is the word LIBERTY in letters somewhat smaller and much sharper than on the first obverse. The figure of Liberty differs completely from that on the first design, although she is still semi-nude. She now wears cross-laced sandals in the ancient Roman style and carries a shield embossed with an eagle. The shield covering is also more closely fit and less baggy. A long sash or ribbon engraved IN GOD WE TRUST connects the shield and her outstretched right hand ending near the laurel branch. There is no olive branch of peace, the whole new design being more militant and actively protective. MacNeil was asked to expedite delivery of bronze casts and these were scheduled for delivery on September 9. From this point forward the mint should have made reductions and struck a few pattern pieces for von Engelken and others to examine. But from here to the end of the year official records are silent. No pattern coins are known. Do some exist, hidden in an old cigar box in Virginia or Tennessee? Liberty is walking forward through a plain gate or portal. She holds a partially uncovered shield in her left hand; her right hand holds the end of a sash inscribed IN GOD WE TRUST. To left and right are branches of laurel, symbolic of triumph; below each is a dolphin symbolic of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. At the rim and encompassing all is a cable or chain design emphasizing unity and strength. The graceful figure is in medium relief with somewhat soft modeling to her gown. Lettering is in strong relief, somewhat smaller than on the previous design. Motto letters are incuse and thin on the sash connecting hand and shield. Shield has 13 stars exposed surrounding an eagle. Artist's initial (M) appears below the dolphin on the right." John Thill President Johnson County Numismatic Society IN NECESSARIIS UNITAS - IN DUBIIS LIBERTAS - IN OMNIBUS CARITAS THE MAN IN THE ARENA, Theodore Roosevelt at the Sorbonne Paris on April 23, 1910: " It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself in a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat." My coin website: https://fairfaxcoins.com |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
11917 Posts |
IN NECESSARIIS UNITAS - IN DUBIIS LIBERTAS - IN OMNIBUS CARITAS THE MAN IN THE ARENA, Theodore Roosevelt at the Sorbonne Paris on April 23, 1910: " It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself in a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat." My coin website: https://fairfaxcoins.comEdited by numismatic student
11/16/2017 8:30 pm
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
11917 Posts |
IN NECESSARIIS UNITAS - IN DUBIIS LIBERTAS - IN OMNIBUS CARITAS THE MAN IN THE ARENA, Theodore Roosevelt at the Sorbonne Paris on April 23, 1910: " It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself in a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat." My coin website: https://fairfaxcoins.com |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
11917 Posts |
IN NECESSARIIS UNITAS - IN DUBIIS LIBERTAS - IN OMNIBUS CARITAS THE MAN IN THE ARENA, Theodore Roosevelt at the Sorbonne Paris on April 23, 1910: " It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself in a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat." My coin website: https://fairfaxcoins.com |
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Valued Member
United States
275 Posts |
Excellent read, thank you!
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Moderator
United States
190135 Posts |
Wow, nice run of items today! |
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Valued Member
477 Posts |
One of the most prized pieces in my collection of "Paper" is the guest register from the Franklin House Hotel in Rutland, VT. The Franklin House was THE hotel in Rutland during the stage coach and early rail era. Sadly it burned in 1868 and was never rebuilt. It was located next door to the Rutland County Courthouse and so was home away from home to Lawyers, Doctors, Politicians, etc. The register I have dates from September 1854 - April 1855. Some of the signers include: John S. Pilsbury (Governor of MN) William Y. W. Ripley (Civil War Medal of Honor recipient) Redfield Proctor (Governor of Vermont, US Senator from Vermont, US Sec. of War) Peter Thacher Washburn (Inspector General of Vermont during the Civil War, Governor of Vermont) Marcus P. Norton (The only witness in the Lincoln assination trial who linked Samuel Mudd to John Wilkes Booth prior to the assassination, Inventor and patient attorney who had all his patients revoked when it was discovered he had stolen them from the actual inventors) Etc It contains of 7000 signatures one in particular pertains to the subject at hand Stoddard Benham Colby Register of the US treasury 1864 to his death in 1867 at the age of 51  The page featuring his signature (His is the first signature):  Edited by throughtheireyes
11/26/2017 9:58 pm
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
11917 Posts |
Very interesting. Thanks for sharing!  IN NECESSARIIS UNITAS - IN DUBIIS LIBERTAS - IN OMNIBUS CARITAS THE MAN IN THE ARENA, Theodore Roosevelt at the Sorbonne Paris on April 23, 1910: " It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself in a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat." My coin website: https://fairfaxcoins.com |
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Moderator
United States
190135 Posts |
That is fascinating! Thank you for sharing. |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
11917 Posts |
It's been a little while...  IN NECESSARIIS UNITAS - IN DUBIIS LIBERTAS - IN OMNIBUS CARITAS THE MAN IN THE ARENA, Theodore Roosevelt at the Sorbonne Paris on April 23, 1910: " It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself in a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat." My coin website: https://fairfaxcoins.com |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5029 Posts |
Great and interesting items!
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Moderator
United States
190135 Posts |
Quote: It's been a little while... Yes it has. A good one to revive the topic. |
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Valued Member
Canada
324 Posts |
great info y'all, thank you for sharing
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Replies: 814 / Views: 110,519 |
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Posted 11/13/2017 09:33 am
