Continuing the story of classic-era US commemorative coins designed by a woman...Constance OrtmayerThe award-winning artist/sculptor Constance Ortmayer enjoyed a long career that involved private as well as public commissions, artist management work for the US Government and many years in an academic setting. She was involved, however, in just one US commemorative coin.
1. 1936 Cincinnati Music Center Half DollarOrtmayer contributed the designs for the 1936 Cincinnati Music Center Half Dollar (based on direction from Thomas G. Melish, the man responsible for getting Congress' approval for a coin of questionable merit). Though well-executed on the coin, the design subjects/concepts given to Ortmayer by Melish raise multiple suitability questions.
Brenda PutnamBrenda Putnam was most known for her modern approach to sculptures of the human form (statues and busts), bas relief portraits and small statuettes of animals. She did not have an extensive numismatic resume, with the 1936 Cleveland Centennial Half Dollar being her only coin credit.
1. 1936 Cleveland, OH Centennial Half DollarPutnam's shills as an artist of the human form is well-evidenced in the obverse portrait of Moses Cleaveland, the Founder of present-day Cleveland.
Marjorie Emory SimpsonMarjorie Emory Simpson was a talented artist/sculptor from Maryland. Her talents were recognized at an early age, and earned her a four-year scholarship to the Rinehart School of Sculpture (within the Maryland Institute in Baltimore). She enjoyed sculpting animals, and earned multiple equestrian commissions as a result of her talents in the area. Her US commemorative coin credits include just one, however, the 1936 Norfolk, VA Bicentennial / Tricentennial Half Dollar (which does not include an animal).
1. 1936 Norfolk, VA Bicentennial / Tricentennial Half DollarMarjorie was the wife of William Marks Simpson, and was a co-designer with him of the 1936 Norfolk, VA Bicentennial / Tricentennial Half Dollar.
Enid BellMs. Bell was born in London, England and studied art there at the Glasgow School of Art (1920-21) and the St. John's Wood school of Art in London from (1921-1922); she also simultaneously studied privately under the Scottish sculptor Sir William Reid Dick (1921-22). After moving to the United States, Ms. Bell continued her studies at the Art Students League in New York City (1922-24). She is generally considered an American artist, due to the fact that she moved to the United States fairly early in life and spent her primary professional career in the United States.
1. 1936 Arkansas Statehood Centennial - Senator Robinson Half DollarEnid Bell is credited as the designer of the reverse (Senator Joseph T. Robinson portrait side) of the 1936 Arkansas Statehood Centennial-Robinson Half Dollar; noted sculptor Henry Kreiss created the model for the coin based on Bell's design sketches.
Emily Hanford BatesEmily Bates was an Arkansas-born artist/sculptor. She apparently did not have a prolific professional career - neither in numismatics nor via general commissions - based on the lack of acknowledged commissions. She did study for a time under the noted sculptor, Lorado Taft in Chicago, however, which is an indication that she possesed true artistic talent. She was engaged in creating the Arkansas Statehood Centennial Half Dollars by the Arkansas Honorary Centennial Celebration Commission - the coin's sponsor.
1, 1935-39 Arkansas Statehood Centennial Half DollarsBates created the obverse and reverse models for the Arkansas half dollar models from the respective designs drawn by Edward Everett Burr; the Burr/Bates obverse (with eagle) design was used on the 1936 Robinson coin as well.
Make sure to check out the first part of this survey via:
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Women Designers: Part IMore details about each of these ladies (and others from around the world) can be found here:
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Post Your Coins And Medals Designed By A WomanFor 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 5:42 pm
