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What is up with the what looks like "WA" stamped on coins? I have seen this on a lot of coins.
If the "WA" is you are asking about if on the reverse, under the tips of the wing feathers then they are the coin designers initials, Adolph A. Weinman
Just kidding around. Sorry about that.
But, I do have a serious question. The "Sower" coin is very similar. Designed by Oscar Roty, a leading French Art Nouveau artist, the "sower" design silver coin is considered to be a classic Art Nouveau design.
Did Adolph A. Weinman and Oscar Roty collaborate on any projects?
I didn't find any reference to the two working with each other.
I find that the
Mercury dime, Liberty Walking Half, and the Sower coins to be some of my favorites.
I am sure the argument of the Sower vs Liberty
Walking half dollar has been run to ground somewhere, for many years. I just can't find much of it.
This was about all I found:"
Masterpiece of Art Nouveau Design
Known in France as La Semeuse, Oscar Roty's iconic Sower has been beguiling coin collectors for more than a century! Despite her age she looks better than ever as she sows peace and prosperity for her people. A medalist and grand master of the art nouveau style, Roty designed the fin-de-siècle beauty in 1897, when she sauntered onto several denominations of French coins, including the keystone silver franc.
It is widely believed that Roty's Sower inspired several classic American coin designs, including Augustus Saint-Gauden's $20 double eagle gold piece; Adolph Weinman's famous Walking Liberty half dollar (later recycled for the American Eagle silver bullion dollar); and the U.S.-Philippines silver centavos and peso designed by Melicio Figueroa. The Sower appears to this day on French coinage, both circulating euro coins as well as silver and gold proof commemoratives."
I own some of the different Sower coins, complete Mercury book(working on upgrading), and near complete Walker book (still looking for the right 23S, just need a low grade). They have the classic look to them. They are art work in my hand. Each one with it's different toning and own beauty.
What coin do we have
now that can compare to the art of the Sower or Walker? To me, that answer is none, right now. I hope we change that.
I guess that is why I collect so many commemorative and silver coins from around the world. The
ASE is about the only coin that I can think of that compares. It is a copy of the
Adolph Weinman's design.
I still continue to buy the annual silver Proof set. I collect the
ASE UNC and Proof from each year.
In 80-100 years are the future generations of numismatics going to say "wow look at all the great coins made from 1999 to 2011? I hope the
State Quarters in the silver sets are highly sought after. I suspect they will be. I hope so, I just don't know right now. I hope we get better.
Our coinage seems to has gone from art work to dead Presidents.
rant over
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Posted 09/11/2011 2:42 pm
Here is my 1920-p
20 P
Sunglasses are not needed to view this very worn coin! 
