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 Replies: 44 / Views: 6,498 |
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CCF Master Historian of USA Commemoratives
 United States
12269 Posts |
My Mark Twain gold coin was delivered today. I think the coin features a solid design on each side - the designs nicely fill the available "canvas" without being too busy or having a "cramped" presentation. Well done Benjamin Sowards / Don Everhart (Designer/Engraver) on the obverse and Ronald Sanders / Joseph Menna on the reverse. 2016 Mark Twain Gold Half Eagle - Obverse 2016 Mark Twain Gold Half Eagle - Reverse Collecting history one coin or medal at a time! (c) commems. All rights reserved.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4409 Posts |
Design looks great in uncirculated. I may have to acquire one this year.
-MV
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Rest in Peace
United States
17900 Posts |
Thanks for showing that beauty.
Now I need one.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7390 Posts |
Looks nice. I passed so far though as the silver design is what I want. Love how his stories are jumping off the pages.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
591 Posts |
With all due respect Cascade, I feel the silver coin is a bit of a circus and exhibits much of the same "confusing collage of multiple elements" lamented in this 2010 Numismatic News article regarding recent commemorative coinage in general: http://www.numismaster.com/ta/numis...icleId=11204Apparently the CFA and CCAC have been unsuccessful in elevating the quality of potential designs generated by the US Mint over the last five years - at least as far as this $1 silver is concerned. Though I think the half eagle is an elegant and timeless design, over 3,000 Americans explicitly objected to including the "In God We Trust" motto altogether (as Mark Twain was a noted atheist) - and at a minimum, the US Mint could have (i.e., should have) considered moving that motto to the reverse! Seems in instances like this, the powers that be seem so clueless to the implications of these things. So in the end, does this coin honor Twain with the IGWT motto so front and center next to Twain's head, when it is well known he was an atheist?! https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/pe...ainst-phraseWhile certain mottos have traditionally been placed on the obverse and others on the reverse, there are exceptions and I do not believe there is any legislative mandate for one side or the other. Edited by one_fine_dime
01/19/2016 11:50 pm
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Bedrock of the Community
 United States
12819 Posts |
Thanks for the pics, commems.  This bolsters my resolve to get one of these. It's going to be a toss-up for me which design is better...this or the US Marshals. |
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Moderator
United States
188213 Posts |
I like it. Looks good.  |
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CCF Master Historian of USA Commemoratives
 United States
12269 Posts |
Quote:
.the silver design is what I want. Love how his stories are jumping off the pages. I also think the design of the silver dollar is a good one. I feel the obverse features a strong portrait of Twain and the silhouette of Huckleberry Finn and Jim in the background is a nice touch that calls to mind Twain's literary achievements without distracting from the portrait. The Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC) was complimentary of the design, commenting "the design would create an eye-catching and appealing modern image on the large silver dollar planchet." IMO the characters bursting forth from the pages of a book on the reverse was a creative way in which to help the viewer recall the many literary works of one Mr. Samuel Clemens. The CCAC agreed, noting that the various character images were "visually appealing and appropriately emblematic of his work." Overall, the Committee believed "the pairing of the two recommended designs for the silver dollar coin would produce a very attractive commemorative coin." I agree! My only quibble is that Tom Sawyer was left out. He is certainly one of Twain's most famous characters, so I was surprised that he was not part of either the obverse or reverse design. Anyone up for some fence painting? In any case, I'm looking forward to being able to order the silver dollar and adding it to my collection. Collecting history one coin or medal at a time! (c) commems. All rights reserved.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1913 Posts |
Quote:
over 3,000 Americans explicitly objected to including the "In God We Trust" motto altogether (as Mark Twain was a noted atheist) - and at a minimum, the US Mint could have (i.e., should have) considered moving that motto to the reverse! Seems in instances like this, the powers that be seem so clueless to the implications of these things. So in the end, does this coin honor Twain with the IGWT motto so front and center next to Twain's head, when it is well known he was an atheist?! 3,000 is no big deal at all. One mass email with a link from the Freedom From Religion Foundation could easily get that many people from across the country. I'd bet that very few are actually coin collectors. Besides, if anyone thinks that they actually consider what people post on that website, then they don't understand how the current occupant thinks. whitehouse.gov was overwhelmed with people opposing Obamacare and it didn't matter one bit. An email from a Christian or Jewish group to its members could have easily produced far more objections to IGWT being removed or moved. I think most people will look at it from the opposite perspective. That's how we do our coins these days. If we have to dishonor God in order to honor someone, then most would likely say it's best not to honor the person. My take is that it was definitely smart of whoever crafted the legislation authorizing the coins not to poke that sleeping dog. |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
11951 Posts |
Very nice looking coin.
If I did not have so many sets going on it might be one I would order.
I am working on the silver dollars ... So I hope to be ordering them this year.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
591 Posts |
@Bret - Let me clarify. I was only suggesting that it seems the US Mint could have considered, via the flexibility allowed by the mandated legislation, to put this particular motto on the reverse; that it strikes me as insensitive to the individual being honored (i.e., Twain), that this IGWT motto was placed "in his face" so to speak. Meaning, folks familiar with Twain's personal views are likely saying things like, "he's probably turning over in his grave", when they see this coin. I wasn't meaning to say that some 3,000 people was a lot (not by any stretch), only to point out the fact that a number of people explicitly expressed concern that having this motto on the coin honoring Twain would be a contradiction in light of Twain's well known personal views on the topic. If you refer to Section 4(a)(2)(C), there is no obverse/reverse specificity regarding motto placement; and I believe this language is likely consistent with all commemorative coin legislation. https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/PLAW-...2publ201.pdfWith all due respect, I think your comment " if we have to dishonor God in order to honor someone" is a bit much, considering how the courts have ruled on the constitutionality of such mottoes with respect to the Establishment Clause, in that IGWT amounts to nothing more than Ceremonial deism. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Establishment_Clausehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ceremonial_deism |
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CCF Master Historian of USA Commemoratives
United States
12269 Posts |
Please, let's try to keep this a friendly coin discussion and not turn it into a forum for political commentary.
Collecting history one coin or medal at a time! (c) commems. All rights reserved.
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Forum Dad
United States
24154 Posts |
I see nothing wrong here.
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
1751 Posts |
A stunning design on both sides, I really enjoy the old paddle wheeler. What coin is the size comparable to. I wish the exchange rate wasn't so drastic! The silver design is also outstanding. He is one of my favorite authors. I really enjoy his writing.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
591 Posts |
@pocket change 50 -
these half eagle gold coins are approximately the same size as a US (or Canadian) nickel.
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
1751 Posts |
Wow that is small. An awful lot of fine detail on such a tiny coin. I would like it the size of what I see on my computer screen, in silver of course. I just may need to get the silver, when the cad perks up. I am enjoying reading posts in this forum.
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Replies: 44 / Views: 6,498 |
Posted 01/19/2016 6:39 pm
