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 Replies: 8 / Views: 1,882 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1372 Posts |
Let me preface this question with the fact that, while I could just read up on the history of this coin....I wouldn't be interacting with my friends here...and besides that, somebody (besides me) may learn something about a coin design they didn't even know they were interested in. That said.... Why did they re-design the Half Dime's obverse in 1841, turning the elegantly executed angled shield straight up and down (with far less detail) and fattening up Miss Liberty. She looks quite the lady on 1837 to 1840 coins. Starting in 1841, she looks like an NFL linebacker....or maybe a power lifter. She's definitely bulked up. I've attached images of both designs. Chance   |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1346 Posts |
Hmm. I prefer the second design.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
536 Posts |
I'm not too sure about the "why" but it's possible that the master die/hub (whichever) was overworked and needed replacing. The Gobrecht design was modified by Robert Ball Hughes, a private sector artist, in 1840 to include the shield tilt and drapery under the arm. Actually was on both dimes and Half Dimes, too. Edited by scstrawn
03/25/2018 10:08 pm
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10982 Posts |
Didn't the change occur in 1840 when they dropped the No Drapery motif?
I agree earlier Miss Liberty's presented a trimmer less masculine appearance.
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
1372 Posts |
Could be that it was 1840. It gets confusing when google searching images. They mix dime images with Half Dime images....kinda makes you wonder why you define search terms if they're going to ignore the request and give you whatever they feel is appropriate....even if its a half dollar rather than a Half Dime. Chance |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1372 Posts |
My only criticism of early Miss Liberty...is that she looks like she has the mumps.
Chance
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1475 Posts |
Quote:
I agree earlier Miss Liberty's presented a trimmer less masculine appearance. Someone once stated that in those days, men looked like men, so did women  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3540 Posts |
Early head design was more of a greek/roman influence - which mint was trying to get away from.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
17884 Posts |
I don't know why they changed the shield from an angle to an upright, and they were playing around with the design a lot. And for some reason they decided not stay consistent between the denominations. The seated liberty central device is different on each denomination.
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Replies: 8 / Views: 1,882 |
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Posted 03/25/2018 9:42 pm
