1900 Lafayette Memorial Silver Dollar
Mintage of 50,026 with 26 reserved for Assay. Designed and modeled by C. E. Barber and distributed by the Lafayette Memorial Association, Robert J. Thompson, Secretary. Image courtesy of MJ on the NGC Coin Forum.
Approved by Congress on March 8, 1899 and struck in commemoration of the erection of a monument to General Lafayette, in the city of Paris, France, by the youth of the United States.
Design: Obverse: Heads of Washington and Lafayette, Jugate™, overlapping to right; above UNITED + STATES = OF * AMERICA, below: * LAFAYETTE * DOLLAR * All within beaded border.
Reverse: Equestrian statue of General Lafayette to left, holding in right hand sword pointed downward. On base of statue, palm branch with fourteen leaves, and sculptor’s name: Bartlett. Around border: ERECTED « BY « THE * YOUTH « OF « THE * UNITED * STATES « IN * HONOR * OF * GENERAL « LAFAYETTE; in exergue, * PARIS * 1900 * All within beaded border.
In the early part of 1899, the Lafayette Memorial Commission asked Congress to make its Monument appropriation in the form of 100,000 souvenir half-dollars. This idea soon changed to a silver dollar for a souvenir, and the Lafayette Memorial Dollar came into being by the Act of Congress.
According to the Report of the Director of the Mint for 1900, the silver for this issue, consisting of 38,000.875 ounces of fine silver, was purchased in the open market for $23,032.80 (.5955 per ounce). This provided for the striking of 50,000 of these coins at the Philadelphia Mint.
The fact that this Act specified that the silver was to be purchased in the open market is worthy of note because of the special arrangements in the Columbian issues which provided for the coinage from uncurrent subsidiary silver.
* Jugate: Two or more portraits on a coin, medal, or escutcheon (a defined area on which armorial bearings are displayed and which usually consists of a shield).
New York, April 1.-Charles E. Barber, engraver in the Philadelphia mint, is drawing the design for the dollar to be minted by the United States in commemoration of Lafayette. The director of the mint has received a letter from Robert J. Thompson, secretary of the Lafayette monument commission, suggesting that on one side of the coin the faces of Washington, Lafayette, Lincoln, McKinley, and Grant appear and that, if practicable, the signatures of Lafayette and Lincoln be given in fac-simile. On the other side Mr. Thompson suggests the use of the prayer of Lafayette for the United States, which consists of about forty works [sic].
It has not been found practicable to use the signatures of Lincoln and Lafayette, and President McKinley has given positive orders that nothing pertaining to him appear on the coin. The prayer of Lafayette will probably be used.
The proposition to have the outline of the Lafayette monument on the coin has been abandoned. This monument is to be erected in Paris by the Lafayette monument commission will (sic) contributions of patriotic Americans and will be unveiled on July 4th, 1900.
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Bune the Avchbishep of St. Past,
St, Paul, “inn., Se>tember yard,
Wr. ROBERT THOMTS04N, Secretary, Lafayette Kemorial Cumminsicn,
Chi¢ngo, Illes. Dear Sir: -
I beg leave Lo make reply to your enquiry how vest the | interest of Gathslio colleges and parschial echoola may te amakoned in favor of the Ls Fayelte Momorial vreject, and
j sheir co-operation obtained in Lhe due observance of La cae x. Fayette Day. 5? ese
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All you need do, L assure you, is to make your purpose . known either through the publis preas, or thravgh gpecial ; c oylars, to Satholic collemes ang parcchial sehnole and Cath . lio educational institutions, I am certain, will be mest pra
: in lending aid to honor the chivalrous friend of American = independerce, General LaTayctite, and in tusir seal and : 5 practical «efforts towsrds that end they will te SuTpPessed | F mo other Gluss cf gimilar institutions in the vountre.
It is well to teach the youth of America the study of © fever dying eratitude to our country's friends. Gratitude is the virlus of ganerous and great people. Toco often in the hietory of nations does the tribute ef Sratituds remain wo-- Paid. This should meyer be allowed to te said of Amerina,
2.
4 y
= ua Fayette and the soldiera of Franse who accompanied a across the Atlantic geys to America in the deye of ver go1 a need, @id without which, indesd, we may in 211 historig t te 2s¥, Amnrigan indevendence ceuld nek have been won. : ee
|
:
We owe to cur snuntry’s honer to give, ss cauluries go undsn “able evidence of our gretitudr tc France. ao)
In ne mors grautoug manner can thie be done then in er ing #n Americen monument, the tribute of the school vhilar of Ameriog over the grave of La Puyntte,
i, The happy occaaion to erect euch a monument is the - Urivergsal Exposition of Paris, when the whole world Tepresen ’ ‘nr the oanitel city of Francs will liaten to tho story of La Fayette ard Americe*s struggle for liberty, und will =opl the nodle aralitude of the Kepublic of the West to her sis Sepublic of Rurore,
i venture to sey that the most beautiful invident of the Univergal Rxposition of igcp, the incident most auraly leadit to union 4nd friendship »ctween the twe great Tepublicn k world, Will be the sclemn dedication of the Ls Payetie +e ment, on Ametica'’a awn natal day, in the Piopus cemetery of
he,
RY Eon Resvectfully yours, {Signed} JOHN TRILAND, Archbiahep of St. F
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Library of Congress, Printed Ephemera Collection; Portfolio 18, Folder 41a.
Library of Congress, Printed Ephemera Collection; Portfolio 18, Folder 42.
Engraver’s Department, . ~~
Unt of the Mnited States at Lhiladelphia,
Ati aag fore lafire | Darthend) by On beocer) Se Cafayble dant SL nthe cha
SEL . ao
U.S. Mint at Philadelphia, from Charles Barber to the Director of the Mint, Hon. George E. Roberts. Concerning the design of the Lafayette Dollar. NARA RG 104 entry 229 box 092. Courtesy of Roger Burdette.
The translated letter from above:
Mint of the United States at Philadelphia May 23, 1899
Hon George E. Roberts Director of the Mint Washington D.C.
Sir:
In preparing the dies for the Lafayette dollar I propose for the head of Washington to make studies from Houdons head of Washington and also the head on the medal, Washington before Boston by Du Vivier.
For the Lafayette head I have a French medal engraved by Caunois in the year 1824. It is a very fine specimen of the medallic art and therefor I have no doubt is a good portrait.
Very respectfully Chas. E. Barber Engraver
Courtesy of Roger Burdette
Houdoris Bust of Washington
Left image: Die sunk engraved essay of Houdon's bust of Washington. Houdon's bust of Washington was sculpted from life in 1785 and has since provided one of the most recognizable images of our first President. Image courtesy of Ira and Larry Goldberg. Right image: Peter L. Krider’s Yorktown Centennial Medal of 1881. Image courtesy of Heritage Auctions.
Lafayette by Caunois, Bronze, 1824. Honored Lafayette for his service in the American Revolution. Courtesy of Mount Vernon dot org. Gift of Mrs. Lyttleton B. P. Gould, Jr., M. Chapin Krech, Dr. Shepard Krech, Alvin W. Krech, Peter Chapin, Charles Chapin, and Mrs. Charles Merrill Chapin Ill, in memory of Esther Maria Lewis Chapin, 1986. Object Number: M-3207/A-C.
ps whe Blint of the United States at Puiladelphia, Superintendent's Office,
January 8, 1900.
Director of the Mint,
Washington, D. @ Sir:
Referring to the Lafayette dollar coinage, I beg to re- quest information on the subject as follows:
lat.-Is the transaction to be taken up in the Bullion Accounts of the quarter ended December 30th, 1899, or in those of the current quarter (the dollars bearing the impress "Paris 1900") or shall a separate account be rendered?
. 2d.-What disposition shall be made of the bullion received from the Assay Office U. S. New York, in excess of that required for the coinage in question?
3d.-Shall the accounting be in cost or coinage value as regards the dollars manufactured?
4th.-If the transaction is taken up in the Bullion Accounts, shall the coinage be passed through "Silver Coinage Account",or , posted directly to the new representative account, to be known as "the United States"(or an account named by the Department) to which the bullion receivad is to be credited, and the dollars manufactured and forwarded to the Lafayette @ommission, debited?
Sth.e-Are assay coins, annual and special, to be reserved,
and if so, are they to be taken up in the accounts at cost or
(2) coinage value?
Possibly the Department considers this coinage more in the nature of medals manufactured than a regular coinage of the U.S. Tf such is the case, it seems proper that no assay coins should be reserved,or seigniorage declared, and that the avcount sheesh should:be at cost value.
A prompt reply will de greatly appreciated, as I am holding
my accounts of the last quarter open,awaiting your answer.
Very respectfully, —> on LO tee a “es ¥ $ 2: , : A S few A
Superintendent.
RG104 E-229 Box 107
nee |
Bis
M. To send,
Penn. R, R. P isa Pier 28, N.Y 2 New York, 4
,
January aed 2
‘Asks to be furmished with copy of Congressional Lot. regarding the illustration or picturing of a coin AS a criminal act, also de-
Sires certain information With reference to the Lafayette dollar. aa
= .
Mint of the United States,
ries Send ae Pa, 4 escke recast roreacdee d to the Director of the
hae.
Mint and writer 50 advised,
ti rec of the Mint j 3 v- AN 10 1900 | @
| |
_ Henry K. Boyer, Esq., ’ Supt. Mint United States, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,
Sirs | fies Referxing to your letter of the Sth instant, in relation to _ the manner of accounting for the Lafayette dollar coinage, you are Fespectful ly informed that upon Consultation with the Auditor for q the Treasury, the following course has been decided upon. a ee ee is not to enter into your bullion accounts | for either the quarter ended December 31,1899 or the current quarter, but you will render @ separate and distinct account, denominated . - Coinage Lafayette Dollars, Ast March 3,1899 © debiting the account dee the amount and cost of the silver bullion reocived from the
_ Soerintendent of the United States Assay Office at New ‘York, and
| Oreait ing the amount and cost of bullion in the dollars, delivered j the Lafayette Memorial Commission sfiling with your account the
_*8ceipt of the Seoretary of the Commission for the sane, The balance of the bullion received from the Assay Office Z
2 hand, you will purchase at cost (vis +503 per ounce for £99 fine)
RG104 E-235 Vol 311
| . fox subsidiary silver coinage and deposit the amount in the @reaqury to the oredit of the appropriation for “Momment +e Genera) Lafay- _ etbe International Exposition at Paris, 1900*, | The nocounting shall be made at cost value Ab xegards the
doi lata hamufactured and no seigniorage declared, Astay polit for | pest by thb Anansi Assay Commission should be Heserveg, but it will not dé heggssary to forward any 44 thig Burden for spevial
" Respectfully, 4
Geo te Mp tell
Director of the wink, 8
PUnts
Ereasury Department, Buren of ihe Brant,
:
Henry K. Boyer, Esq., : Supt. Mint United States, gir Philadelphia, Pa. , gtr: | "I enclose herewith acooumt of the United States Express Come tiliy for transportation of silver bullion for the Lafayette doller dein- age , from New York to Philadelphia . omnis. = will thank you to certify on the face of the account ree osipt of bullion , and return same to this Bureau. Respectfully, Gag — ae tea Director of the Mint.
RG104 E-229 Box 107
Ay A - Se a‘ 9 r t,
| Dhe int of tite WMnited- States at Philadelphia, BMS 22 Supetintendent’s Office,
January 15, 1900,
Director of the Mint,
Washington, Ds C,
Sir:
Referring to your letter of instructions of the 12th inste, relative to the mode of accounting for the Lafayette dollar coin- age, I beg to request information as to the disposition of the coins reserved for annual assay,after being tested by the Assay Commission.
As the bullion not required for the coinage is to be pur- chased for the subsidiary coinage and its value deposited in the United States Treasury, it seems proper that the assay coins after test and melting, should in like manner be disposed of;thus ieaving in circulation only the amount of Lafayette dollars au- thorized by law.
According to my view, the accounting for the Lafayette dollar coinage should be complete in one account, the rendering of which will of necessity he delayed until after the meeting of the next Annual Assay Commission.
Trusting these views will meet with your approval, and awaiting your instructions,
Very respectfully,
#
/ Superintendent,
RG104 E-229 Box 107
Lhe Brint of the Wnited States at Lhiladelphia, Superintendent's Office,
Jan. 15 ’ 1900,
Director of the Mint, Washington, D. C. Sir: = beg to enclose the account of the United
States Express Company for transportation of silver bullion for the Lafayette dollar coinage- with my certificate thereon, as instructed by your letter of January 12th.
vere respectfully, 7 ai 4
¥Z Ma « : “ + “4 : 3 “ 7 ——— an SE « LS FLAP
_ Baper intendent. (Enclosure. ) / aoe
lidnxy K. Boyer, 3sq-,
leary :
osaiaiae Supts Mint United States,
is philadelphia, Pa: sist
gateering to your letter of the 15th instant, in regard %® WS mennex ef Mocounting for the Lafayette dollar reserved for Panyal Seay ,afver being tested by the Comission, your suggestion ta held avequnt ,for this coinage, open until coins have peen passed upon by the Commission is approved, woen they will be dé- stared ana tpaluged in bullion for subsidiary silver. voinages
Respeotfullys
2 ys , fa a J p —> Git & -- Ab (Ah 4 at tr ee
Director Of the Mls. 's
RG104 E-235 Vol 316
TREASURY DEPARTMENT BUREAU OF THE MINT
Washington, February 341900 hs #3. thimpson, iteg,,
#8 iii >.
Dear Siz; rE E fina Upon omtininat fon of the letter in reference i Larayet :
Mubassy,Pazis, Nth the St280 Depgetnent + nd not from My de teviite, Direoter
Yours trily, o
Vit Che bute Directé> of the mint,
RG104 E-235 Vol 316
TREASURY DEPARTMENT OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY
Washington, February 13,1900
norable
i
: The Seoretary of State. ie
iferring to your letter of the lst instant, enclosing copy
hatch fram the United States Ambassador at Paris: stating
ay e Director of the Mint at Paris had expressed a wish for yotte Memorial déllar for the coin collection of that Mint, ggesting that same be furnished, in view of the courteous
extended li, Slaker, who visited the Mints of Europe un= astruotions of the Department, I have the honor to enclose
ith a specimen of the coin, with the request that you will
mt the same, conveying to the Director of the Paris Mint the
is of this Department for the courtesy extended its representa-
' Respectfully,
TREASURY DEPARTMENT BUREAU ‘oF THE Mint
uf JMeshington,.._ June 14,1008
i |
pls Boyes mages
1h poyers Esqes es
| gupt. Mint united tates, philadelphia, Pe
‘plase infomm this Bureau of
sat the pont, in waion “DAY Respectful ly»
the mumber of Lafayette silver dollars
were, coined.
oad assay, Rave Deen recewee ay ee Me ae Po ae j n 7 él z r
pirector of tne Minte ~20
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ee
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fo ata tl phd :
Carte es
Wea, Chicago, Ill., October 14, 1899.
To the schools of America:
The accompanying souvenir receipt, handed you on this the first anniversary
of the celebration of Lafayette Day by the schools of America, is intended as a certificate
XY of co-operation on your part in one of the most patriotic movements in the history of the country.
It is further an evidence of the success of the undertaking which your participation has made possible,—and the fruits of which should be yours in the benefits following a study of high ideals, such as we find illustrated in the character of Lafayette.
It is hoped the recognition of this day (October 19th) the anniversary of the surrender of the British armies at Yorktown may become permanent with the schools of our country. This was the day on which Liberty arose and said: “The tyrant is vanquished—I am victorious”. A study of the sacrifices of those patriots who pledged their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor to establish the right to govern themselves
can never cease to be a profitable one. Very truly, The Lafayette Memorial Commission.
ROBERT J, THOMPSON, Secretary.
B.44
Library of Congress, Printed Ephemera Collection; Portfolio 18, Folder 42. | was not able of find a souvenir receipt. LG
LAFAYETTE DOLLAR.
OFFICE OF THE LAFAYETTE MEMORIAL COMMISSION
CHICAGO, November 25, 1899. TO THE PUBLIC:
Within the next few days there will be struck at the United States Mint in Philadelphia the most unique and significant coin issued in modern times. It is the Lafayette Dollar authorized by Congress in aid of the Lafayette Monument.
This coin, which is a legal tender dollar, bears upon its face in bas-relief a double medallion of the heads of Washington and Lafayette and upon its reverse a miniature reproduction of the equestrian statue of Lafayette used for the Monument. The inscription on the dollar explains its purpose (struck in commemoration of Monument erected by school youth of United States to General Lafayette, Paris, France, 1900).
The Lafayette Dollar thus serves not only to aid the Memorial work but forms a new and beautiful tie between the two great republics of Europe and America, and therefore the coin must be regarded as an international emblem. It constitutes a most desirable souvenir and memento of the Children’s Monument to the “Knight of Liberty,” the Universal Exposition of 1900 at Paris, and the opening of the twentieth century. The limited number issued will make these coins extremely rare and in very great demand. For each 1500 of our population there is a ratio of but one Lafayette Dollar.
The first coin to be struck of the 50,000 will be presented by the President of the United States to the President of the French Republic. t
Popular subscriptions for these coins will now be entered, and honored in the order received. The price fixed on them by the Commission is two dollars. All orders for coins to be considered must be accompanied by payment in full and be in the hands of the Commission on or before DECEMBER 15, 1899, on which date the popular subscription closes. Drafts, currency or Money Orders will be accepted in payment. Drafts and Money Orders must be made payable to Edwin A. Potter, Treasurer of the Commission.
The Commission reserves the right to limit the number of coins allotted to each subscriber. STUDENTS OF SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES, WHO WISH COINS, SHOULD COMBINE THEIR ORDERS IN ONE SUBSCRIPTION AND SEND IF POSSIBLE THROUGH LOCAL BANK OR EXPRESS OFFICE.
Inquiries and subscriptions for coins to be addressed to Robert J. Thompson, Secretary, in care of American Trust & Savings Bank, Chicago.
THE LAFAYETTE MEMORIAL COMMISSION.
WM. R. DAY, MELVILLE E, STONE, WM. B. ALLISON, CHAS. A, COLLIER, EDWARD EVERETT HALE, EDWIN A. POTTER, W. T. HARRIS, CHAS. G. DAWES, ARCHBISHOP IRELAND, ALEX. H. REVELL, JOHN W. MACKAY, FERDINAND W. PECK,
ROBERT J. THOMPSON,
n° 99.
Library of Congress, Printed Ephemera Collection; Portfolio 18, Folder 43a.
“Superintendent Boyer, of the United States Mint, in this city, at which the Lafayette dollars are to be coined, said today that, although the design and die had been approved by the Lafayette Memorial Committee and the Director of the Mint, he could not tell when coinage would be started. The intention of the committee is to have a ceremony connected with the striking of the first coin, which is to be presented by President McKinley to the president of the French Republic.
The design on the face of the coin represents General Lafayette astride his horse, grasping the reign in his left hand, and in the right holding his sword, the hilt of which is presented. The right hand grasps the scabbard, which rests on the right knee.’ The lettering on the face reads: ‘Erected in honor of General Lafayette, by the youth of the United States.
Where the date is found on the standard dollar are the words, ‘Paris, 1900. On the reverse side are reliefs of Lafayette and Washington. The words read ‘United States of America’ and ‘Lafayette Dollar.’
Congress, at the last session, appropriated money sufficient to purchase silver to coin 50,000 of these dollars, which are to be sold as mementoes of the Paris Exposition, and a mark of good will and appreciation to France for the invaluable service rendered during the Revolutionary War by General Lafayette. The coins are to be sold by popular subscription, the price being $2. The proceeds are to go
toward paying for the erection of a statue of General Lafayette in Paris.”’
“A Coin Commemorating the French Patriot and Washington (From the Philadelphia Public Ledger. ):
The 100th anniversary of the death of Washington was selected as an appropriate day for beginning the coinage of the Lafayette silver dollar, and the first coin of the 50,000 authorized to be struck off by act of Congress was stamped at exactly 11:15 o’clock Friday morning.
This coin, like the Columbian half-dollar, is a legal tender for its face value, but it is not likely to become current as money at any time, owing to the demand for it as a memento, and the still greater demand by coin collectors. It was designed to be sold at a premium for the benefit of the Lafayette Monument Fund, to which school children of the country have already contributed nearly $50,000. The movement originated a little more than a year ago in penny subscriptions by the school children, and was supplemented by the passage of an act to coin a commemorative dollar, uniform in weight and fineness with the standard silver dollar, but of design appropriate to its souvenir purpose.
The monument, which is to be erected in Paris, is an equestrian statue of Lafayette and is shown on the obverse [sic reverse —LG] side of the coin. It was designed by Paul Bartlett, the New York artist, and the design was approved by the Fine Arts Board, of Paris, which passes upon all statues proposed to be erected in that city.
The obverse side bears the heads of Washington and Lafayette, Washington’s being from Houdin’s bust, and the Lafayette’s from the Counois head on a medal made at the French mint. The dies were engraved by Charles E. Barber, engraver of the United States mint, and the coin is pronounced by experts to be a work of great artistic merit.
There was very little ceremony Friday, only a small group of mint officials, members of the Memorial Association and representatives of the press being present. The coin press used was an old one in the mint, and has been exhibited all over the country at international and state expositions. It was made years ago at Merrick’s. It was operated by Miss Gleary.
As the first coin, heated by hundreds of tons of pressure put upon it, was taken from the dies she handed it to Superintendent Boyer, of the Mint, and it was then inspected by the engraver and pronounced perfect. After showing it to Robert J. Thompson, the secretary of the Lafayette Memorial Commission, it was given to Mr. Roberts, director of the mint, who had come on from Washington to be present on this occasion. After placing it in a suitable case it will be given to President McKinley, who will send it to the president of the French Republic.
The Commission has fixed the price of the coins at $2, and Mr. Thompson says that orders for nearly 30,000 of the 50,000 have been received from New York alone.
The price paid for the first Columbian half-dollar issued from the press was $10,000 for the first coin struck off Friday $5,000 has been offered, but not accepted, as it has been determined to give it to the
French president. The press, turning out 80 coins a minute, completed the entire issue on Friday.”2
1 The Numismatist, the Lafayette Dollar, June, 1899, p. 147-149. 2 The Numismatist, Editorial, Editor, Geo. F. Heath. The Lafayette Dollar, January, 1900, p. 18-19.
Lafayette dollar receptacle for first coin struck which was given to French President Loubet. An ornate sterling silver presentation case mounted on an oval rosewood base was created for the first coin; the case was reported as having cost $1,000 to produce. It featured engraved portraits of Washington and Lafayette encircled by wreaths, with a depiction of the allegorical symbols of the United States and France, Columbia and Marianne, respectively, on its lid. The head of an American (Bald) eagle projected from each end of the container, appearing almost as handles. The receptacle’s wood base featured an elaborate engraved shield with the inscription: ‘First Lafayette dollar, presented to the President of the French Republic, M. Emile Loubet, by the President of the United States of America, William McKinley, 1900, A.D.’ Image courtesy of The Report of the Commissioner-General for the United States to the International Universal Exposition, Paris, 1900, VOL |. Ferdinand W. Peck submitted this report to President McKinley on February 25, 1901, p. 172. | couldn’t find who has this. | emailed several Paris Museums-LG
GENERAL PORTER, ROBERT J. THOMPSON, AND THE LAFAYETTE CASKET. PHOTOGRAPHED JUST BEFORE THE PRESENTATION TO PRESIDENT LOUBET
Collier’s Paris Exposition, March 31st, p. 4E, 1900.
Cerna mar taulie to ee
THE SILVER CASKET CONTAINING THE FIRST LAFAYETTE DOLLAR
Collier’s Paris Exposition, March 31st, p. 4A, 1900.
“The ‘Special’ of the Lafayette Memorial Commission, Chicago, Jan. 1. 1900, announces: - The Lafayette Dollars (fifty thousand in number) authorized by Congress in aid of the Lafayette Monument, to be erected in Paris in the name of the American school youth, are now in the hands of the Commission and ready for distribution. . . The price of the coins is $2 each. It is the purpose of the Commission to distribute these dollars as generally as possible, but orders for as many as 500 will be
filled until the first 40,000 are disposed of, 15,000 have been already ordered and paid for in advance.”
3 American Journal of Numismatics, VOL. XXXIV. (No. 3.) Boston. The U.S. Washington-Lafayette Dollar of 1900 by Edmund Janes Cleveland, Editors of the Journal, January, 1900, p. 82.
“The Chicago Times Herald says: Lafayette dollars are now on sale at the American Safety Deposit Vaults. A keg containing 5,000 of the new coins fresh from the mint at Philadelphia was opened yesterday by the treasurer of the memorial commission, E. A. Potter, in the presence of a number of other members of the commission. Hundreds of the bright dollars were spread on a table, and Mr. Potter, Commissioner General Peck, Alexander H. Revell and Robert J. Thompson made brief addresses commemorating the event.
Stored away in one of the strong rooms of the vaults are eight kegs, each containing 5,000 of the memorial coins. The whole issue is but $50,000, and the members of the commission think that the public will not be long in buying the entire amount. The coins are being sold at $2 each, and hundreds were sold yesterday when comparatively few knew that the dollars had arrived in the city. Over 12,000 coins have been sold to people who made application by letter.
The opening of the keg containing the coins was attended with slight ceremony. One of the attendants of the vaults gave the top of the keg a few lusty blows with a hammer, and the members of the commission stood in a circle and watched him. After the wood gave way to the blows Mr. Potter reached in and brought out a sealed bag containing 1,000 of the coins.
President Loubet of France in 1900. Courtesy Wikimedia Commons.
Mr. Peck told of the purposes to which the proceeds of the sale of the coins were to be put, and spoke briefly of the man in whose honor the monument is to be built. He expressed the hope that the coins would prove emblems of union and good feeling between the two great republics of France and the United States. Mr. Revell and Robert J. Thompson spoke along the same lines.
The coin is a legal tender dollar and is a most beautiful example of the designer’s art. It bears upon the face in bas- relief a double medallion of the heads of Washington and Lafayette. Upon the reverse is a miniature reproduction of the equestrian statue of Lafayette used only for the monument. The inscription on the dollar explains its purpose as follows: ‘Struck in Commemoration of Monument Erected by School Youth of United States to Gen. Lafayette, Paris, France, 1900.’
The first coin of the issue struck will be presented by President McKinley to the president of the French Republic. Secretary Robert J. Thompson has been appointed a special envoy to present the coin to President Loubet for President McKinley. He will go to Paris for that purpose some time in February. A casket of gold and silver is now being made in which the coin will be placed.”4
4 The Dubuque Herald, Chance for Home Bank, some Dubuque Institution should obtain Lafayette Silver Dollars, Friday, December 20, 1899.
Lafayette Order Form. Courtesy of Stacks Bowers Auctions.
THE WMITED NTATER rue To Te — PARID EXPOSITION CH 1900. LAFAYETTE MEMORIAL COMM AION,
Lafayette Envelope. Courtesy of Stacks Bowers Auctions.
“DGS Authenticates & Grades Rare Lafayette Dollar Variety.
Virginia Beach, VA. The graders at Dominion Grading Service are excited to announce that they have certified the second known example of this very rare variety. (1 worked at DGS/DLRC during this event. | put the coin in the Holder—Lg). The Duvall 4-E variety was thought to be unique until the discovery of this coin, which has been graded AU58 Cleaned by DGS.
According to John Feigenbaum, President of DGS, the coin has ‘the initial appearance of a mint state coin but the luster is almost too nice and lacks the frosty surfaces of a true mint state. The coin has virtually no wear and has been very lightly cleaned to show evidence of wipe lines upon close examination in proper lighting. The only significant mark on either side of the coin is a 3 mm scratch on Washington’s cheek. Without the mishandling, this coin might have otherwise graded MS63.’
Feigenbaum continued to say that ‘this coin is the perfect example of the kind of collector rarity that we pride ourselves at DGS. Because the coin is lightly cleaned, some of the other grading services wouldn't even examine the coin for variety. At DGS, we appreciate that many great coins may not be pristine, but still benefit from certification. Our affiliation with David Lawrence Rare Coins and DLRC Auctions also gives clients the opportunity to submit the coins and then bring them directly to market. In the case of the 4-E, the client intends to do just that. No other leading firm can offer that full-service experience in house.’
The Duvall 4-E Variety (DGS)
The Duvall 4-E variety is distinctive because of the unique positioning of the olive branch on the reverse. The right side of the branch terminates over the numeral 9 of 1900. All other known varieties see this branch end over the right side of the first 0 in 1900. Prior to the appearance of this coin, the existence of Duvall 4-E was thought to be unique.
The only other known Lafayette dollar of this die variety was sold in August 2007 by Heritage Numismatic Auctions as part of their Signature ANA Auction. (Lot 2090). It was graded MS60 by ANACS and realized $18,400 to a phone bidder. According to the Heritage lot description, that coin was ‘well struck with dusky chestnut, aqua, and plum-mauve patina. Both sides unusually free from marks, particularly on the portraits.’
Based on the description of marks, these are clearly not the same coin.”®
LAFAYETTE DOLLAR
Courtesy of HAMM on the NGC Coin Forum.
5 Dominion Grading Service (DGS) and David Lawrence Rare Coins, Authenticates & Grades Rare Lafayette Dollar Variety, Duvall 4-E Variety is Just the Second Reported Specimen, September 18, 2008. Duvall 4-E Variety is Just the Second Reported Specimen, September 18, 2008.
“Dear Editor:
Frank Duvall’s article in the (Commemorative) Trail [Volume 7, No. 2, page 53, ‘The Lafayette Dollar Varieties’] was really interesting. | am sure Frank knows everything | am about to say here, but | thought | might put together some research | have done over the years, together with Frank’s latest addition. [See Table of Contents for article on this subject]
It would really be nice to know the die variety of the PCGS MS-67 Lafayette dollar from the Larry Shepherd Collection which appeared on the front cover of the Trail. It would also be nice if we could take a population census of the various die varieties owned by our Society members.
Love the journal! All of our officers are to be congratulated for bringing the club along this far. | am the proud possessor of every issue of the Trail.
Fraternally, Bill Van Duzer (R-0468, FL)
Editor's Reply:
Bill, thank you for your letter and for taking time to share your knowledge about Lafayette dollar varieties with our members. The information you submitted appear as an article in this issue of the Trail. As to the Shepherd specimen of the Lafayette dollar, Frank Duvall believes it to be variety 2-C. | agree with you that it would be interesting to develop a population census of die varieties for the Lafayette dollar. Obviously, everyone who is interested in these splendid coins would like to have at hand accurate information about the relative rarity of each of the various varieties. However, the same could probably said about all issues of commemorative coins; there are those of us who ‘love’ this one or that one, and who would dearly like to have more information about our respective favorite coins. At present, our Society is not geared up to handle development of standardized listings of the relative rarity of commems. Instead, we depend upon our members to be the experts, to be the scholars, and to be the authors of articles in our journal and the national numismatic media.
What our Society can do, right now, is to serve as a forum for our members in the pages of the Trail. Additionally, we can serve as a neutral point of communications and put one member in touch with others who share a common interest. In this regard, | recently spoke on the telephone with Frank Duvall about your mutual interests in Lafayette die-varieties. Frank is very interested in this subject and asked me to invite you to get together with him at the forthcoming ANA convention in Orlando.
| have mailed Frank a copy of your letter so that he will be all the better prepared to sit down with you and discuss details of the diagnostics of the Lafayette die-varieties and the relative scarcity of the various obverse/reverse die combinations. Bill thanks again for your contribution to the Trail. | hope you and Frank (and any other Lafayette specialists at the show) can share your thoughts and work together to enhance our knowledge of the splendid Lafayette dollar. BILL, WE EXPECT TO HEAR FROM YOU ABOUT THIS!
(A note for the reader: Frank Duvall won’t be hard to find at the ANA convention — He'll be giving a presentation at our Society meeting at 9 a.m. Saturday, so can find him at the podium! Frank’s talk is entitled ‘A Bizarre Transaction’ regarding a purchase he made of commemorative coins and memorabilia involving. . . but why spoil it? Be there — it will be a talk you won’t want to miss. Also, Frank is planning to exhibit at the ANA convention a display of ten Lafayette dollars including most of the known obverse and reverse die-varieties. A brief description of Frank’s exhibit is included in this issue of the Trail. (for more
information about this exhibit, please see the Table of Contents.)”6
6 The Commemorative Trail; The Journal of the Society for U.S. Commemorative Coins, Lafayette Dollar Varieties, by William Van Duzer (R-0468, FL), Spring/Summer — 1992 (A Double Issue), Volume 8 - #1, p. 22-24.
“There are three (four now-Lg) Lafayette dollar obverse die varieties and four reverse die varieties. These varieties are identified below:
Obverse Die Varieties:
Obverse 1 - The diagnostic for the DuVall 1 is the base of the ‘A’ in DOLLAR is lowered and leaning left.
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Obverse 2: The second obverse die is most easily identified by the re-punched second ‘S’ in STATES.
Obverse 3: The third obverse die has several diagnostics with the most prominent being the re-punching of the ‘AT’ in STATES. Other diagnostics include the stop between OF & AMERICA positioned closely to the ‘A’ in AMERICA. There is also evidence of re-punching of the ‘T’ in UNITED & ‘E’ in AMERICA.
Obverse 4: As described in the Heritage listing for one of the only two known examples of the Duvall 4-E die pair, the diagnostics of the 4th obverse die are: Numerous obverse letters are repunched, including the U in UNITED, the E in STATES, and the C in AMERICA. The CA in AMERICA is widely spaced. Shown below is the 4th obverse die and a close up photo of the recut ‘E’ in STATES.
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Reverse Die Varieties: The reverse dies are all distinguished by examining the position of the leaves and stem of the branch over the date.
Reverse Die A: The tip of the first lower leaf will be over the ‘1’ in 1900. There are 14 leaves and on the branch and the stem points downward towards the last digit of the date.
. RAS Wy Cea ay Or e ‘ a
Reverse Die B: The tip of the first lower leaf is between the ‘1’ & ‘9’ of 1900 and there are still 14 leaves on the branch with a straighter stem curved slightly downward.
Reverse Die C: The tip of the first lower leaf is over the ‘9’ in 1900 and the lower of the 14 leaves lie flat against the stem which is shorter and curved down.
Reverse Die D: The tip of the first lower leaf is over the ‘9’ in 1900 and there are 15 total leaves with the lower leaves being spread away from the stem. This is the only variety that the stem is pointed up.
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Reverse Die E: The tip of the first lower leaf is far to the left between the star & ‘1’ in 1900.
Cornelius Vermeule writes: “America’s second commemorative series consisted of the 1900 silver dollar struck in connection with a statue of General Lafayette paid for in part by the youth of the United States and set up in Paris at the time of the French International Exposition. Barber was again the artist of this novel document of coinage that, unfortunately, emerged as a pedestrian design (fig. 112). The Jugate busts on the obverse were an innovation on American coinage, although European nations had shown kings and queens in this fashion, and a grand numismatic tradition of classical antiquity was followed in that the reverse was copied from a statue.
Like the Column of Trajan on bronzes of that emperor, the statue used by Barber was not the finished work of art but one of the artist’s studies displayed before completion of the commission. Washington and Lafayette was the obverse of the Yorktown Centennial medal of 1881, the period when Barber was just beginning his career as chief engraver in the Philadelphia Mint. Behind this 1881 combination lie Jean- Antoine Houdon’s bust of Washington, made in 1785 and now at Mount Vernon, and a French medal of Lafayette by Francgois-Augustin Caunois, dated 1824. Thus, the first appearance of an American citizen on our coinage, appropriately enough our first president, is connected with the series of busts in plaster or marble by Houdon. By 1932 this tradition had come to have the force of law, and John Flanagan was required to model his Washington after the bust at Mount Vernon for the quarter dollar instituted on the bicentennial of our Founding Father's birth.
The statue of Lafayette was the work of an expatriate American sculptor, Paul Wayland Bartlett (1865- 1925), who also executed a richly composed pedimental group for the House wing of the Capitol. The bronze Lafayette on horseback was to be placed in the Place du Carrousel within the court of the Tuileries palace, where thousands would see it from the windows of the Louvre (fig. 113). Bartlett described it thus:
Lafayette is represented in the statue as a fact and a symbol, offering his sword and services to the American colonists in the cause of liberty. He is shown sitting firmly on his horse, which he holds vigorously. . . Lafayette’s youthful face is turned toward the west, his sheathed sword being slightly uplifted and delicately offered. He appears as the emblem of the aristocratic and enthusiastic sympathy shown by France to our forefathers.
7 Obverse and Reverse Die Varieties, courtesy of Lehigh96 on the NGC Coin Forum. Images courtesy of Heritage Auctions.
His youth, his distinction, his noble bearing, the richness of his costume and of the trappings of his horse—everything serves to emphasize the difference of his race and his education.®
Lorado Taft explained why the figure on the silver dollar, struck on December 14, 1899, differs in some details from the finished bronze.
The statue was desired for the 4th of July, 1900, but the order was given so tardily that it was impossible to have the bronze ready. Indeed, the one-third size model was completed but six weeks before the date of unveiling. A colossal plaster model was therefore prepared and used upon the occasion. That even this could be accomplished in six weeks is remarkable, but the French are at home in such problems. The ‘working model’ was sawed into pieces and distributed in several establishments in Paris; thus the horse and rider developed in various parts of the city at the same time. . . These scattered fragments were brought together only a day or two before the ceremony but
fitted perfectly.?
The Lafayette dollar lacks the quaint, dated appeal of the Isabella quarter dollar or the amusing originality of the Columbian half dollar. Despite the necessity for low relief, the Jugate busts are too linear. The reverse suffers from too much lettering of uniform size. The words PARIS 1900 might have been
enough; at most, the addition of ‘From the Youth of the United States’ would have conveyed the
message.” 19
Charles E. Barber, circa 1910. Courtesy Wikipedia.
“Charles E. Barber Bio: Charles E. Barber was born in London on November 16, 1840, the son of William and Anna May (Coultart) Barber. Coming to America with his family in response to an invitation for his father to work at the Philadelphia Mint in 1865, Charles joined the Engraving Department of the Mint as assistant to his father in 1869. At the time his father was chief engraver, having succeeded James B. Longacre in the post. Following the death of his father in 1879, Charles E. Barber was named chief engraver. He designed many medals, plaques, and pattern coins but is best remembered by numismatists for his 1879 Flowing Hair $4 stella, 1883 Liberty Head nickel, and the dime, quarter dollar, and half dollar of 1892 (the 1892 coinage types having the doubtful distinction of perhaps being the most criticized designs in the history of coin production in America).
In 1905 the government sent Barber on a tour of European mints to study the procedures in use there. Upon his return to Philadelphia he implemented many changes that resulted in the Medal Department of the Mint’s being one of the world’s finest facilities.
On March 4, 1875, he married Martha E. Jones. The union produced one child, Edith (married William T. Moseley of Wilmington, Delaware). Martha died in 1898, and on December 3, 1902, Barber married Caroline Gaston. Charles E. Barber remained chief engraver until his death on February 18, 1917, after which he was succeeded in the post by George T. Morgan.
8 Lorado Taft, The History of American Sculpture, (New York, 1930), 382. 9 Ibid (means same reference as above), p. 382-383.
10 Numismatic Art In America; Aesthetics of the United States Coinage, 2nd edition, Cornelius Vermeule, Whitman Publishing, LLC, 2007, p. 96-98.
Commemorative credits: 1892-1893 Columbian half dollar (obverse), 1893 Isabella quarter (possibly using ideas from a sketch by Kenyon Cox (other opinions on this-LG), 1900 Lafayette silver dollar (copying the obverse from an 1881 medal by Peter L. Krider; the reverse depicted an equestrian statue of Lafayette by Paul Wayland Bartlett), 1903-dated Louisiana Purchase Exposition gold dollars (Jefferson and McKinley portraits, the former copied from a medal by John Reich), 1904-1905 Lewis and Clark Exposition gold dollar, 1915-S Panama-pacific half dollar (obverse and possibly the reverse), 1915-S
Panama-Pacific $2.50 gold (obverse), 1916-1917 McKinley gold dollar (obverse).”"4
Congressional Authorization Act: (EXTRACT FROM) [PUBLIC—NO. 188—55TH CONGRESS]
LAFAYETTE MONUMENT: For the purpose of aiding in defraying the cost of a pedestal, and completing in a suitable manner the work of erecting a monument in the city of Paris to General Lafayette, designed by the Lafayette Memorial Commission, as a feature of the participation of the United States in the Paris Exposition of nineteen hundred the Secretary of the Treasury shall be, and is hereby authorized to purchase in the market twenty-five thousand dollars worth of silver bullion, or so much thereof as may be necessary for the purpose herein provided for, from which there shall be coined at the mints of the United States silver dollars of the legal weight and fineness to the number of fifty thousand pieces, to be known as the Lafayette dollar, struck in commemoration of the erection of a monument to General Lafayette, in the city of Paris, France, by the youth of the United States, the devices and designs upon which coins shall be prescribed by the Director of the Mint, with the approval of the Secretary of the Treasury, and all provisions of law, relative to the coinage, and legal tender quality, of the present silver dollars shall be applicable to the coins issued under this Act, and when so coined, there is hereby appropriated from the Treasury the said fifty thousand of souvenir dollars, and the Secretary of the Treasury is authorized to place the same at the disposal of the Lafayette Memorial Commission, a commission organized under the direction and authority of the Commissioner-General for the United States to the Paris Exposition of nineteen hundred.
Approved, March 8, 1899.
11 Commemorative Coins of the United States; A Complete Encyclopedia, Q. David Bowers. Published by Bowers and Merena Galleries, Inc., Box 1224, Wolfeboro, NH 03894, 1991, p. 692-693.