Q. David Bowers
MERCANTI, John Michael
Born in Philadelphia on April 27, 1943, John Mercanti was educated at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts (briefly), the Philadelphia College of Art, and the Fleisher Art School. He joined the Mint staff in 1974 and served as a sculptor and engraver. For the American Arts commemorative medallion series he designed the 1982 Louis Armstrong one-ounce, the 1984 John Steinbeck half-ounce, and the 1984 Helen Hayes one-ounce pieces. He also designed the obverse of the Hubert Humphrey medal, the reverse of the Donald Regan medal, and the reverse of the 1986 silver eagle, among other work. In addition to his work for the Mint, Mercanti designed medals for the American Numismatic Association (1989 Pittsburgh annual convention medal) and others and created illustrations for the U.S. Army, Navy, and Marines.
John Mercanti sought nomination as chief engraver of the Mint, which was announced by the White House in 1990. Before confirmation by the Senate he withdrew his name for personal reasons. John Mercanti is married to the former Mary Mancinelli and is the father of two sons, Christopher (born in 1969) and John Vincent (1976).
Commemorative credits: 1983 Olympic silver dollar (modeled the reverse design by Elizabeth Jones), 1984 Olympic $10 gold (obverse modified from a sketch by James M. Peed; reverse in its entirety), 1986 Statue of Liberty silver dollar (obverse; reverse with the assistance of Matthew Peloso), 1989 Congress Bicentennial $5, 1990 Eisenhower silver dollar (obverse), 1991 Mount Rushmore $5 (obverse), 1991 Korean War anniversary silver dollar (obverse), 1991 USO anniversary silver dollar (reverse).
MORA, Joseph J.
Born on October 22, 1876, in Montevideo, Uruguay, the son of sculptor Domingo Mora, Jo Mora (as he was known professionally) came to the United States in his youth. He graduated from the Pingry Academy in Elizabeth, New Jersey, and subsequently studied at the Art Students League in New York City and at the Cowles Art School in Boston. Jo Mora began his career in art as an illustrator for The Boston Traveler newspaper and for various books.
At the turn of the century he wrote (or edited) and illustrated several books including The Animals of Aesop, Reynard the Pox; and Andersen's Fairy Tales. In 1903 he left Boston and headed west to study the ethnology of Navajo and Hopi Indians. In the 1940s his book, Trail Dust and Saddle Leather, was acclaimed as a realistic view of the life of a cowboy. An artist of many talents, he produced many busts, statues, and other sculptures, and also painted numerous dioramas including one of Fremont and Sutter (figures in California history) and one in tribute to the memory of Will Rogers (for the Rogers Memorial in Ardmore, Oklahoma).
In the 1920s he resided in Carmel, California and had a studio in nearby Pebble Beach. Among his notable sculptures are the Cervantes Monument (Golden Gate Park, San Francisco), Doughboy (San Rafael, California), and the Bret Harte Memorial (Bohemian Club, San Francisco).
Jo Mora died on October 10, 1947, in Monterey, California. He was survived by his widow, Mrs. Grace Needham Mora (of San Jose, California), a son, Joseph Jr. (of Monterey), and a daughter, Mrs. Patricia Janzan (of Pebble Beach).
Commemorative credit: 1925-S California Diamond Jubilee half dollar.
MORGAN, George T.
Born in Birmingham, England in 1845, George T. Morgan studied at the South Kensington Art School for two years. In 1876 Chief Engraver William Barber invited him to come to America to join the Mint staff as an assistant engraver. In 1877 Morgan created several pattern half dollars featuring on the obverse the portrait of Miss Anna Williams. This motif was subsequently used in 1878 for the new silver dollar design made under the provisions of the Bland-Allison Act, later known as the Morgan dollar.
Numerous pattern coins and medals were created by him during his 48-year tenure in the Engraving Department of the Mint. He came to know every president from Rutherford B. Hayes to Calvin Coolidge. One of his last projects was the creation of a series of medals depicting the secretaries of the Treasury from Alexander Hamilton onward. In terms of prolific output few Mint engravers ever equaled Morgan. After the death of Chief Engraver Charles E. Barber on February 18, 1917, Morgan was named to that post. In addition to his government duties, he was a member of several art societies and was active in sports, particularly cricket. He was chief engraver at the Mint until his death on January 4, 1925, at his home at 6230 McCallum Street, Germantown, Pennsylvania.
He was survived by his widow and three children-Phyllis Morgan, Leonard P. Morgan (who worked as a chemist at the U.S. Assay Office in New York City), and Mrs. C.M. Graham.
Commemorative credits: 1892-1893 Columbian half dollar (obverse), 1903-dated Louisiana Purchase Exposition gold dollar (Jefferson and McKinley portraits; assisted Charles E. Barber; Jefferson portrait was from Reich's work) 1915-S Panama Pacific half dollar (reverse; with Charles E. Barber), 1916-1917 McKinley gold dollar (reverse), 1918 Illinois Centennial half dollar (obverse; design copied from the head of a statue by Andrew O'Connor), 1924 Huguenot-Walloon Tercentenary half dollar (from ideas furnished by Dr. John Baer Stoudt; Morgan's designs were modified and approved by James Earle Fraser).
O'CONNOR, Andrew, Jr.
Andrew O' Connor, Jr., son of a sculptor, was born in Worcester, Massachusetts on June 7, 1874. He studied sculpture under his father (where he began with the carving of tombstones), Daniel Chester French, John Singer Sargent (in London), Auguste Rodin (in Paris), and others. He won awards at the Pan-American Exposition (Buffalo, 1901)and the Paris Salon (1906). O'Connor created numerous civic statues including one of Abraham Lincoln for the Illinois State Capitol, one of several sculptures he produced of the president. His works were acquired by the Corcoran Art Gallery (Washington) and the Indianapolis Art Association among others. O'Connor's studio was in Paxton, Massachusetts.
Commemorative credit: 1918 Illinois Centennial half dollar (O'Connor was not involved in the production of this coin, but the head of his statue of Lincoln, unveiled in Springfield in August 1918, was used by Chief Engraver George T. Morgan as the obverse design motif).