Q. David Bowers
SINNOCK, John R.
Born on July 8, 1888, in Raton, New Mexico, John Ray Sinnock pursued a career of art and sculpture. He studied at the Pennsylvania Museum of Art and was awarded the Mifflin Scholarship for advanced studies. Later he was an instructor at the museum for eight years. Sinnock joined the Mint staff as assistant medalist and was employed there until his resignation in 1919.
On August 1, 1925, President Calvin Coolidge appointed him to the post of chief engraver, a position which he maintained for the rest of his life. Although most of his professional work was done in connection with the Mint, Sinnock is credited with local murals and decorations. Among the many medals he created was the 1928 congressional medal for Thomas Alva Edison. In 1932 he produced models for the Washington quarter after a design by John Flanagan, but he is best known as the creator of the Purple Heart (1931), the 1946 Roosevelt dime, and 1948 Franklin half dollar.
He was a member of several societies including the Philadelphia Sketch Club, the National Sculpture Society, the American Federation of Art, and the American Artists Professional League. Sinnock died on May 14, 1947, at the Marine Hospital, Staten Island, New York, following an illness of several months' duration. His home address at the time was 2022 Spring Garden Street, Philadelphia.
Commemorative credits: 1918 Illinois Centennial half dollar (reverse), 1926 Sesquicentennial of American Independence half dollar (from design ideas by John Frederick Lewis), 1926 Sesquicentennial of American Independence $2.50 gold.
SOMOGYI, Marika H.
Born in Budapest, Hungary, the daughter of Jeno Harmat and Elizabet Rado Harmat, Marika H. Somogyi was educated at the College of Fine Arts at the University of Budapest and in the United States at the University of California (at Davis) and Mills
College. Her medals have been exhibited worldwide and have included such subjects as Marc Chagall, Sherlock Holmes, Charlie Chaplin, the Statue of Liberty, and Adam and Eve and are part of the permanent collections of the Smithsonian Institution and the Royal Swedish, Judah Magnes, and Statue of Liberty museums. In 1990 she received the Excellence in American Art Medal (awarded annually by the American Numismatic Association). She lives in Berkeley, California. She has two children, Peter and George.
Commemorative credit: 1991 Mount Rushmore silver dollar (obverse; modeled by Chester Y. Martin).
STEEVER, Edgar Z., IV
Edgar Zell Steever IV was born in Pittsfield, Massachusetts on January 27, 1915, the son of Dorothy Gladys (Inglehart) Steever and Miller D. Steever. He attended public schools in Easton, Pennsylvania, after which he went to Deerfield Academy (graduated in 1932), Yale University (B.A. degree, 1936), and the Yale School of Fine Arts (M.F.A., 1941). Among his teachers in sculpture were instructors R.G. Eberhard, George Snowden, Joseph Renier, R.A. Rathbone, and Eugene Savage, and sculptors Brenda Putnam and C. Paul Jennewein.
From 1941 to 1947 the artist was employed in Connecticut by the Laminated Shim Co. (Glenbrook), the Whitney School of Art (New Haven, 1946-1951), and the engraving firm of Schwab & Co. (Bridge-port, 1957-1965). Over a period of time he created portrait plaques and other works which are exhibited at Yale University, The Johns Hopkins University, Columbia University, and elsewhere, and earned scholarships and awards.
After working in industry, teaching, and freelance sculpture work, Edgar Z. Steever IV left Connecticut in 1965 to accept a position as a sculptor-engraver on the staff of the U.S. Mint at Philadelphia, where he worked under the supervision of Chief Engraver Frank Gasparro. Following Gasparro's resignation, the position of chief engraver was filled temporarily for 120days by Sherl Joseph Winter followed by120 days by Edgar Z. Steever IV.
At the Mint he designed and/or modeled many medals including the following subjects: Alaska (reverse); Fulton, Missouri (reverse, with Philip Fowler); U.S.S. Constellation (model for obverse); 1967 Assay Commission (reverse); American Fisheries (reverse); U.S. Weather Service (obverse); 1776-1976 Bicentennial (modeled Frank Gasparro's reverse design); U.S. Navy Bicentennial (modeled Hal Reed's obverse design); Seabees (helped model the obverse, with Philip Fowler); San Diego (reverse); Dartmouth College (modeled the reverse from Rudzicka' s design); Colorado Centennial (modeled the reverse); Diplomatic Courier Service (modeled the reverse); Central Intelligence Agency (modeled the reverse); Golden Spike (designed and modeled the reverse, with some work also by Frank Gasparro); Frank Lloyd Wright (American Arts commemorative medallion series); White House (Historic Buildings series; obverse); Denver Mint (obverse); Fort Knox (obverse); 4th U.S. Mint at Philadelphia, Official Opening (reverse); Red Cross (obverse); Chief Justice John Rutledge (from the Chief Justice series; obverse of this medal and the common reverse for all medals in the series); Joe Louis (modeled the reverse); Missing in Action in Vietnam (modeled the obverse); Boston Customs House (Customs House series; obverse); Young Astronauts (modeled the obverse); Elie Wiesel (obverse); Secretary of the Treasury Henry Fowler (reverse, with Frank Gasparro); Secretary of the Treasury Joseph Barr (reverse); Secretary of the Treasury Donald T. Regan (obverse); Secretary of the Treasury Nicholas F. Brady; Director of the Mint Donna Pope; Louis L'Amour (reverse); Alabama Bicentennial (modeled the reverse); New Orleans 1984 Exposition (reverse; medal never issued as funds were not available); U.S. Treasury Bicentennial (cut the letter-ing); U. S . -Netherlands Friendship (assisted Philip Fowler with the obverse); Lady Bird Johnson (reverse); Director of the Mint Pistol Trophy (set of badges); E.R.D.A. (Nuclear Regulatory Agency; set of badges); and Mint Security Forces (cap badge).
He designed the obverse of a $5 coin for Liberia, the obverse of a one-peso Philippine coin observing Bataan Days, and the reverses of $20 and $50 gold coins for Nationalist China (Central Bank of China).
In a communication to the author; (Letter dated March 26, 1991.) the artist told of another project: "For the reverse of the 1776-1976 bicentennial quarter dollar I was assigned to make adjustments on the model submitted by Jack Ahr. These changes were required by Chief Engraver Gasparro to make the heights of relief compatible with good flow of metal, and included cutting down the fullness of the drummer's right arm, modifying the size of the flame, and altering the tightening ropes on the drum to make it authentic (after reviewing period drums at Philadelphia historical societies). These changes were approved by Headquarters and are not a comment on the overall fine and popular design created by Ahr."
In his personal life he is interested in the history of art (Greek, Renaissance, and Mayan art are specialities), sculpture designs, the principles of aesthetics, and the formal values of composition. He enjoys nature, maritime activities, and classical music.
On May 3, 1941, Edgar Z. Steever IV married Emily Velona Barringer in a ceremony in New Canaan, Connecticut. Mr. and Mrs. Steever have four children: Zell, Theodore, Beaumont, and Sanford.
Commemorative credits: 1986 Statue of Liberty half dollar (obverse), 1989 Congress Bicentennial half dollar (modeled the reverse from a design by William Woodward).