Commemorative Coins of the United States
Q. David Bowers
1991 Mount Rushmore Anniversary Silver Dollars
Mount Rushmore Commemorated
Under the provisions of the Mount Rushmore National Memorial Coin Act (public Law 101-332, July 16, 1990), 1991-dated coins (including 2,500,000 silver dollars) were authorized to be minted to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the sculpture. (For historical and legislative information see earlier listing under the 1991 Mount Rushmore half dollar).
The Design
Reviewing a design competition involving over a dozen artists, Secretary of the Treasury Nicholas F. Brady, in consultation with the Commission of Fine Arts, made the final selections. For the silver dollar the work of Marika H. Somogyi, a California sculptress, was chosen for the obverse (with the finished model prepared at the Mint by Chester Y. Martin). Depicted was a front view of the sculptures of Mount Rushmore with an olive wreath prominently below.
The winning reverse motif was the work of Frank Gasparro of Philadelphia, former chief engraver of the Mint. Featured was the Great Seal of the United States, surrounded by a sunburst, above an outline map of the continental part of the United States inscribed SHRINE OF/DEMOCRACY. Coins were struck in .900 fine silver.
Commentaries On the Design
Duane M. Olson sent the following opinion concerning the design to Numismatic News.(Numismatic News, December 4, 1990, p. 6.) "The dollar is almost as bad [as the half dollar]. The presidential heads lack a field of reference, a background. There is no depth. While I agree with the fact that the array of four busts must be depicted on one of the coins, I must also say that, based on personal inspection, they are not sus-pended in the sky. It is the background of the mountain that gives them dramatic effect. Mount Rushmore is as much a mountain as it is a work of art; each complements the other. None of that comes through on the coin. Also, why the semi-circular arrangement of leaves? Are the presidential busts Sinking into a lake? A few water lines is all it would take to complete the effect.
"The reverse of the dollar shows no imagination and must be the product of someone who has never visited the Memorial. Why a repeat of the Kennedy half dollar and of the reverse of the Washington-Carver (As the Carver-Washington half dollar was popularly known in 1990.) half, combined on one coin? Is there nothing at Mount Rushmore which would have been more visually captivating? The Avenue of Flags (an extremely popular array of state flags along a pathway) with the mountain in the background would have been quite attractive. An aerial view of Mount Rushmore set against the rugged Black Hills terrain might have been nice. Instead, we get an outline map and yet another eagle."
In a letter to Coin World, R. Futoran commented as follows. (March 27, 1991, p. 5.) The reverse of the Mount Rushmore commemorative is styled in truly classic form by Frank Gasparro. This is the only side of these [Mount Rushmore] commemorative coins that deserves a premium price by collectors .... The U.S. Mint makes vast profits from collectors through commemorative coin series. They should be highly selective and choose only quality, unique, above average designs. Collectors deserve a very special product to qualify paying such high premiums."
In an article in The Numismatist David L. Ganz praised the coin (Charles Logan ( nom de plume of David L. Ganz), "A Numismatic Vision of Mount Rushmore." Article io The Numismatist, April 1991.) Marika Somogyi's design was said to "grace the obverse of the silver dollar." Further: "The reverse of the dollar has a familiar set of initials: FG, for Frank Gasparro, former chief engraver of the Mint. His heraldic eagle is exquisite in detail, the design itself simple in its gracefulness and simplicity."
Minting and Distribution
Silver dollars were minted in Philadelphia and San Francisco and were first distributed in spring 1991. A ceremony presenting the Mount Rushmore coins was held at Ford's Theatre, Washington, D.C., on February 15, 1991, with many dignitaries in attendance.
Advertisements and brochures gave these ordering possibilities for the various denominations. Discounts were given for orders postmarked no later than March 28, 1991. The ordering options below are numbered in accordance with the overall program of 12 options listed earlier in the present text under the 1991 Mount Rushmore half dollars. Those given here are the options which specifically include silver dollars:
(3) Single Uncirculated 1991-P Mount Rushmore silver dollar: $23 pre-issue discount price (through March 28, 1991); regular price $26. Mounted in a protective plastic capsule on a gray velvet tray within a gray cardboard gift box imprinted in silver "United States Mint" on one side of the bottom and with the Great Seal and the silver imprint "United States Mount Rushmore Anniversary Coin" on the lid.