Q. David Bowers
"This, in general but concise terms, is the mode of operating, when a new device is to be executed for a medal or coin; but at this point an important distinction exists, and we must separate, by a very marked division, the two branches of the art, that of medal-striking and the coining of money. In the former, repeated blows upon a disc of metal, with intervening annealings, enable a device, of any degree of elevation, to be brought up, as it is technically termed, whilst in the latter we are restricted to a single blow, or action of the coining press, upon the prepared disc or 'blank,' and hence the necessity of much judicious care and skill in the device and engraving as shall give the strongest effect to the coin, with the least degree of elevation; a most desirable object, when it is known that each pair of dies is required to strike off pieces, numbering from 50 to 200 thousand, with as little injury to the face as possible, as any difference in appearance of coin from the wear of the dies is to be deprecated.
"Remarks of importance, in relation to the character of the device, will be introduced in a subsequent part of this communication.
"The foregoing relates principally to the execution of new devices, and it is hoped they are sufficiently explicit to show the vast saving of labor derived from the process in comparison to the old plans of operating, in prosecuting which, the engraver was obliged to dig out the solid metal by slow and laborious means, taking impressions of parts as he progressed in plastic material, and consuming long periods of time, according to the elaboration, or magnitude of the device.
"Equal, if not superior facilities, have been applied to the preparation of the dies for coinage of money; the process in its most improved condition, was learned in the mint of Paris, and introduced by myself into the Mint of the United States, about the year 1836. It is the transfer from an original die, by pressure on a softened steel punch or 'hub,' as it is technically called, a facsimile in relief, which hub, after hardening, is used to strike in soft steel properly prepared, the impressions which, after turning off the superfluous metal, hardening, and tempering, and other preparations, form the ordinary coining dies.
"By the above described process, dies in indefinite and almost unlimited numbers, can be made complete, with the devices, legends and ornaments in perfect similitude, whilst, by the ancient process, they were separate operations, by hand, and, of course, no two could be made exactly alike, requiring skillful die sinkers to approximate to such a condition, if at all possible, whereas the present process needs only the manipulation of skillful mechanics.
"Were it not for the facilities, of which the above is a condensed notice, the four or five hundred pair of dies, now required for the service of the Mint of the United States and its branches, could not be furnished without a very large and expensive engraving establishment.
"When new devices are required, the best talent and highest grade of skill, within the command of the government, should be employed at any cost for its execution in the most perfect style. And, further, I do not hesitate to say, that if artistic talents and skill of sufficient eminence cannot be found in this country, to place our coin in the highest rank of the coin issues of the civilized world, we should look for and employ its aid wherever it can be found.
"The above views are sustained by the usages of the mints of France and England. In the former the original dies or matrices are procured by competition (concurrence),judged and selected by commissioners appointed for the purpose; and, in the latter, since the late reform, by competent artist selected for the purpose.
"Coining dies, it is evident to all acquainted with the subject, as above described, can be procured by the services of mechanics of good ordinary skill; and it is not necessary that they should be diesinkers by profession.
"I will not, I hope, be deemed irrelevant to introduce a few remarks on the mechanical relations and exigencies by which the devices of coins are controlled, and which have a most important bearing on the style and execution of them.
"It has already been said, and now repeated, that the coiner is limited by the nature of the service, to a single blow of the press in striking pieces of money; it is important, therefore, that the design of the device should be so disposed as to give the strongest effect with the least degree of elevation, not only for the purpose of giving the utmost degree of legibility to the impressions on the coins, and thus prepare them to retain their distinctness, during circulation, to the longest period of time, but also to save the dies as much as possible, under the severe usage to which they are subjected.
"Force and strength of expression in a coin are best attained by a judicious outline in strong relief, whilst the general relief is kept as much subdued as possible. In tact, the center of the device should not rise above a plane of which the outline forms the boundary. On the contrary, if a device on a coin rises in the middle it compels a reduction of the outline to faintness, producing a weak and unsatisfactory effect, is hard to strike, is soon obscured by abrasion, and entirely deprives the coiner of the opportunity of polishing the table or plain part of the dies, and background of the coin, the first being the usual technical term, a grave fault very often observed in what, if otherwise executed, would be works of high artistic excellence. The type of the species of relief alluded to, is found in the frieze of the Parthenon, where strong shadows from a bold outline, give the effect of depth by means well understood by the ancients, and of comparatively easy execution.
"The obverse of a coin should bear the strongest device, being the most important side, the reverse must be subsidiary, its bearings should therefore be simple, such as broad letters, a shield, wreath or other ornament in low relief, so that the force of the impression may be concentrated on the obverse. By this disposition the best effect is given to the most important side of the coin.
"The United States Mint labors under a disadvantage in this respect, the most of our pieces having devices on both sides, of equal depths, in consequence of which the force of the blow, and the necessary metal to supply the impression, is distributed between the two sides, thus making both weak, and losing the effect of a more judicious disposition.