Cornelius C. Vermeule
Coins are the one form of art to which every American is exposed, yet of art forms in the United States, coins have been the least respected and understood. This delightful volume, containing well over 400 illustrations, provides the first comprehensive aesthetic appreciation of the American series. Although frequently disparaged by the public, the series is unrivaled in aesthetic richness among modern coinages. It includes such masterpieces as the primitively beautiful coins of the struggling young republic, dignified Neoclassic designs which dominated the nineteenth century, and magnificent gold and silver commemorative medals designed by the leading sculptors of the early twentieth century.
The author traces the development of American coins through the 1960s, discussing their artistic merits, analyzing the influences of the popular arts upon their design, and tracing the inspirations of particular compositions and styles in the other arts, both European and American.