Jim Bisognani: A Review of the Saint-Gaudens National Historic Park

As I return from vacation, I am happy to see that the numismatic world did not suffer in my two-week absence. The very hot weather pattern we enjoyed during our holiday was still very much in play as I began unraveling my numismatic workload yesterday. The first thing I observed is that yellow metal is as hot as the weather. I guess — given that it's mid-July — warm weather is to be expected. However, gold spot is on an even more heated trajectory, claiming new record highs and nearing the $2,500 level... truly amazing!

Now, while on vacation (and as I referenced in my last article), I did try to abstain — or at least limit — numismatic contact. I think I did pretty good. In fact, I only updated a pair of coins during vacation and answered a few emails. Yet, spot metal prices were something that I did track almost every day. I can't help it. I did spend some evenings reorganizing some of my own collection, which was fun and did not interfere with vacation plans at all. It was a very good time, and other than visiting friends and family, there was one special junket to a place that I've wanted to visit for many years.

The destination: Cornish, New Hampshire, and the Saint-Gaudens National Historic Park. The weather was great; it was a bright, sunny day. My Beth was the driver, and my brother-in-law, Bruce, and I were the passengers on this adventure. During the hundred-mile-plus journey to our destination, Bruce — who has been an avid coin collector since his youth — and I talked about Augustus Saint-Gaudens and his sculpting. Of course, we also talked about his monumental numismatic gifts to us all. As we were nearing the park, I admit that I was very excited. I was eager to take it in and consume as much as I could.

We arrived around midday and slipped right in with a gathering of visitors at the beginning of a guided tour of the grounds. We got to see Saint-Gaudens' masterful and historic bronzes.

My personal favorite is the Robert Gould Shaw 54th Regiment Memorial, dedicated in the Boston Common on May 31, 1897. Commissioned by a group of private citizens in 1884, Saint-Gaudens first imagined the work to be a lone equestrian statue of Colonel Shaw. However, Shaw's family strongly suggested that he take a different approach, and the resulting work commemorated not only the regiment's famed colonel Shaw but also the black soldiers he commanded, a truly revolutionary concept for the time.

Although Saint-Gaudens contract called for the Shaw Memorial to be completed in two years, this absolutely astounding 11’ x 14’ bronze took nearly 14 years for Saint-Gaudens to complete as it kept evolving and growing in complexity and detail.

Even then, with the debut imminent, the artist was not truly “satisfied” wanting to make adjustments before the unveiling. The “a labor of love” (as he described it) is truly a masterful work; I spent nearly half an hour taking in the majesty and enormity of the subject. Up close, you can become drawn in by the faces of the historic 54th Regiment as they were marching through the streets of Boston heading off to war, not just fighting for their freedom but freedom for all.

As this article posts, it was exactly 161 years ago at the battle of Fort Wagner that Col. Shaw and nearly half of the 54th Regiment lost their lives on July 18, 1863. Yet amazingly the foundation inscription on the monument erroneously reads “Robert Gould Shaw killed while leading the assault on Fort Wagner July 23, 1863.”

As I finished viewing the various sculpted works of Saint-Gaudens, it dawned on me that there are only two other US coins and one series that we commonly refer to by the name of their designer. The first coin is the 1836-1839 silver dollar, which we refer to as the "Gobrecht Dollar," after the designer Christian Gobrecht. The other is the 1878-1921 silver dollar, which is referred to as the "Morgan Dollar" after designer George T. Morgan. The series is the US minor silver coinage from 1892-1916, which are called the Barber Dime, Quarter and Half Dollar after the US Mint Chief Engraver, Charles E. Barber, who designed them.

Yet, there is only one gold coin that heralds the designer by name: The Saint-Gaudens coin, named after Augustus Saint-Gaudens, is the 1907-1933 $20 Double Eagle. Collectors don't even need to say "$20 coin" or "Double Eagle." As long as someone refers to the coin as a "Saint-Gaudens" or even "Saint," we all know what they mean. Somewhat amazingly, the $10 gold coin designed by Saint-Gaudens is referred to colloquially as the $10 Indian Head, yet the average coindexter knows immediately that we are referring to the 1907-1933 Saint-Gaudens $10 gold piece.

Click images to enlarge.

Yeah, it's true. While most advanced coindexters are aware that Victor David Brenner designed the Lincoln Cent, we don't refer to it as the Brenner. Likewise, the Buffalo Nickel designed by one of the students of "Gus" Saint-Gaudens — James Earle Fraser — isn't referred to as the "Fraser Nickel." Nor do we refer to the 1938-2005 Jefferson Nickel designed by Felix Schlag as the "Schlag," though I might be tempted to start a trend using that moniker...

After touring the Saint-Gaudens home and part of the workshop, I could sense and virtually feel the living history there. The exact execution and perseverance in his works, in many instances taking years or even decades to produce, all took shape in this beautiful, tranquil New England setting. Interestingly — and probably to avoid other distractions — the main house during Saint-Gauden's lifetime never had electricity installed.

The numismatic exhibits and the roster of students who worked with or trained under "Gus" include:

• Bela Lyon Pratt: The designer of the $2.5 and $5 Indian Head gold coins
• James Earle Fraser: The designer of the 1913-1938 Buffalo Nickel
• Adolph Weinman: The designer of the 1916-1945 Mercury Dime and 1916-1947 Walking Liberty Half Dollar, both designed in spirit and homage to Saint-Gaudens
• John Flannigan: The designer of the Washington Quarter and assistant to Saint-Gaudens in Paris and America

And perhaps most importantly, Henry Hering, who was an assistant to Saint-Gaudens in Paris and America. He eventually took over the final phases of the 1907 gold coinage as his mentor's failing health (due to cancer) would not allow him to complete the gold coinage, a task given to him by President Roosevelt.

All in all, quite the registrar of talented individuals who designed many of our most coveted numismatic treasures!

Of course, after reviewing the coins and plasters on display in the museum, I wanted to impart as much information to some of the onlookers as I could. I mean, wouldn't you?

Hey, if time permits, I can heartily recommend a visit to the Saint-Gaudens National Historic Park to any of my fellow coindexters. It'll easily quench some coin cravings, and it makes for the perfect vacation spot.

Until next time, be safe and happy collecting!

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