Expert: PAPAJACK - 7/10/2009

Question
on the back, of the penny the phrase, "UNITED STATES oF AMERICA" and the way the word "of" is written,  why is the letter "o" in small case and the letter "F" in upper case? just curious. thanks

Answer
Hello Herb,

Frank Gasparro is the sculptor (or MEDALIST)  that did the design for the 1959 reverse for the Lincoln Cent.
It was in honor of the 150th anniversary of Lincoln's birth, the reverse design was changed to the Lincoln Memorial as depicted by U.S. Mint Chief Engraver Frank Gasparro. Lincoln is the first person to have his image on both sides of the coin, since a statue of him is visible inside the Lincoln Memorial. Unlike the portraits on other denominations, Lincoln's portrait on the one cent coin faces right. This is simply due to the portrait used to create the engraving.

The designers all get to use their own artistic license in their designs and as in this, the case of the smaller letter "o". There is no real reason or article of law that places demands on the medalists’ choices.

I mean to say the designers get ARTISTIC LICENSE for the design and approval from the coin committee. Also Gasparro did get to design the memorial reverse while still working for the mint.

Things like the Motto's "Liberty - In God We Trust and E Pluribus Unum "
are all required by law to be on all US coinage above a dime in value as well as the eagle on the reverse of each coin from .20¢  to $50.00 dollars.

How each artist/medalist gets the mandated mottos there is their own choice as long as it is approved by the treasury department.

For example, In the case of the new state quarter program the coin advisory committee allowed the moving of the date to the reverse and relocating the mottos on the coin. .

Is there any more information you require on this question?

Good Luck

PapaJack