Celebrating an American Icon: Adolph A. Weinman
This week marks the birth of one of the most significant sculptors and coin designers in American history, Adolph Alexander Weinman. As a pioneer of the American Coin Renaissance and the designer of the Mercury Dime and the Walking Liberty Half Dollar, numismatists around the world cherish his stunning coin designs. Of course, Weinman did not start out as a numismatic icon, but as an adolescent immigrating to America.
Born during the year 1870 in Durmersheim, Germany, Weinman always showed an interest in the arts whether it was in drawing, sculpting, or any other medium. At a young age, Weinman and his family moved to New York, where he shortly began apprenticing with a man named Frederik Kaldenberg. During his time with Kaldenberg, Weinman learned to carve wood and ivory for items such as pipes and mirror frames.
Soon after his apprenticeship, Weinman attended both the Cooper Union, where he studied sculpting, and the Art Students League of New York, where he studied drawing. When Weinman was 20 years of age, the famous medal artist Phillip Martiny hired him to work at his studio. Not only did this give Weinman a chance to learn about creating medals, but it also allowed him to work on projects that would be displayed in the Chicago World’s Fair in 1893. During his time with Martiny, Weinman built up his repertoire of skills and established a name for himself.
Once he parted ways with Martiny, Weinman sought out another apprenticeship. This new apprenticeship was with the highly revered American sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens, who later became famous in American numismatics for designing the Saint-Gaudens Gold Double Eagle. This apprenticeship lasted for only three years due to Saint-Gaudens relocating to Paris. Finally, Weinman trained with Daniel Chester French, the man who created the famous Abraham Lincoln statue inside of the Lincoln Memorial.
In 1904, after working with some of America’s premiere sculptors and artists, Weinman opened his own studio, where he designed the medal given at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition of 1904. Shortly after, in 1905, Saint-Gaudens and Weinman collaborated to create the inaugural medal for President Theodore Roosevelt.
Weinman’s accomplishments span both sculpture and architecture and include the Descending Night statue for the 1915 San Francisco Panama Pacific Exposition as well as the first Pennsylvania Station in New York. Even accomplishing these huge feats, what remain his biggest accomplishments are his designs for the Walking Liberty Half Dollar and the Mercury Dime.
Adolph Weinman passed away on August 8th, 1952, as one of the most respected and influential sculptors in American history. His creations are still highly revered by numismatists and celebrated as key parts of the American Coin Renaissance. Weinman’s legacy continues to live on today as his Walking Liberty design is displayed as the obverse for the world-renowned American Silver Eagle.
Make sure to check out Rare Collectibles TV’s large variety of stunning Mercury Dime, Walking Liberty Half Dollars, and American Silver Eagles! These coins are sure to make an excellent addition to your numismatic collection!
