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U.S. Coin pattern (AKA Silver Age)

Manufacturer Central Glass Company (American (Wheeling, WV), 1863 - 1891)

Date1891

OriginU.S.A. - Wheeling, W. Virginia

MediumGlass, pressed

Dimensions2 9/16 × 3 13/16 in. diameter (6.5 × 9.7 cm)

ClassificationsDecorative Arts, Glass

Credit LineGift of Ann and Henry Brunnier. In the Ann and Henry Brunnier Collection, Brunnier Art Museum, University Museums, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa.

Object number3.15.21

Status

On view

Collections

Decorative Arts

CultureAmerican

Label TextCreated in 1891 by the Central Glass Company of Wheeling, West Virginia, these pressedglass dishes feature molded representations of early American coinage, commonly known as the “Silver Age” pattern. The design draws inspiration from the “Liberty Seated” coin series, first introduced in 1839. On the coin’s obverse, the Roman goddess Liberty sits upon a rock, holding a liberty cap atop a pole; the reverse depicts a triumphant eagle clutching an olive branch and a bundle of arrows. The Liberty Seated series was also the first to feature the national motto “In God We Trust,” added in 1866 and retained until the coin’s retirement in 1892. Circulating for more than five decades across multiple denominations, the “Liberty Seated” series became familiar to generations of Americans. Its widespread recognition made it an appealing decorative motif for manufacturers like Central Glass, who sought to enhance their products with patriotic imagery. A related design, as seen in the toothpick holder, was later produced by the United States Glass Company of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, drawing inspiration from another iconic American coin: the “Morgan Dollar”. First minted in 1878 and named after its designer, the “Morgan Dollar” features a female figure wearing a liberty cap on the obverse and a triumphant eagle holding an olive branch and arrows on the reverse. Unlike the Liberty Seated series, the Morgan Dollar has been revived multiple times, briefly in 1921 and again beginning in 2021. Today, Morgan Dollars rank among the most coveted American coins for collectors. https://www.littletoncoin.com/shop/Guide-To-United-States-Coins?srsltid=AfmBOorJdv31SgJ6vhLaSE7nwKtbYVse8U5WJ6BUn6JgMatXcid-cJK https://finestknown.com/morgan-silver-dollar-story/?srsltid=AfmBOorYgJUYOThK9TtbLhf_8r7oH3FNvD0KpVK0gJ1n3KLhEjIziTr

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