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V25 2022 INDEX E-SYLUM ARCHIVE FRONT-FACING VS. PROFILE VIEWSWayne Pearson submitted these thoughts on potential new coin designs while discussing the merits of front-facing portraits and profile views. -Editor Currently, we have a Platinum bullion coin, a dollar coin, and a five cent coin, all three in a front view. The bullion coin, with the Statue of Liberty design, in a front view looks really nice. Starting in 1997, it has now reached 25 years, time for a new eagle reverse design. Hopefully, it will be a better eagle design than the ones being used on the gold and silver bullion coins. 
The dollar coin starting in 2000, is also nearing the 25 year mark. It also uses a front view. However, when compared to the last four one dollar coins, Morgan, Peace, Eisenhower and Anthony, all done in profile, the Sacagawea design DOESN'T even look like a coin. It looks more like a medal. 
And as seen in this picture, the Sacagawea dollar doesn't compare with the profile versions. Before this design was chosen, I supported another Glenna Goodacre profile design. 
This design actually looks like a coin and it fits in with the other profile coins. And I believe it to be as nice as the 1913 Indian Head ‘nickel'. And lest you think I'm picking on the only woman on a coin, I'm not. The Jefferson ‘nickel' of 2006 is also a terrible design. The front view also looks more like a medal. It is quite ugly for a coin. Looking at our beautiful coins of the past, done in profile, front views of people don't even look like they belong in our coin sets. A better Jefferson design would be the 1993 Jefferson dollar design. 
Below is my rendition of a (new) Jefferson ‘nickel' design using the 1993 design, combined with a version from the 1938 contest, using their neck truncation instead of the giraffe neck on the 1994 version. 
I do like the alternate profile designs Wayne suggests, particularly the Goodacre Sacagawea. While the front-facing Jefferson design was new and seemed bold at the time, there are good reasons why coin designers through the ages have preferred profiles. A sculptor could define the reasons more precisely, but my take is that getting the eyes and nose right seems elusive in a front-facing view. It's hard to pull off - they just don't quite look right. -Editor
References:
Wayne Homren, Editor The Numismatic Bibliomania Society is a non-profit organization promoting numismatic literature. See our web site at coinbooks.org. To submit items for publication in The E-Sylum, write to the Editor at this address: whomren@gmail.com To subscribe go to: https://my.binhost.com/lists/listinfo/esylum All Rights Reserved. NBS Home Page Contact the NBS webmaster 
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