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Show THE BLAND DOLLAR. Something About the Fare that is Stamped Stamp-ed I'pon It. There is a curious story about the head of Liberty on the obverse of the Bland dollar. This is said to be modeled mod-eled from tho head of Miss Anna W. Williams, now instructor of philosophy and methods of kindergarten training at the Girls' Normal School in Philadelphia. Phila-delphia. At the time the Bland dollar made its first appearanco, the secret leaked out somehow, and to avoid tho notoriety the most indefatigable efforts wore made to deny the fact, and even to this day it is difficult to get any of Miss Williams' friends who are in the secret to admit it. Her name went broadcast over the land, however, and from almosi every quarter of the globe was deluged with the most flattering offers of marriage. Mus Williams was a student of the Academy of Fino Arts when Engraver George Morgan, who made tho pattern from which the dollar dol-lar was copied, was casting about for a model. Some ladie3 among tho stu-donts stu-donts at tho academy were selectod to pose. The contour of Miss Williams' features was chosen as coming nearest to tho pure Grecian ideal. Beforo tho pattern was finally adopted it was sent to the Academy to get tho opinion of somo artists as to its artistic merits. Tho profile was criticised in several particulars, chief among which was regarded as a too prominent chin. But the authorities at the mint thought it was ono of the most beautiiul types of faces that was ever submitted for the head of a coin, and it was adopted. As to its strong resemblance to the original, origin-al, those who see Miss Williams often-est often-est are best able to testify. It is considered con-sidered a good likeness, but drawn somewhat finer than the living model. Mr. Morgan, by the way, is an Englishman, English-man, and some people insist that he managed to declare his origin in the "Bland"' dollar. By holding the coin wih the date uppermost, and cover the figure with the finger on a line across eye to tho hair, the profile developes a likeness of King George, the chin being his nose. Holding the coin In the same position, and covering the medallion on a line from the base of the cap, the curl of tho hair develops a lion with its nose facing left. From tho Illustrated Il-lustrated American. |