AUGUSTUS SAINT-GAUDENS (1848-1907)

Augustus Saint-Gaudens was born in Dublin, Ireland in 1848 but moved with his family to New York before his first birthday. Drawn to sculpting at an early age, Saint-Gaudens left school before the age of thirteen to apprentice for a cameo cutter. While apprenticing, he attended Cooper Union and the National Academy of Design. At the age of nineteen, Saint-Gaudens moved to Europe to continue his studies in Paris and Rome. After studying classical art and architecture, he began to work as a professional sculptor.

When he returned to America, Saint-Gaudens received his first major commission in New York City. In 1881, his statue of Admiral Farragut for Madison Square Garden set a new standard for public monuments. By the late 1890’s, Saint-Gaudens had already created some of his greatest works including a copper statue of Diana and the first of his bronze monuments commemorating President Lincoln.

In 1906, his good friend, Theodore Roosevelt, asked Saint-Gaudens to re-design all of the nation’s circulating coinage in a manner reminiscent of the beautiful ancient coins from Greece and Rome. He began his work on the new, richer designs with the nation’s two largest gold coins, the $20 and $10 denominations.

Saint-Gaudens followed the instructions of the deeply religious Roosevelt closely and designed his new coins without the "In God We Trust" motto. Shortly after the introduction, however, Congress ordered that all coins include the motto.

Unfortunately, Saint-Gaudens died before he could see his designs become minted coins. Mint Director Charles Barber made some minor changes, but coins designed by America’s most acclaimed sculptor are considered America’s most beautiful coins.