The Martha Washington Dime

..... According to "United States Patterns and Related Issues," by Andrew W. Pollock III, the only trial pieces purported to have survived from metallurgical testing in 1965 were the dime, quarter dollar and half dollar equivalent strikes in copper-nickel clad over copper. They are embedded in a block of Lucite displayed at the Smithsonian Institution.

Only four sets are accounted for besides the one that Eagle Numismatoics has. One set was cast in clear plastic for Congress, another set for the Mint director, one for the Smithsonian, and one set that was mutilated for metallurgical examination.

Edward R. Grove, a sculptor, medallist and bank note engraver, is credited with preparing the Martha Washington obverse design. His close friend, Chief Mint Engraver Gilroy Roberts, persuaded Grove to accept a vacant Mint engraver's position in 1962. According to a biographical sketch of the artist in the July 1978 issue of the American Numismatic Association journal, The Numismatist, Grove left the Mint's employ soon after executing the Martha Washington designs to pursue a free-lance career. The test designs were used because of "the technical avoidance by the government of forging their own coins before they were passed into law."

The Martha Washington design features a bust of Martha Washington facing right. In the right field is inscribed MARTHA WASHINGTON, with VIRGINIA above and 1759 below. On the reverse side is a view of Washington's Virginia mansion with MOUNT VERNON below. Inscribed around it is HOME OF THE WASHINGTON FAMILY.

Another Mint engraver, Philip Fowler, is credited with executing the designs for the Mount Vernon reverse. The design features a three-quarters view of the Washington's Virginia mansion with MOUNT VERNON below. Inscribed around is HOME OF THE WASHINGTON FAMILY.

The Martha Washington/Mount Vernon dies were most recently used during metallurgical die trial testing for the Sacagawea dollar.

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