The E-Sylum:  Volume 7, Number 9, February 29, 2004, Article 9

BARBER AND H.H. ZEARING

Relating to last week's mention of a letter to H. H. Mr. Zearing
by mint engraver Charles Barber, Bob Leonard writes: "Mr.
Zearing, a Chicago artist, was the creator of the portrait of
Columbus that Charles E. Barber was told to use for the 1892
Columbian half dollar, according to a letter in the James W.
Ellsworth incoming correspondence archived at the Chicago
Public Library (Ellsworth was a member of the Board of
Directors of the World's Columbian Exposition, held in
Chicago in 1893):

"[Box 3, C] 54. June 30, 1892; typed letter signed, 1 p.
[William Eleroy] Curtis thanks Ellsworth for forwarding the
Van Dyke article and assures him it will not be quoted in any
way until the Century article is published. Curtis writes that he
will only abstract the article for the Catalogue of the U.S.
Government Exhibit at the Columbian Historical Exposition in
Madrid, where the Lotto portrait will be on exhibit. He further
states he will insure the painting for $5000.00 before it is
shipped to Madrid.

Letter also refers to the design of the Columbian half dollar,
and reports that a profile of Columbus' head must be used.
The Director of the Mint has reported that only the H.H.
Zearing (a Chicago artist) portrait, in Curtis' collection, would
be appropriate for the mechanical requirements of the coin."

Clearly Barber was writing to Zearing about a medal to be
produced in conjunction with the World's Columbian
Exposition, or possibly the U.S. Government exposition in
Madrid in 1892. This sounds like at least semi-official U.S.
Mint business, but I suppose a charge that the letter proved
illegal moonlighting increased its value in the eyes of the
cataloger.

Swiatek and Breen, Silver & Gold Commemorative Coins
1892 to 1954, p. 58, mention W. E. Curtis. Curtis
commissioned a Washington, DC, sculptor, U.S.J. Dunbar,
to model a bust of Columbus for the Columbian half, but
Barber rejected it. They do not mention Zearing's connection
with the design. Perhaps more research has been done since
1981?"

  Wayne Homren, Editor

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