Popular Post RWB Posted March 11, 2022 Popular Post Share Posted March 11, 2022 Just for laughs, here are two of the rejected cover sketches for From Mine to Mint. The first was too literal and also awkward. The second seemed overly harsh and obscure - it's an abandoned silver mine. tj96, GoldFinger1969, rrantique and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex in PA. Posted March 11, 2022 Share Posted March 11, 2022 I like the cover as is. GoldFinger1969 and tj96 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coinbuf Posted March 11, 2022 Share Posted March 11, 2022 I like the second photo. GoldFinger1969 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fenntucky Mike Posted March 11, 2022 Share Posted March 11, 2022 I think an image of Yukon Cornelius throwing his pickax in the air, dislodging a gold nugget, and a medal press below producing 4" Hermey the elf gold medals would have been appropriate. I like the one that was chosen for the cover better than the two above. Good decision. GoldFinger1969 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Neophyte Numismatist Posted March 12, 2022 Share Posted March 12, 2022 I like them all, but I like the original best. Thanks for sharing - that's fun! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post RWB Posted March 12, 2022 Author Popular Post Share Posted March 12, 2022 (edited) On 3/11/2022 at 6:18 PM, Coinbuf said: I like the second photo. The mine photo was also an option for a CD of the Pittman silver dollar production records. But the American Eagle placing a laurel wreath on the British Lion ended up being the better. The image is based on a WW-I Victory poster from the British Museum. Edited March 12, 2022 by RWB GoldFinger1969, Alex in PA. and Fenntucky Mike 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RWB Posted March 12, 2022 Author Share Posted March 12, 2022 (edited) Here's one of the most complicated covers to design. The background image is this one: Illustration: “A Patrol in Action,” by Sgt. Howard J. Brodie, 1944. The graphite and crayon drawing shows soldiers on patrol in the jungle during the World War II Battle of Guadalcanal. On that are illustrations of WW-II experimental pieces using drop shadows to add visual depth.... With title and author text and background shadow over laid on everything else. I really liked Sgt. Brodie's sketch -- full of action and character. I tried many different positions for the coins, including removing them entirely. But every coin person I asked said that the coin images were critical to attracting collector attention....So they stayed. I took care to make sure the two faces visible in the original remained visible in the cover adaptation. Edited March 12, 2022 by RWB rrantique 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woods020 Posted March 12, 2022 Share Posted March 12, 2022 I like the second one a lot. The first one isn’t bad, but I think it would only appeal to those that knew you and wanted to read the book. I don’t know how, but as a fairly prolific author in this space I hope you find ways to make it somewhat appealing to newer collectors and some of the younger crowd. It’s a fine line and I certainly don’t have the answer. We want to push new and young collectors to learn the correct way, primarily through study. In order for that to be successful they need access to the right material. Both informative and not a total bore. A tirade I know but the first image would definitely go against that concept. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fenntucky Mike Posted March 12, 2022 Share Posted March 12, 2022 Roger, who designed the artwork that did make the cover? The only mention of an artist I see is in the acknowledgements, Jane Waldron. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post RWB Posted March 12, 2022 Author Popular Post Share Posted March 12, 2022 (edited) On 3/12/2022 at 8:26 AM, Fenntucky Mike said: Roger, who designed the artwork that did make the cover? The only mention of an artist I see is in the acknowledgements, Jane Waldron. Jane W. designed the covers for Renaissance of American Coinage 1909-1915 and RAC 1916-1921 based on two WW-I Red Cross posters. I did the RAC 1905-1908 cover based on a magazine cover. Jane also offered comments and suggestions on the other book covers including these: Several of the more recent books have "coiny" covers -- ones that feature photos of the kinds of coins described in the books. I'm not a fan of this approach, but it attracts attention of collectors and gives them a better idea of the contents. Edited March 12, 2022 by RWB Fenntucky Mike, GoldFinger1969 and rrantique 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RWB Posted March 12, 2022 Author Share Posted March 12, 2022 On 3/12/2022 at 8:26 AM, Fenntucky Mike said: Roger, who designed the artwork that did make the cover? The only mention of an artist I see is in the acknowledgements, Jane Waldron. If you mean for the WW-II pattern book, I did. Jane gave me some suggestions on the final design -- fonts, positioning, etc. Fenntucky Mike and GoldFinger1969 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conder101 Posted March 13, 2022 Share Posted March 13, 2022 On 3/11/2022 at 11:20 PM, RWB said: But every coin person I asked said that the coin images were critical to attracting collector attention....So they stayed. I took care to make sure the two faces visible in the original remained visible in the cover adaptation. They're probably correct, I never even NOTICED the background sketch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RWB Posted March 13, 2022 Author Share Posted March 13, 2022 On 3/13/2022 at 9:38 AM, Conder101 said: I never even NOTICED the background sketch. I try to tie the cover images to the book's theme and to specific content if I can. In some instances it works and in others it is too subtle or simply not visually distinct. In the following instance, I eliminated everything except the main subject (Anna Williams): rrantique 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoldFinger1969 Posted March 13, 2022 Share Posted March 13, 2022 Anything to say about the SAINTS cover ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RWB Posted March 13, 2022 Author Share Posted March 13, 2022 On 3/13/2022 at 2:12 PM, GoldFinger1969 said: Anything to say about the SAINTS cover ? I had no input. Heritage handled that by recycling their internal book design. GoldFinger1969 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
USAuPzlBxBob Posted March 13, 2022 Share Posted March 13, 2022 I didn't understand the Pattern and Experimental book cover, and I immediately noticed the penny with WAR SERIES. Huh? I don't remember ever seeing one of those! So I got out my Red Book and went to the Lincoln Cent pages. Nothing there. Came back to the Pattern and Experimental cover photo again, and finally put two and two together again. The WAR SERIES was just an idea that stayed as "just an idea." My only excuse is that I wrapped up doing my taxes last week, and they took me around 20 hours over seven days. Still mail them in, but they're a work of art when completed. Last time they'll be difficult as I am no longer on the ACA going forward, and I now get the senior Standard Deduction. GoldFinger1969 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RWB Posted March 13, 2022 Author Share Posted March 13, 2022 "War Series" cent design is from the description of plastic pieces that were produced. No examples are known to have survived. This is the only true WW-II pattern piece. USAuPzlBxBob 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...