The "Blanche Nevin Comes To Life In Metal" Story

The 2016 Lancaster Red Rose Coin Club Medal

It was an ordinary day.  That time of the year once again when the Lancaster Red Rose Coin Club releases it's commem- orative medal.  The coin club was founded in 1958 and is a very active club with over 200 members.  I was introduced to the club a few years ago by my friend Dale who was the President of the club at the time.  Dale has since moved out of the state and is no longer a member.  This year a bust of Lancaster female sculptor Blanche Nevin is featured on the medal.  Blanche was born in Mercersburg, PA in 1841 and moved to Lancaster when her family moved here in 1855 so her father could become the President of Franklin & Marshall College.  Blanche eventually studied art in Philadelphia, the Royal Art Academy in Venice and at Carrara, Italy and spent much of her adult life writing poetry and creating sculptures.  

The horse drinking fountain

One of her sculptures, that of Revolutionary War General Peter Muhlenberg, stands in the U.S. Capitol's National Statuary Hall Collection.  She has other sculptures in prestigious collections throughout the United States.  A few years ago my grandson and I took photos of the two sculptures that she has made for the city of Lancaster, PA.  At the intersection of West Orange Street and Columbia Ave. stands a sculpture of a fountain where horses could stop and drink and on the other end of town in Reservoir Park on East King Street is the "Lion in the Park" sculpture that she did in 1905. The coin club medal is the 51st annual coin produced and I have written about a few other medals in the past.  The medals have been issued in fine silver (60) and in bronze (110).  A set of one in silver and one in bronze goes for $70 while a single bonze medal sells for $17.  

The "Lion in the Park"

I used to collect coins as a child, but as many other hobbies, I lost interest in it.  Often thought what might have happened had I continued my coin collection into my adult life.  But, I haven't lost any sleep worrying about it!  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.