Essays for the 150th Anniversary of the Birth of Victor D. Brenner

This volume brings together a collection of research papers first presented at the 2021 Coinage of the Americas Conference. Organized to commemorate the 150th anniversary of Victor David Brenner’s birth, this assembly of scholarship honors one of the most influential figures in American numismatic history. Best known as the sculptor of the 1909 Lincoln Wheat cent—the longest-running design in U.S. coinage history—Brenner was a master of the “Beaux-Arts” style. The papers within this volume offer a multifaceted look at his career, including:

• Deep-Dive Analysis: Detailed examinations of specific, lesser-known medals and commemorative pieces.

• Artistic Evolution: An exploration of how Brenner’s Lithuanian roots and European training influenced his American works.

• Lasting Impact: A critical look at his role in the “Golden Age” of American numismatics and his mentorship within the medallic arts community.

Preface

Introduction
Jesse Kraft
Victor D. Brenner’s Society of the Cincinnati Medal in Context
Patrick McMahon
Railroad-Themed Medals by Victor D. Brenner
George S. Cuhaj
Victor D. Brenner and the 1902 Prince Henry of Prussia Medal
Peter van Alfen
The Path to the Penny: A Study in Victor D. Brenner’s Patronage
Jonathan Kagan
A Song to Brenner: Victor D. Brenner’s A Song to Nature, Public Art, and Sculpture in the Round
Taylor Ruth Hartley
A Trial List of Non-Medallic Sculpture by Victor D. Brenner
Scott H. Miller
“Mr. Brenner Has Made So Many Commemorative Medals”: Collective Memory, Iconography, and Historical Legacy in the Medallic Arts
Jesse Kraft