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Article: Frank Gasparro Dies; Coin Designer at Mint
- Article from:
- The Washington Post
- Article date:
- October 4, 2001
- Author:
CopyrightThis material is published under license from the Washington Post. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Washington Post. (Hide copyright information)
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Frank Gasparro, 92, who took pride in his design of the "tails"
side of the current penny, as well as commemorative coins and both
sides of the Susan B. Anthony dollar, and who served as chief
engraver of the U.S. Mint from 1965 to 1981, died Sept. 29 at a
hospital in Havertown, Pa. He died of complications from a fall.
The classically trained Mr. Gasparro was among more than 20 mint
employees who suggested designs for the reverse side of the Lincoln
penny when the 50-year mark for replacing it arrived in 1959.
His straight-on image of the Lincoln Memorial won out, replacing
the earlier image of two sheaves of wheat, and his initials were
engraved near the hedges that appear on the penny, on ...