Laura Gardin Fraser

WHO DO you think designed more U.S. coins, James Earle Fraser or his wife, Laura Gardin Fraser? The former is well known to coin collectors for the Buffalo nickel, and he also deserves credit for one side of the Oregon Trail commemorative. His wife, on the other hand, designed either one or both sides of four commemorative half dollars and a commemorative gold dollar. In addition, according to all accounts, she should have been credited with the design of the largest denomination U.S. coin circulating today, the Washington quarter.

Laura Gardin was born on September 14, 1889 to John Emil and Alice Tilton Gardin, who lived at the time in a suburb of Chicago. Laura’s sculpting ability was recognized early, and in this, her mother, an artist herself, encouraged and guided her.

While Laura was still young, the Gardins moved to New York City, where Laura attended high school at the prestigious Horace Mann School, graduating in 1907. From there, she enrolled briefly at Columbia University before studying between 1907 and 1911 at the Arts Students League in the city.

Founded in 1875, the Art Students League was then and still is devoted to studio-based art