In 1991, a ground-breaking feature article in Numismatic News confirmed that African-American Harriette “Hettie” Anderson from Columbia, S.C., served as the model for Augustus Saint-Gaudens’ Victory at the lead of the Sherman Monument in New York. She is credited by association as the model for Saint-Gaudens double eagle gold coin (1907-1933) as well.
Now, Saint-Gaudens’, modeled by Miss Anderson in the late 19th century and believed to be unique, is coming up for bid in Heritage Auctions’ Nov. 17 American Art Signature Auction #8145 with a pre-auction estimate of $40,000 - $60,000. Saint-Gaudens is known to have created the in 1897. The catalog () for an exhibit of nearly: “Saint-Gaudens presented Hettie Anderson with a plaster cast of the head, from the early sketch model for the figure – from which this apparently unique bronze was made. The sculptor valued the work and had great admiration for the model, as can be seen from his correspondence and the early manuscript for his Reminiscences.”
