Selma Burke and the Controversy of the Roosevelt Dime
The Roosevelt dime, the smallest coin in U.S. circulation, holds within its design a story of controversy and conflicting claims. At the center of this controversy is the question of who truly deserves credit for the sculpting of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s likeness on the coin. While John Sinnock, the U.S. Mint’s Chief Engraver from 1925 to 1947, is officially credited with the design, a compelling case has been made for Selma Burke, the renowned Harlem Renaissance sculptor, as the true inspiration behind the profile.
Selma Burke’s encounter with President Roosevelt in 1944 marked the beginning of a series of events that would eventually lead to the creation of the Roosevelt dime. Commissioned to sculpt the president’s likeness for the new Recorder of Deeds Building in Washington, D.C., Burke sought to capture Roosevelt’s stature in a way that photographs could not. Her request for a live sketch session with the president was met with surprise when the administration agreed. During their meeting, Burke sketched Roosevelt’s profile on a brown paper bag and engaged in a lively conversation with him. This encounter would later become a pivotal point in the debate over the origins of the dime’s design.
Following Roosevelt’s death in 1945, the U.S. Mint and Congress proposed engraving his portrait on the dime to commemorate his legacy and his founding of the March of Dimes to combat polio. John Sinnock was tasked with the job, drawing on his experience sculpting presidents in profile and referencing old photographs and studies of Roosevelt. The resulting design sparked controversy, with Selma Burke and others claiming that it bore a striking resemblance to her portrait of the president.
The debate over the true inspiration behind the dime’s design has persisted for decades. While some credit Burke unequivocally, others point to Sinnock’s previous work with Roosevelt as evidence that his initials on the coin are warranted. The controversy has raised questions about artistic credit, political affiliations, and even allegations of racism.
Despite the ongoing debate, Selma Burke continued her work as a sculptor and left behind a lasting legacy. She founded the Selma Burke School of Sculpture in New York and the Selma Burke Art Center in Pittsburgh and was honored with the Women’s Caucus for Art Lifetime Achievement award in 1979. Even without official credit for the dime, her impact on the world of art and sculpture remains undeniable.
As the debate surrounding the origins of the Roosevelt dime’s design continues, it serves as a reminder of the complexities involved in artistic credit and recognition. The story of Selma Burke and the controversy surrounding her alleged contribution to the dime’s design sheds light on larger issues of representation, acknowledgment, and the enduring legacy of an artist whose impact transcends a single coin.