Unique Olaf Olson Plaster Models
Designed and Sculpted by Laura Gardin Fraser
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Olaf Olson was an artist who painted a portrait of Laura Gardin Frasier. In exchange she sculpted a medal for him. His painting is in the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery. These are the original and unique positive and negative plasters. They are from the estate of Laura Gardin Fraser.
Laura Gardin Fraser was a noted American Sculptor and was the first woman to design a U.S. commemorative coin. She was the winner of the design competition for the 1932 Washington Quarter by the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts. This design was issued as the 1999 George Washington Commemorative Gold Five-Dollar coin, and her obverse design was used for the circulating quarter starting in 2022.
Her officially adopted designs include the 1921 Alabama Half Dollar, the 1922 Grant Gold Dollar and Half Dollar, and the 1925 Vancouver Half Dollar. Additionally, she co-designed the 1926 Oregon Trail Half Dollar with her husband, sculptor James Earle Fraser.
Oil on Masonite by J. Olaf Olson of Laura Gardin Fraser
These plaster models were previously from a Museum/Gallery that acquired them directly from the Fraser Estate. Also in their collection were the original plasters of Laura Gardin Fraser's 1932 Quarter design. |
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This video was produced by the Medallic Art Company which was one of the longest-lasting private mints in the United States. It ceased operations in 2016 after 113 years. In 2018, the American Numismatic Society acquired the archival remains and intellectual property rights. |
| Here is a another Laura Gardin Fraser original plaster of a U.S. coin design. 1932 Washington Quarter Reverse Plaster Designed and Sculpted by Laura Gardin Fraser Plaster & Original Photograph from her Estate Adopted Reverse Design for the 1999 $5 Gold George Washington Commemorative UNIQUE 11½" Plaster Model $40,000    |
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