I'm not sure what the "perfect" image would be for this particular
issue ("Lincoln in Illinois"), but the one with the old state capitol
is better than the one the mint was going to produce. Good for him!
But political influence cuts both ways in coin designs, as evidenced
by the many crappy coins that have made it all the way to the mint's
presses. I wonder if the ancient minters argued over their designs.
"Marcus, this image of the emperor makes his nose entirely too
bulbous."
"I took it directly from a shadow outline you made!"
"Just because it's accurate doesn't matter. He wants the classic
aquiline Roman nose depicted for his subjects."
"Yeah, well, your rendition of the imperial eagle looks suspiciously
like a Greek owl and everyone knows the story of how that scruffy
Athenian cozened his way into your mother's bed nine months before you
were birthed. If this ever comes to the imperator's attention, you'll
be lion food ere sundown."
"Hey, guys, what happened to my idea to go with an outline map of the
empire?"
LOL
"What is the deal with having to put 'In Jupiter We Trust' on everything?"
"By Janus' beards, I'd like to know what simpleton decreed that we had
to inscribe it on the edge of the solidus starting in CCCVII? Priests
and even the vestal virgins spit on me every time I go to Jove's
temple to make an offering. They accuse me of being godless, or even
worse, a Christian."