 As early as 1851 , New York Congressman William Duer alleged that that Patterson had made the gold dollar too small in diameter on purpose to provoke criticism . Patterson retired that year after 16 years in his position , and under his successor , George N. Eckert , annular gold dollar and half dollar patterns were struck . Public Ledger reported that although gold dollars would not be struck in annular form , gold half dollars would be , to help fill the need for change . With the new Pierce administration , Thomas M. Pettit took office as Mint Director on March 31 , 1853 . In April , Treasury Secretary James Guthrie wrote to Pettit that there were complaints that the gold dollar was too small , often lost or mistaken for a small silver coin , and enquiring about reports the Mint had experimented with annular dollars . Pettit replied , stating that none had been preserved , but enclosed a silver piece of equivalent size . He noted that while there would be technical difficulties in the production of the annular dollar , these could be overcome . In a letter dated May 10 , Pettit proposed an oval @-@ shaped holed piece , or an angular @-@ shaped coin , which would lessen the production problems . Pettit died suddenly on May 31 ; Guthrie did not let the issue fall , but queried Pettit 's replacement , James Ross Snowden , concerning the issue on June 7 . As U.S. coins were required to bear some device emblematic of liberty , the secretary hoped that artists could be found who could find some such design for an annular coin . 
 As early as 1851 , New York Congressman William Duer alleged that that Patterson <a href='been_done' title='1'><mark>had</mark></a> made the gold dollar too small in diameter on purpose to provoke criticism . Patterson<a href='been_done' title='2'><mark></mark></a> retired that year after 16 years in his position , and under his successor , George N. Eckert , annular gold dollar and half dollar patterns <a href='uninflect' title='3'><mark>were</mark></a> struck . Public Ledger reported that although gold dollars would not be struck in annular form , gold half dollars would be , to help fill the need for change . With the new Pierce administration , Thomas M. Pettit took office as Mint Director on March 31 , 1853 . In April , Treasury Secretary James Guthrie wrote to Pettit that <a href='dey_it' title='4'><mark>there</mark></a> <a href='uninflect' title='5'><mark>were</mark></a> complaints that the gold dollar was too small , often lost or mistaken for a small silver coin , and enquiring about reports the Mint <a href='been_done' title='6'><mark>had</mark></a> experimented with annular dollars . Pettit replied , stating that none <a href='been_done' title='7'><mark>had</mark></a> been preserved , but enclosed a silver piece of equivalent size . He noted that while <a href='dey_it' title='8'><mark>there</mark></a> would be technical difficulties in the production of the annular dollar , these could be overcome . In a letter dated May 10 , Pettit proposed an oval @-@ shaped holed piece , or an angular @-@ shaped coin , which would lessen the production problems . Pettit died suddenly on May 31 ; Guthrie did not let the issue fall , but queried Pettit <a href='null_genetive' title='9'><mark>'s</mark></a>replacement , James Ross Snowden , concerning the issue on June 7 . As U.S. coins <a href='uninflect' title='10'><mark>were</mark></a> required to bear some device emblematic of liberty , the secretary hoped that artists could be found who could find some such design for an annular coin . 
As early as 1851 , New York Congressman William Duer alleged that that Patterson done made da gold dollar too small in diameter on purpose to provoke criticism . Patterson been retired that year after 16 years in his position , and under his successor , George N. Eckert , annular gold dollar and half dollar patterns was struck . Public Ledger reported that although gold dollas would not be struck in annular form , gold half dollars would b , to help fill the need fir change . w/ the new Pierce administration , Thomas M. Pettit took office as Mint Director on March 31 , 1853 . In April , Treasury Secretary James Guthrie wrote to Pettit dat it was complaints tdattdagold dollar was too small , often lost or mistaken for a small silver coin , and enquiring about reports the Mint done experimented wiwitnnular dollars . Pettit replied , stating that none done been preserved , but enclosed a silver piece of equivalent size . He noted that while it would be technical difficulties in the production of thdannular dollar , dese could be overcome . In a letter dated May 10 , Pettit proposed an oval @-@ shaped holed piece , or an angular @-@ shaped coin , which would lessen thedaoduction problems . Pettit died suddenly on May 31 ; Guthrie did not let the issue fall , but queried Pettit  replacement , James Ross Snowden , concerning the daue on June 7 . As U.S. coins was required to bear some device emblematic of liberty , the sdaetary hoped thdatrtists could be found who could find sum such design for an annular coin .