The Mendicant

See more of Robert's work at www.robertwechsler.com
Cubes achieved by notching and joining pennies in perfect orientation to one another. Joined at perpendicular angles, the coins create a lattice structure allowing tunnel like passages of light from certain angles. As one moves around them, the cubes seem to fluctuate from material to ethereal.

[@triplebasic]

So glad to have stumbled upon this 11 years later. Very cool.

[@wechslerart]

thanks!

[@wechslerart]

Regarding legality, a federal statute in the criminal code of the United States (18 U.S.C. 331), indeed makes it illegal if one "fraudulently alters, defaces, mutilates, impairs, diminishes, falsifies, scales or lightens" any U.S. coin. However, being a criminal statute, a fraudulent intent is required for violation.

[@davidscbirdsall]

That law also prevents one from trading those pennies for a different value than is set by the issuing government, which would be fraud, so you can’t sell what you made from this currency for any value other than the exact value of the pennies set by the US Government. That value could be 1 cent each, or 0 cents each due to the mutilation.

[@wechslerart]

This is a standard 1 ton arbor press outfitted with a custom made die designed specifically to cut pennies for this project.

[@user-yt1mr2jk5d]

Добрый день. Восхищаюсь вашими работами, это просто шедевр. Хотел поинтересоваться у Вас , что необходимо мне сделать чтобы Вы разрешили мне повторить Ваши работы и поделились своим опытом и знаниями. Так же интересует вся техническая информация,чертежи , оборудование, технология. Соответственно со своей стороны готов к честному сотрудничеству, без обмана, с выплатами согласно договоренности.

[@Post88]

How is this video so old with so little likes 😢 this blew my mind ❤

[@wechslerart]

Thanks! glad it made an impact

[@epiccg6872]

this feels like it was made yesterday

[@wechslerart]

thanks!

[@colinashby3775]

This very good.i can see just how much work went into. My ocd loves the order

[@ruchika690]

Such a great discovery that you tube recommended me. I am always eager to learn something different. And this will be my new project. Thanks Robert !! It's incredible !!!

[@aaronpoisson]

Very provocative and well done sir!!! And I like the thought process behind the The Mendicant and the name's origin.

[@idem0david]

These installations are a beautiful work of art. Thanks to the algorithm for letting me know that this exists 😊

[@user-lw2xk2pq7p]

The simplistic intrinsical complexity is BRILLIANT !!

[@BobJP77]

At least someone is doing something with those coins. Cool art project

[@wechslerart]

I love pennies. They are nearly obsolete, they have been for decades, but we still mint them. I guess I'm not the only one who loves them

[@BobJP77]

The Canadian mint stopped making them. Apparently the copper is worth more than that currency or something like that. Now we just round to the nearest 5 cents.

[@MatsBengtsson]

This is amazing! I just realised you actually have all of them in the same orientation. The presidents head is upright. Must have taken you ages to create this. Well done sir!

[@limacrubo]

PERFECT!

[@wechslerart]

no I did not anneal, applying that kind of heat would burn the oils and dirt on the pennies and affect their patinas. I'm more interested in preserving the colors than making cutting easier.

[@SimonMetal]

I love your voice.

[@xpt5oo186]

Nice art piece. Can I know what art piece you are working on now?

[@wechslerart]

This piece was from 11 or 12 years ago. I just finished a much larger cube. Most of the other footage in this feed relates to that project. I’m toying with a few smaller projects right now. But probably the next thing I’ll be putting out into the world are some stuffed animals that looks like the USA. You can see some plastic toys along these lines on my website robertwechsler.com and I’m also working on some geodesic spheres made of Pennies.

[@qqqqqqqq1407]

may i ask what press you are using?

[@BenBarrett42]

did you anneal them before die-cutting them? awesome work! most folks don't realize that making art protects one from claims of defacing currency... melting for copper is still illegal afaik.

[@TiborRoussou]

In April, here in Canada, the penny will be no more.

[@cmmartti]

Was it really only 11 years ago? It feels like decades. They should abolish the nickel next. Maybe the dime too.

[@TiborRoussou]

@@cmmartti all in good time,,,

[@GPCTM]

So, the New Yorker has nothing to do with this?

[@wechslerart]

That's correct, the New Yorker has nothing to do with the creation of this project. They commission a series of smaller works after seeing this project online. Those smaller coin shapes were photographed and included in the October 14th 2013 money themed issue of the New Yorker. You can see that series of work here on my website robertwechsler.com/money.

[@Zappyguy111]

In Australia, we call those tazo's.

[@jeremyashford2145]

a thought for your pennies

[@xxtiaan]

stunning! I especially love the moire effect. Really beautiful work. reminded me of these sculptures in terms of the material /watch?v=IWdENmRl8UM

[@nostickpeople]

He's genius! Most woke/nepo folk toss the penny's anyway! He made it into art!

[@mosaicmonk4380]

i think its illegal to destroy money.

[@cotybax6358]

Us code title 18 chapter 17

[@wechslerart]

The relevant law (U.S.C. Title 18, Chapter 17, Section 331) begins “whoever fraudulently alters…”. And the second paragraph begins the same “whoever fraudulently a…” the word fraudulently is intentional and meaningful. Without that word the would mean any ‘alteration’ or ‘possession’ of altered coins would be criminal but the use of the word fraudulent here means ‘fraudulent intent’ must be attached to the act in order for it to be a crime. But you don’t have to take my word for it. In 1980 A Mr Vance Fowler wrote the treasure asking if compressed Penny souvenirs are illegal. He got a response from Kenneth B Gubin Council to the Mint, it read in part: “you refer to and question the legality of a souvenir machine which compresses coins and returns a souvenir. You refer to Title 18, U.S.C. Section 331 and 475 “As you are already aware, a federal statute in the criminal code of the United States (18 U.S.C. 331) indeed makes it illegal if one ‘fraudulently alters, defaces, mutilates, impairs, diminishes, falsifies, scales or lightens’ any US coin. However, being a criminal statute, a fraudulent intent is required for violation. Thus, the mere act of compressing coins into souvenirs is not illegal, without other factors being present’ The letter was written by the mints legal council on letter head from the Department of the Treasury, Office of the Director of the Mint. So as far as that authority is concerned this kind of work is not illegal

[@cawsking555]

have you ever bend reported for defacing the penny's

[@amandahugankiss4110]

too dramatic.

[@colinashby3775]

This very good.i can see just how much work went into. My ocd loves the order

[@wechslerart]

thanks. I'm glad you and your OCD are enjoying it :)