While the next woman in our blog series covering the 100 Greatest Women on Coins does not have a specific coin featuring her, she is, however featured on a currency inspired medal. Even the author, Ron Guth, hopes that one day she will end up on a coin as her immense talent did not reach the level of fame it should have.
#74 – Clara Schumann
Born in Leipzig, Saxony, in September of 1819, Clara Josephine Wieck was trained from a very young age by her father in music. Following a strict routine of learning and practice, Clara would start touring at the age of 11 where she would eventually catch the attention of a German author and poet by the name of Goethe. She would also get the attention of violinist Niccolò Paganini from Italy.
While they knew each other from a young age, Clara and Robert Schumann would fall in love and he would propose marriage when she was 18. However, they had to sue Clara’s father as he refused to bless the marriage. After two years they finally got permission from the court to marry. They would go on to have eight children, but only four survived Clara. Robert would spend the last two years of his life in a mental institution before passing in 1856.
Robert Schumann was a German composer, but only after watching an 8-year-old Clara at the time playing piano. He was 17 and would give up studying law to pursue music. While Robert received acclaim, it was Clara who was the virtuoso piano player and was thought to be one of the greatest musicians of her time. Her fame never reached the level of her husband’s as females never got the respect they deserved at the time. Her playing, however, earned more income for the family than Robert’s composing.
While Clara does not have a place on a coin yet, she is on a one-of-a-kind medal that crosses into currency territory.