Reprinted with permission from the Stack’s Minot Collection Catelog, Lot 1378 & 9 - May 21, 2008

Photos and descriptions used with permission and courtesy of Stacks
Hermon MacNeil’s approved obverse design for the 1916 Standing Liberty Quarter. Possibly unique bronze cast intended for preparation of dies, September 1916.
On seeing this spectacular piece for the first time the reaction is, “Wow! So that’s what a Standing Liberty quarter is supposed to look like!” But after a moment, the eye is drawn to two playful dolphins aside Liberty’s feet, then to the motto IN GOD WE TRUST draped across Miss Liberty, to sprigs of laurel and last, the missing olive branch. What kind of Standing Liberty quarter is this? The truth is this is what Hermon MacNeil had intended his new quarter to look like.
In May 1916 MacNeil submitted his first design models for the new quarter. This first obverse looked much like the regular quarters dated 1916 and familiar to collectors. But over the next weeks MacNeil became increasingly dissatisfied with his work. With changes in mind, MacNeil requested permission from Mint Director Robert Woolley to revise the obverse. The sculptor said he wanted:
1. To bring the head of the figure a trifle lower so as not to appear to be holding up the rim of the coin.
2. To prevent the figure appearing “bowlegged.”
3. To minimize the sagging of the covering of the shield by having it pulled up a little tighter.
I should also like to see the letters of the word Liberty slightly smaller.
Since Adolph Weinman, who was designing the new dime and half dollar, had already been given permission to change his original compositions, Woolley agreed.
During July and August 1916 Hermon MacNeil radically rearranged and modified the elements of his obverse design. Except for the names given to parts of the design, nearly everything was changed. The overall relief was made more pronounced, and drapery softened. Starting with the border, the original dot-dot-dash pattern was replaced with a cable or chain surrounding the central elements. The portal walls through which Liberty steps were plain - unadorned with either motto or detail.






















