Washington Quarters

The History and Value of Washington Quarters

There are many histories of the various coin designs and releases into circulation. These stories are the bedrock of our nation's coinage development, and serve to tell the story of how money is designed, produced and circulated in our nation.

America's competitive nature led to a design competition assisted by the Commission on Fine Arts and the Washington Bicentennial Commission. This was done for the purpose of enticing the public's artists to step forward and become recognized. This process became standard when new designs needed to be laid onto a new series of coins.

In 1931 another such competition was announced. The decision had been made to create a one-year commemoration 90 percent silver half dollar to release in 1932. It was to be the 200th commemoration of George Washington. The competition was to discover a new design for the reverse of the silver coin, since a Washington bust design was already in use. The contest was announced broadly across the nation.

The rules were announced early in the year with the guideline that the designs should be based on the "celebrated bust" made by the sculptor Jean Washington and notable French Antoine Hudon, the study having been created from a life-mask taken at Mt. Vernon in 1785 that was widely regarded as being uncannily accurate and therefore admired nationally.

Ninety eight applicants submitted 100 designs for the coin. Many were very amateurish, with some good ones, however the most exceptional according the Fine Arts Commission was the one done by Laura Gardin Fraser. She was also the designer of the Oregon Trail commemorative and wife of James Fraser, the creator of the design for the Buffalo Nickel coin.

The powerful medal-appropriate design by Mrs. Fraser really stood above all others. It was highly similar to artistic renderings produced during the numismatic "golden years" that was initially inspired by Theodore Roosevelt. The Commission decision was unanimous but there were others who needed to be pleased.

The contest was held before Congress debated the new commemorative coin issue. At the time, currency was providing the public with a Standing Liberty Quarter. Congress decided to change this silver quarter to commemorate Washington. This meant the half dollar designs would go on hold. Treasury Secretary Andrew Mellon was appealed, in order to allow Fraser's design from the previous contest to be used on the new quarter. Mellon refused and the contest for the new quarter design continued a second time. After authorizing the new quarters from Congress, the new competition was announced by the US Treasury department.

The new quarter design signaled the end of the beloved silver Standing Liberty quarter design used from 1916. Nobody argued a denomination change, however the man responsible for coinage designs, Secretary Mellon had quite the reputation for eccentricity, and this played out here. He was known to be a chauvinist and to be wealthy beyond ordinary imagination. He had his own ideas about art, and wasn't about to allow Fraser's design to get through. His art collection was world renown, as was his stubbornness born of wealth and position. Refusing repeatedly to listen to any Commission perspectives on Fraser's design, he chose a depression era styled piece by John Flannagan whose medal work reflected study with Augustus Saint-Gaudens, and was reminiscent of the bland and boring conservative images.

Mellon's first impulse was to placate the Commission by calling for another contest. Although he was having to field protests from the advisory panel, Mellon decided to leave his office and accept a position as Herbert Hoover's ambassador to Great Britain. The new Secretary Ogden rudely reminded the advisory committee they were only advisors, and went forward with the Flannagan design, as it was his ultimate decision.

Read the whole article HERE.

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