Standing Liberty Quarters

Through her own efforts she has developed from a half invalid child to a most perfect type of American womanhood. Her days are spent in artistic and intellectual pursuits. She is a lecturer, scenario writer, and trained nurse . . . The measurements from which the late Karl Bitter modelled the figures for mounting the Pulitzer Memorial Fountain that stands in the Plaza in New York City were taken from Miss Doscher. Mr. Bitter's Diana that stands in the Metropolitan Museum of Art was modelled from the coin girl . . .

By far the most notable achievement of the Mint service during the fiscal year 1916 was the selection, with your approval, of new designs for the dime, quarter dollar, and half dollar pieces. For the first time in the history of our coinage there are separate designs for each of the three denominations, and their beauty and quality, from a numismatic standpoint, have been highly praised by all having expertise in such matters to whom they have been shown. The striking of these coins for general circulation will doubtless be well underway by the coming of the Christmas holiday season. The process of selecting the new designs . . . began on January last, when, with your permission, I conferred with the members of the Commission of Fine Arts. Noted sculptors were commissioned to prepare a number of sketch models, and from more than 50 submitted 3 sets were chosen. It is a pleasure to note that the models which you and I selected were also the choice of the members of the Commission of Fine Arts. The dime and half dollar are the work of Mr. Adolph A. Weinman. The design of the half dollar bears a full-length figure of Liberty, the folds of the Stars and Stripes flying to the breeze as a background, progressing in full stride toward the dawn of a new day, carrying branches of laurel and oak, symbolical of civil and military glory. The hand of the figure is outstretched in bestowal of the spirit of liberty. The reverse of the half dollar shows an eagle perched high upon a mountain crag, his wings unfolded, fearless in spirit and conscious of his power. Springing from a rift in the rock is a sapling of mountain pine, symbolical of America. The design of the 25-cent pieces intended to typify in a measure the awakening interest of the country in its own protection. The law specifies that on the obverse of the coin not only the word Liberty but a representation of Liberty shall be shown. In the new design Liberty is shown as a full-length figure, front view, with head turned toward the left, stepping forward to the gateway of the country, and on the wall are inscribed the words In God We Trust, which words also appear on the new half dollar, mentioned above. The left arm of the figure of Liberty is upraised, bearing the shield in the attitude of protection, from which the covering is being drawn. The right hand bears the olive branch of peace. On the field above the head is inscribed the word Liberty, and on the step under her feet 1916. The reverse of this coin necessitates by law a representation of the American eagle, and is here shown in full flight, with wings extended, sweeping across the coin. Inscription: United States of America and E Pluribus Unum and Quarter Dollar below. Connecting the lettering above an outer circle are thirteen stars. The design of the dime, owing to the smallest of the coin, has been held quite simple. The obverse shows a head of Liberty with winged cap. The head is firm and simple in form, the profile forceful. The reverse shows a design of the bundle of rods, with battle-ax, known as fasces, and symbolical of unity, wherein lies the nation's strength. Surrounding the fasces is a full-foliaged branch of olive, symbolical of peace.

The History of United States Coinage: As Illustrated by the Garrett Collection, by Q. David Bowers