Flanagan.27s design Washington quarter

plaster bust of washington houdon (1786); houdon s work adapted flanagan’s profile image.

as struck, quarter depicts head of washington facing left, liberty above head, date below, , in god trust in left field. on reverse, eagle wings outspread perches on bundle of arrows framed below 2 olive branches.

houdon bust

in 1785, french sculptor jean-antoine houdon commissioned virginia general assembly sculpt bust of washington, had led nascent united states victory in american revolutionary war. houdon had been recommended returned united states minister france, benjamin franklin. retired general sat houdon @ mount vernon, washington family home in fairfax county, virginia between october 6 , 12, 1785. sculptor took life mask of general s face—washington s adopted granddaughter nelly custis, aged 6 @ time, later recalled shock in seeing washington lying on table, thought dead, covered sheet , plaster mask. told 2 quills extended nostrils, providing him air. bust @ mount vernon today testifies visit. on return paris, houdon used visage of general washington in number of sculptural settings, including commissioned statue general assembly, still stands in marble in virginia state capitol.

the obverse of washington before boston medal first medallic use of houdon s bust.

portraits of washington on medals , in other media subsequent sculptor s visit based on houdon s work, beginning 1786 washington before boston medal engraved pierre simon duviviers. although 1 american, abraham lincoln, had appeared on circulating coin 1920s, houdon bust had been used basis of portrait of washington on commemorative lafayette dollar dated 1900 , on sesquicentennial half dollar of 1926. according coin dealer , numismatic historian q. david bowers, houdon bust, then, common representation of washington on coins , medals. little known of flanagan s creative process, although models of flanagan s quarter different portrayal of washington, facing right, , different eagle, have come on market. flanagan s adaptation differs houdon bust in particulars: example, shape of head different, , there roll of hair on quarter not found on bust.

art historian cornelius vermeule said of flanagan s quarter, die designer little wrong in having houdon s neoclassic image prototype ... still, might asked whether or not fair force ideal[ized] portrait of washington made in 1785 on artist working in 1932. there cold , lifeless results. vermeule suggests quarter started trend of similar portrait coins issued united states, notably jefferson nickel , franklin half dollar. historian preferred laura fraser s version, , termed flanagan s reverse stiff bit of heraldry amid large wreath , or large lettering .