page_title: Washington quarter
section_title: Competitions
hierarchical_section_title: Washington quarter / Competitions
caption_attribution_description: English: The modified Type 2 obverse of the Standing Liberty quarter dollar. From 1917-1924 the obverse design had a raised date notorious for rubbing off quickly when circulated. The design was modified slightly in 1925 so that the date was set deeper in the design and would wear less. This modified date design was used on coins minted from 1925 through the end of the series in 1930. This coin was minted at the Philadelphia Mint, and thus bears no mint mark. This coin is graded as MS64 by PCGS, and it received the "FH" or full-head designation, as the head of Miss Liberty is fully struck and exhibits a full hair line and the hole of the ear is visible.
context_page_description: The Washington quarter is the present quarter dollar or 25-cent piece issued by the United States Mint. The coin was first struck in 1932; the original version was designed by sculptor John Flanagan.
  As the United States prepared to celebrate the 1932 bicentennial of the birth of its first president, George Washington, members of the bicentennial committee established by Congress sought a Washington half dollar. They wanted to displace for that year only the regular issue Walking Liberty half dollar; instead Congress permanently replaced the Standing Liberty quarter, requiring that a depiction of Washington appear on the obverse of the new coin. The committee had engaged sculptor Laura Gardin Fraser to design a commemorative medal, and wanted her to adapt her design for the quarter. Although Fraser's work was supported by the Commission of Fine Arts and its chairman, Charles W. Moore, Treasury Secretary Andrew W. Mellon chose a design by Flanagan, and Mellon's successor, Ogden L. Mills, refused to disturb the decision.
context_section_description: On July 14, 1931, Assistant Mint Director Mary Margaret O'Reilly wrote to Moore, asking the Commission's advice on a design competition for the new quarter.  Moore replied, stating that as Fraser had won the competition for the medal, she should adapt her design for the quarter.  Secretary Mellon responded to Moore, stating that as the Treasury had been no party to the earlier design agreement, it was not bound by it, and would not follow it.  The Treasury proceeded to hold a design competition, and when the Fine Arts Commission met to consider the submitted designs in an advisory role, it selected those submitted by Fraser.  The designs were submitted to Mellon in November 1931; he selected Flanagan's design and notified Moore of the decision.  Moore and commission member Adolph Weinman (who had designed the Mercury dime and Walking Liberty half dollar) attempted to get Mellon to change his mind, but only got him to agree to allow the various sculptors more time to improve their entries—they had asked for more time just for Fraser.  On January 20, 1932, following resubmissions, the commission affirmed its support of the Fraser designs.
  Mellon left office on February 12, 1932; he was succeeded by Ogden L. Mills.  With a new Secretary of the Treasury in office, Moore renewed his protest, sending Mills a letter on March 31 deprecating Flanagan's design and urging the new secretary to accede to the commission's recommendation.  Mills had already been briefed by O'Reilly on the quarter matter, and responded to Moore on April 11.  Secretary Mills informed Moore that the chairman's letter had caused him to request changes from the sculptor, but that he would not override Mellon's decision.  On April 16, the selection of Flanagan's designs was publicly announced.
  Mellon was aware of which artists had submitted which designs, and has been accused of discriminating against Fraser as a woman.  Numismatic historian Walter Breen stated, "it has been learned that Mellon knew all along who had submitted the winning models, and his male chauvinism partly or wholly motivated his unwillingness to let a woman win."  Bowers, however, noted that Mellon had approved Fraser's designs for commemorative coins several times, as well as those by other women, and that no contemporary source speaks to any bias on Mellon's part.  Bowers called the belief "modern numismatic fiction".  Fraser's design was used in 1999 as a commemorative half eagle issued 200 years after Washington's death.
caption: The Standing Liberty quarter had long presented production difficulties; in 1931, Congress required it to be replaced.
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