Persistence of misinformation - SL Quarter 0

[RWB]

The following linked thread popped up on another message board. It is interesting that nearly all of the information presented is incorrect.

/Signed/, "Exasperated"

https://forums.collectors.com/discussion/1065114/1916-hermon-macneil-pattern-design-standing-liberty-quarter

1. The dolphin design was not McNeil's "original." (That idea was promoted by a deceased Florida SL quarter dealer, and discredited 20 years ago.)

2. This design was from August-September 1916 and was approved by Secretary McAdoo for use. The inept mint director, vol Engleken, did not understand  that and kept the old original for production.

3. The photo of the bronze cast (with the border) is not correctly credited although the poster copied it and the caption.

4. The photo of the bronze cast in the third post is incorrect. The reverse shown was NEVER paired with the dolphin obverse.

5. The definitive information source is the book Renaissance of American Coinage 1916-1921, where all of the available information is collected, examined and presented. This includes an explanation of the new design and reasons for submitting it.

Opinion: The imitation in the OPs post is awful.

Edited October 19, 2021 by RWB

[Mohawk]

It's amazing how difficult it is to get rid of rumors, misinformation and outright lies once they get out into any given community, and that is rather dismaying and demoralizing.  To cite another example from our hobby, look at the "1964 SMS" coins........that whole myth just won't die!!

Edited October 20, 2021 by Mohawk

[RWB]

On 10/19/2021 at 8:05 PM, Mohawk said:

look at the "1964 SMS" coins........that whole myth just won't die!!

In that case, there's a lot of money to be made by deceptive means.

[Mohawk]

On 10/19/2021 at 8:48 PM, RWB said:

In that case, there's a lot of money to be made by deceptive means.

That is very true, sadly, and probably has a lot to do with why this myth won't die. 

[VKurtB]

“They call him Flipper, Flipper,

Faster than lightning.

No one you’ll seeee,

Is smarter then heeee…”

[RWB]

Dolphins represent the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. They are the allegorical boundaries over which Liberty extends her shield of protection. The reverse was unchanged from the original as used in 1916.

[zadok]

...the use of the opposing dolphins in the pattern illustrated was not unique to US coin n medal designs, the concept was actually used 12 years earlier by a.a. weinman on the reverse of the 1904 st louis louisiana exposition award medals, not sure if appropriated by macneil or if the designers shared concepts or not, ironic that one designer would use a concept of another designer that he was often in competition with...had to have been a small world back then in the design community....