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 Replies: 43 / Views: 5,213 |
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Valued Member
United States
123 Posts |
All of the recent talk of the State Quarters gave me an idea. I got out all of my silver proof sets from 1999-2005 and examined each State Quarter individually. While the designs are generally poor to mediocre, there is some variability, and a few are even somewhat attractive. Here is my critique. I would be interested to see what others think of these quarters as well. To put everything in this one post would make it horribly long, so I am creating a separate post for each year. 1999: Delaware: The first quarter is one of the best. The figure on the horse is the right sort of design for a coin - elegant and not too busy. It is even reasonably well executed. Pennsylvania: The standing figure on the coin is a pleasant classic-style design, but the state outline ruins it. New Jersey: The design would have made a nice mural, but for a coin it is way too busy. Unless I look closely, it just looks like random, jumbled stuff. Georgia: Again, the state outline ruins it. Take that off, as well as either the banner with the state motto or the branches to either side, and it would be a decent design. Connecticut: This is one of the more attractive quarters, although by no means a masterpiece. The oak as a single device on the coin is an excellent choice. Continued in next post... Heather |
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Valued Member
 United States
123 Posts |
2000: Massachusetts: Not another state outline! It ruins the design. The figure with musket, by himself, would have been better. Maryland: The building with branches to either side, while not the best design I have ever seen, is better than most of the State Quarters. At least this design has the simplicity and elegance suited to a small coin. South Carolina: Too busy! Get rid of the state outline, and pick just one of the devices. The design is a jumbled mess. New Hampshire: The Old Man of the Mountain, however attractive it may have been before it collapsed, doesn't look good on a coin. Something else would have been better. Virginia: Ships make a nice device for a coin, but this version is too busy. One ship would have been sufficient. ----------------------- 2001: New York: The Statue of Liberty, by itself, would have been preferable to the existing design with the state outline. However, they could have picked something else. There is already a Statue of Liberty commemorative. North Carolina: The airplane, while historically important, isn't all that attractive. Still, this one isn't as bad as it could be. It's not overly busy, and the main device - the airplane - dominates the coin. Rhode Island: The overall effect isn't very good. The design is a bit busy, and the water isn't rendered too well. The sailboat, by itself, might have been nice. Vermont: Not bad, but the Connecticut oak tree design has a better effect. This one is trying to do a bit too much. Kentucky: For some reason, this one appeals to me. It is a nice scene, reasonably well executed, even though it is a bit too busy for a coin. The building looks very nice, as does the horse. Either one by itself might have been an improvement. Continued in next post... Heather |
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Valued Member
United States
123 Posts |
2002: Tennessee: Not bad as State Quarters go, but the design seems like it could be better. I like the theme, and I'm glad they didn't use a state outline. Ohio: Another design with a state outline and too many devices. No good. Louisiana: The geographical outlines on this are especially bad. This one is a definite reject. Indiana: Yet another silly outline. It's hard to find much good about this one. Mississippi: I like the theme on this one, but it is too busy. One magnolia flower would have been nice - two is redundant. This might have worked better on a larger coin, but the quarter is too small for it. ------------------ 2003: Illinois: The outline of this state is especially unattractive, but the design is at least somewhat intriguing in how they used the outline to frame Lincoln. The small devices off to the sides are superfluous and distracting. Alabama: This one, while a bit busy, is better than many. The portrait of Helen Keller is as well-executed as could be hoped in this day of mediocre coin art. Maine: I love lighthouses, but the hill distracts. A close-up on the lighthouse might have been better. Still, I like the empty space in the field; it keeps the design from seeming too busy. Missouri: This one just looks bad. I see what they were trying to do, showing the Corps of Discovery passing under the arch, but this subject would have been better on a large painting. Reject! Arkansas: Here is a missed opportunity. Again, there are too many devices on the coin. I would have loved to just have the diamond, and nothing else. That would have been the best in elegant simplicity, perfect for small coins. Continued in next post... Heather |
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Valued Member
United States
108 Posts |
I like all the 2006 except the MT. rushmore.
The best thing about them is the sun and rays.
Also vermont is one of my fav.
Edited by Vic
01/28/2006 8:08 pm
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Valued Member
United States
123 Posts |
2004:
Michigan: There is nothing to recommend this one. With all of the ideas that could have represented this state, why did they have to use the dreaded outline? This design doesn't do the state justice.
Florida: Why have three devices? Why not pick just one? I like the space shuttle theme. This would have been better if it just had the space shuttle, perhaps surrounded by stars.
Texas: The lone star is reasonably attractive, but the state outline isn't. The star by itself would have looked better, but perhaps they could have chosen another symbol.
Iowa: This is another one that might have looked nice in a painting. Still, for the mural-style coins, this one is better executed than most. The schoolhouse is well-executed. Perhaps if it was there by itself, it would work better on a coin.
Wisconsin: Another multi-device coin, but this one is better than most of the style. It almost works as it is. The cow is very attractive and well-done.
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2005:
California: Too busy and not terribly attractive. They should have used an entirely different concept on this one.
Minnesota: Another state outline! Horrible. If they took off the outline, this one would at least be barely acceptable; the rest of the design isn't too bad.
Oregon: Crater Lake may be a beautiful place, but it doesn't look good on a coin. A different concept would have been better.
Kansas: This one could have been great, but it is spoiled by too many design elements. Either the bison or the sunflower, by itself, would be an improvement.
West Virginia: Another design that looks like an attempt to render a painting or photograph onto a coin. This never works well. However beautiful the New River Gorge may be, it looks like stuff on a coin. This one needs an entirely different concept. The landscape looks like mush.
Final observations, and a critique of the nickels, on the next post.
Heather
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Valued Member
United States
123 Posts |
While I am at it, I might as well get into the nickels. Indian Peace Medal: This old design is a good choice, and it looks good on the nickel. No complaints here. Keelboat: Not bad. It is just a single device, well-centered and reasonably well executed. I'm glad they didn't place it within scenery. Bison: The American Bison always looks good on a coin. I prefer the original from the Indian Head nickel, but this one isn't bad. The detail is nice. Ocean in View: As a scenery coin, this is the weakest of the series. Still, it is better than many of the State Quarters that include scenery. It is somewhat simplified and stylized, which is necessary for scenery to look decent on a coin. No classic, but not bad for the type. 2005 nickel portrait: I'm no fan of dead president portraits. It's a mildly interesting modernistic style, but it doesn't exactly take my breath away. We need to get the dead presidents off the coins. Finally, the State Quarter obverse: Why, oh why, did they keep that tired old Washington portrait? Even if the reverse designs had been good (and very few are), the dead president ruins it. This series should have done something different with the obverse - perhaps a symbol of Liberty of some other symbol pertaining to the entire nation, or perhaps each of the state seals. ----------------------- Well, this is it. You can see that I'm not terribly happy with these modern coin designs. Although some are reasonably good, while most are rotten, not one of these designs is better than, for example, the Walking Liberty half dollar or the St. Gaudens $20. My favorite in the State Quarter series would have to be the very first, Delaware. That one is reasonably attractive and not too busy. I wish we could return to the artistic quality of the early 20th Century; those coins were truly beautiful, and were the only modern coins that came close to the beauty of the best ancient Greek coins. So, what does everyone else think? What are your critiques of these designs? Which one is your favorite? Or do you hate them all? Heather |
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Pillar Of The Community
3147 Posts |
I have, thus far, favored the Mass. quarter over all others as I, in the beginning, was under the impression the coins would be about statehood or something in early statehood that would define the area. While I don't particularly care for state outlines the Mass. quarter, and state outline with the minuteman sybolizes just exactly where they stood in the beginning of this nation. I also was amazed the do-gooders DID NOT manage to have the muzzleloading rifle removed from the minutemans hands like they attempted to do. I find the design powerful and thought provoking! And it is one of the few Statehood Quarters that will take you back in time which I wanted the program to continue to do but...? Now with our quarter (Indiana) it sybolizes everyone in their covered wagons racing through here to get to the California gold rush! Those whose wagons broke down are still here and thats how Indiana got its start and we are still racing around in circles going nowhere! I think the best year thus far, as far as eyeappeal and design, is going to be this year! And, in response to the following post, the U.S. doesn't do state flags on coins, unless of course, your state has a dead president on the flag! Then it could be arranged! We don't do wildlife, nature or anything else that people tend to associate with. Only dead politicians or politicians friends! Edited by crystalk64
01/28/2006 8:36 pm
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
1091 Posts |
What an excellent topic. I tried (and failed) to find on the US mint site or on this forum, the little promotional write up of what each of the coins design represented. The write up would be an excellent addition to this thread or to the forums "US Coin Facts" under State Quarters. Can anyone find them and do a cut and paste? I noticed a little ® after the words "50 State quarters®" on the US mint site. Is that a brand name or something? A little off topic but as each State or group of states joined the union a new flag was made. How many USA flags have there been? It would be a good series on a larger coin like the half dollar. I'll have to get out my collection of State Quarters® and examine and respond to this topic. |
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Rest in Peace
United States
3730 Posts |
I don't have enough artistic ability to evaluate each coin. I only know what I like. New Hampshire is my least favorite to date. Rhode Island and Nevada are my favorites. I look forward to my State Quarter (Colorado) being issued, but am not overally thrilled with it. Needed some animal life and perhaps a waterfall or two. |
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Rest in Peace
United States
2884 Posts |
Edited by Mike
01/29/2006 01:51 am
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
1091 Posts |
1999 Delaware: The first State. This is a beautiful coin. I would give the designers of this coin top marks. The date 1787 gets me thinking about what happened 11 years after 1776. The rider with a revolutionary hat is sitting upon a running horse I thought was Paul Revere and his famous midnight ride but that is the wrong State (Boston Massachusetts). The name is Caesar Rodney whom I didn't know anything about. I did search out information on Caesar Rodney and learnt a lot about early American History. http://www.ushistory.org/march/bio/rodney.htmEdited by toast
01/29/2006 04:27 am
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
1091 Posts |
1999 Pennsylvania: 1787, Virtue, Liberty, Independence. It's fantastic to see Lady Liberty back on a USA coin. (I assume that's her). I can understand the outline of the State but what is that other shape doing in the north west of the state? I've no idea what it is. Liberty is carrying a staff with an eagle on it, which looks a lot like what I see in WWII films of German rallies. I'm not sure what it really is suppose to symbolise.
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Valued Member
United Kingdom
438 Posts |
I don't like any of them. I always had a soft spot for that eagle on the reverse of the Washers, they took the eagle off and they ruined the obverse portrait even more than the 1990s rehashing did. So I'm not a fan on design grounds at all.
Secondly I don't like change that happens too fast, a coin design should have at least ten years of life in it. I've never really thought much of rotating designs it creates too much variety. I favour standardisation. I'd rather have the same design unchanged for 50 years than 6 or 7 in a year. Less is better imho.
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
1091 Posts |
1999 New Jersey: 1787. Crossroads of the Revolution. I remember this painting as " George Washington crossing of the Delaware" river from Philadelphia Pennsylvania and thought of the State of Delaware. The design is in keeping with the revolutionary theme, which I think is great.
"This painting describes the historic moment when General George Washington led the American revolutionary troops across the Delaware River in order to surprise the English and Hessian troops in the Battle of Trenton the day after Christmas in 1776. Keep in mind that this reproduction is small: the original painting is more than 12 feet high and 21 feet long!"
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
1091 Posts |
1999 Georgia: 1788. Wisdom, Justice, Moderation. This coin lacks the sense of history but is easily recognised as Georgia because of the Peach. The Georgia Peach looks a bit like a love heart. A simple design.
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
1091 Posts |
1999 Connecticut: 1788 "The Charter Oak". I like how the tree fills the coin, but have no idea why it has no leaves. The scene looks desolate and the brick wall behind it makes me think that this is a real tree with some sort of significance. I'm glad it has Connecticut on it otherwise I wouldn't know where it's from. I like the design but I don't understand the meaning.
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Replies: 43 / Views: 5,213 |
Posted 01/28/2006 8:02 pm
