Jack L Ahr - US Coin Designer and Engraver - Bicentennial Quarter


The national competition was open to all sculptors who were US Citizens, but were not currently employed by the government as a sculptor. Jack Ahr was one of those sculptors who submitted a design to be used on the Washington Quarter Dollar. On March 6, 1974, Ahr's design was selected by the US Mint and he won the competition along with the $5,000 prize. The five judges included Robert Weinman, who was the son of famous coin designer Adolph Weinman, former Chief Engraver Gilroy Roberts, sculptor Adlai S. Hardin, Julius Lauth and Elvira Clain-Stefanelli. The other two winners included Seth G. Huntington who won the design for the Kennedy half dollar and Dennis R. Williams who won the design for the Eisenhower dollar.
The design that Jack created depicted a Colonial Drummer on the reverse along with a flaming torch surrounded by 13 stars. In April of 1974, Jack Ahr was invited to the White House to be honored and also received a tour of the Philadelphia Mint. The current Chief Engraver Frank Gasparro had made a few very minor changes to all three coins before they were finalized. Jack Ahr's quarter was modified to make the drum look more authentic, alter the expression of the drummer's face and change the lettering a little bit.
Jack L Ahr Related Items on eBay

Click on any of the boxes to see much larger images.






Contact Us | Advertise Here | Privacy Policy / Terms of Use