Coins Silver

The bust, made from a life-mask taken at Mount Vernon in 1785, was uncannily correct and nationally admired. It was submitted by Laura Gardin Fraser, designer of the Oregon Trail memorial and other half of James Earle Fraser, who made the Buffalo nickel. Rich beyond imagination, he had assembled one of the Earth's foremost art collections, together with a name for stubbornness which was only fired by his wealth and position.

Some would later attribute it to Mellon's chauvinism, but he regularly declined to hear the Commission's pleas for Fraser's design.

At first , Mellon calmed the Commission, asking for a 2nd contest. But eventually, he selected the Flanagan design. While still fielding protests from the advisory panel, he left office to become Herbert Hoover's envoy to Great Britain. His inheritor, Ogden Mills, would consider the problem no further. Flanagan's design was straightforward but more suitable to a picture than medallic art, with phenomenally low relief. Washington faces left and dominates the obverse, with the date below and Freedom above. From a production perspective, Mint officers must have adored the design. With such low relief, coins could be fast struck with just one blow from the press. The downside was not only a creative loss, but the puny design elements needed continual alterations to the master heart.

The motto was so weakly outlined in 1932 and on some issues of 1934 that it might hardly be read, even on uncirculated coins.

1932-1964 Washington quarters are 90% silver. Each quarter contains 0.1808 troy ounces of silver. Which means that each roll of 1932-1964 Washington Quarters contain 7.2339 troy ounces of silver.