Pathetic Florida quarter
Sunnywood
Posts: 2,683 ✭
I just got my first Florida quarter in change. I think the reverse design marks a new low in the state quarter series, and in U.S. coin design generally. For those of you who have not seen one, the reverse features three small devices: a ship, a space shuttle, and two tiny palm trees with a bit of coastline. The three tiny motifs are disconnected, and do not make much use of the available area of the coin, which is largely blank. I suppose we should be thankful that the meager designs are not boringly superimposed on an outline of the state, as has occurred on many other coins in the series. The usual design seems to be one or two characteristic features blandly imposed on the state outline, such as Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, New York, South Carolina and Ohio. This Florida quarter is the worst thing I have seen in a while. Flip it over, and there's a dead President with re-interpreted "accented hair."
Occasionally, a bold and somewhat interesting design has been allowed to cover most of the fields (Connecticut, Vermont, Mississippi, for example). This approach more closely recalls the halcyon days of the Peace dollar and the "buffalo" nickel, whose designs boldly covered the area of the coin. The St. Gaudens double eagle shows us how a beautiful background can enhance a central device. That idea is nowhere to be seen in this series.
The top and bottom edges of the reverse include by mandate each state's name and the year of its inclusion in the Union, as well as the year of mintage with legend "E Pluribus Unum." The remaining side edges of the reverse are poorly used on most of the designs. Only Georgia and Maryland use a wreath-like edge motif. Many of the others use stars or leave the area blank. Of course, I exclude those designs wherein the side edges are also covered by the main portrait, such as Rhode Island, Vermont, Maine, etc. The mandated use of the top and bottom also forces a number of overly "horizontal" designs (New Jersey, Virginia), while some coins make good use of the width (Missouri, and North Carolina, ugly though it may be). Funny how two states claim the Wright brothers' aircraft: North Carolina, and Ohio. One shows an undetailed figure stainding in the field below, while the other has a man in a space suit instead. OK folks, "whatever."
My favorites have been Connecticut and Arkansas (isn't that diamond a nice surprise?). Many of the coins have a good start for an idea, but the executions have been simplistic. Yes, I know, these are the fruits of high-volume production in cheap hard metals to maximize Mint seigniorage (i.e. profit; did I spell that right?). I would think with our advanced computerized manufacturing technology, and two and a quarter centuries of artistic experimentation on our coinage, that we could come up with more beautiful, more detailed, more interesting, more compelling and more memorable coinage.
I like the idea of the state quarter series. I even collect them, from pocket change. (NOT IN EXPENSIVE SLABS !!!!) I once collected 1794 cents by Sheldon variety, and finest known specimens of shield nickel varieties such as doubled and tripled dies. Now I collect state quarters from pocket change. It is less expensive, I can assure you. But really, can't we make more interesting coins?
Best,
Sunnywood
Occasionally, a bold and somewhat interesting design has been allowed to cover most of the fields (Connecticut, Vermont, Mississippi, for example). This approach more closely recalls the halcyon days of the Peace dollar and the "buffalo" nickel, whose designs boldly covered the area of the coin. The St. Gaudens double eagle shows us how a beautiful background can enhance a central device. That idea is nowhere to be seen in this series.
The top and bottom edges of the reverse include by mandate each state's name and the year of its inclusion in the Union, as well as the year of mintage with legend "E Pluribus Unum." The remaining side edges of the reverse are poorly used on most of the designs. Only Georgia and Maryland use a wreath-like edge motif. Many of the others use stars or leave the area blank. Of course, I exclude those designs wherein the side edges are also covered by the main portrait, such as Rhode Island, Vermont, Maine, etc. The mandated use of the top and bottom also forces a number of overly "horizontal" designs (New Jersey, Virginia), while some coins make good use of the width (Missouri, and North Carolina, ugly though it may be). Funny how two states claim the Wright brothers' aircraft: North Carolina, and Ohio. One shows an undetailed figure stainding in the field below, while the other has a man in a space suit instead. OK folks, "whatever."
My favorites have been Connecticut and Arkansas (isn't that diamond a nice surprise?). Many of the coins have a good start for an idea, but the executions have been simplistic. Yes, I know, these are the fruits of high-volume production in cheap hard metals to maximize Mint seigniorage (i.e. profit; did I spell that right?). I would think with our advanced computerized manufacturing technology, and two and a quarter centuries of artistic experimentation on our coinage, that we could come up with more beautiful, more detailed, more interesting, more compelling and more memorable coinage.
I like the idea of the state quarter series. I even collect them, from pocket change. (NOT IN EXPENSIVE SLABS !!!!) I once collected 1794 cents by Sheldon variety, and finest known specimens of shield nickel varieties such as doubled and tripled dies. Now I collect state quarters from pocket change. It is less expensive, I can assure you. But really, can't we make more interesting coins?
Best,
Sunnywood
0
Comments
<< <i>Flip it over, and there's a dead President with re-interpreted "accented hair." >>
Do not insult a classic variety by comparing that ghastly spaghetti hair to my beloved coins. They ruined it in 1991 when they retooled the obverse die; not just on the quarter, but also the half.
Russ, NCNE
I think the design isn't all that stunning but I must say that I find the large blank fields kind of interesting. It's the least cluttered
modern coin I've ever seen.
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But, everyone is different in what they like....I even like the MA...which most people complain about.....I like the minuteman there.....a reminder of our history and men who gave their lives for a country before it was a country.
For what the quarters due for our young, what is wrong with a state outline on them? I think it is neat and it is someone our young are missing in our school system's for the most part....how many high school graduates do you think can ID a state from its outline? Not many I bet, in most schools. I don't think that skill is as important as other skills, but it is still something I expect a US kid to do. I can get most of them, but not all, these days...but, 20 years ago, I could get them all...that was part of our curriculum....not these days I bet though. So, I think the quarters that do it, and do it right, are cool.
Too many people want the quarters to meet their specialized desires rather than appealing to the masses.....
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