From the Renaissance of American Coinage book-- Fraser stickin' it to the lawyers

Longacre

I was reading the Renaissance of American Coinage (1916-1921) book, and there was an interesting section on the thickness of coins and how changes in their physical attributes might impact the vending machines, pay phones, and automatic coin dispensers. Although the book does not deal with the era of the Buffalo nickel, it did include a pretty funny footnote related to this topic. I love it when someone sticks it to the lawyers (who were probably billing at $800/hr, staying at the Willard, and dining in the finest restaurants in DC):

“This issue had come to the fore during the design of the Buffalo nickel in 1912. According to designer James E. Fraser, vending machine interests sent lawyers to the Treasury to object to the new nickel design, complaining that it would not operate in their equipment. Fraser said objections finally ceased when he reminded the lawyers and Treasury officials that the new nickel complied with all legal specifications, and it was the vending machine companies who has to design their equipment to accept legal coinage.”

XpipedreamR

I got my copy yesterday, and read abut the first 50 pages, so I'm not at that point yet. It's very interesting and thorough. I got up to MacNeil's alternate SLQ reverse designs. I've got to say, I think they went with the right one. In the rejected designs, the eagle looks really bunched up in the space provided, like it's in a cage or something, while in the selected design the eagle is in its full soaring glory. I also thought the rejected obverse design, with the olive branch and the sword, was kind of cool.

Longacre

I liked the sword obverse too!

XpipedreamR

In the selected obverse, Liberty is holding the olive branch back behind her, behind the shield, while in the one rejected design, she is offering an olive branch, but wielding a large sword. We will defend our peace vs. an offering of peace, but we are willing to fight. Ultimately the same meaning, but toned down in its depiction. It's not what you say, but how you say it

MikeInFL

There's an extended story about the design, dispute, and release of the buffalo nickel in the "Complete Guide to Buffalo Nickels" by Davide Lange if you're interested in more details about this part of numismatic history, including the vending machine fiasco....Mike