Hermon A. MacNeil

By DFW Coin & Jewelry Center ……

The Standing Liberty quarter was designed by Hermon MacNeil and was minted from 1916 to 1930.

An exciting development at the FUN Convention (Florida United Numismatists) in Orlando earlier this year was the reappearance of MacNeil’s own Standing Liberty quarter, which is reportedly the first one struck. Later, PCGS graded this 1916 quarter as AU-58 and featured the term “MacNeil Specimen” on the label inside the PCGS holder. It will be displayed by the DFW Coin & Jewelry Center at the upcoming ANA National Money Show at The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, March 10 to 12.

Kris Oyster of DFW Coin & Jewelry Center purchased this quarter in a Capital Plastics holder at the FUN Convention in January and had it in a PCGS holder at the Long Beach Expo in February. This quarter is accompanied by two documents with notarized signatures, which relate to its provenance since it was received by MacNeil.

Hermon MacNeil was born in 1866 in Massachusetts and died in 1947 in New York. In 1966, a New York City park in College Point, Queens, was named in his honor.

MacNeil’s large works can still be viewed at various public places around the United States. His Pony Express statue in St. Joseph, Missouri, is extremely popular. His trio of statues, Guardians of Liberty, is located at the east pediment of the U.S. Supreme Court building in Washington, DC. MacNeil’s statue of Ezra Cornell at Cornell University is important to that institution. A MacNeil sculpture, Intellectual Development, in front of a gymnasium at Northwestern University is very much reminiscent of the female figure of liberty on the Standing Liberty quarter.

MacNeil presented his own 1916 Standing Liberty quarter to his step-daughter, Dorothy Muenich. She was married to W.H. Schuling.

On August 10, 1962, Schuling’s signature was notarized on a statement that this quarter was the “first of its type off the press.” In addition to a notary, two other people witnessed Schuling sign this document, which was intended to accompany the coin from 1962 on (and still does).

Another notarized document reveals that a collector purchased this Standing Liberty quarter at the 1964 ANA Convention in Cleveland, in front of a dealer from Houston who is named in the document. In addition to the notary, another witness signed this second document, which is recently dated, “December 20, 2021”. There is thus a lineage from Hermon MacNeil to the present.

Kris Oyster, the proprietor of DFW Coin & Jewelry Center, said he “may consider putting the coin up for auction at a later date but wants to enjoy it for the time being as well as displaying it for others to see at coin shows.”

The two notarized documents explained above accompany the coin and will be part of the display.

Oyster may be reached by email, KOyster@live.com, or through the DFW Coin & Jewelry Center website, www.dfwcjc.com.

Retrieved from CoinWeek.com on 6-14-2022 at (https://coinweek.com/us-coins/macneils-personal-1916-standing-liberty-quarter-at-ana-money-show/ )

Retrieved from CoinWeek.com on 6-14-2022 at (https://coinweek.com/us-coins/macneils-personal-1916-standing-liberty-quarter-at-ana-money-show/ )

2016 MacNeil Medallion marks the 150th Anniversary the birth of Hermon A. MacNeil.

2016 MacNeil Medallion marking the 100th Anniversary the minting of the Standing Liberty Quarter.

This website has documented the Standing Liberty Quarter dozens of times.

The MacNeil Medallion cast in 2016, commemorates the Centennial of this beautiful coin. As well as, the Sesquicentennial of Hermon’s birth in 1866.

Commissioned by our webmaster, these numbered medals are available on eBay.

Edward A. Van Orden, “Collecting a Masterpiece; an Introduction to the Standing Liberty quarter” (3) ~~ SLQ ~~ Part One ~~ In September 2019 the…
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Categories : Location

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Jun

Alert! MacNeil’s Original SLQ Specimen has Emerged. ~~ Part 1

By Dan Leininger, Webmaster · Comments (0)

After 105 years the original SPECIMEN of the

Standing Liberty Quarter

has been put on display.

Nicholas D’Amico, “Exile on 72st”,

a Friend of HAM [https://hermonatkinsmacneil.com/],

has alerted us to this new development;

as reported by CoinWeek.com

Dear Webmaster,
Hello, a couple of years back I purchased this medal (the MacNeil Medallion) from you. Then we spoke of how terrible it was that statues all over our country are being removed. I’m contacting you now to bring your attention to an article I found today on my email from .www.dfwcjc.com, about Hermon MacNeil’s standing liberty quarter for sale!
… If you Google standing liberty quarter Hermon MacNeil Specimen, you should see it. It’s offered for 250K.

Dear exile on 72st,
I didn’t know about the “specimen” SLQ story. Thanks indeed!
I will make a future posting on HAM about that.
You must be a coin enthusiast if you follow CoinWeek.
QUOTING THAT ARTICLE: “MacNeil presented his own 1916 Standing Liberty quarter to his step-daughter, Dorothy Muenich. She was married to W.H. Schuling.” That statement checks out. Dorothy was HERMON’S stepdaughter, a daughter of his second wife, Cecelia Muenich, who I have quoted in several postings in 2022. Webmaster

… If I purchased that specimen, I would donate it to The American Numismatic Society to be forever viewed by numismatists and historians. I have been collecting coins and medals since 1965 when coins went from silver to clad.
I never get tired of studying the coins and medals of MacNeil and Weinman.
Their sculpture and casting work too.
-exileon72st

exileon72st
That is a very noble idea. The gesture of a true coin lover / collector. It is also a story that my web followers would be interested in. Can I quote your idea? I can do that anonymously, unless you want your name associated with it.
Very fine gesture.
Coin collectors tend to be history buffs.
Dan

Dear Dan
Absolutely, thank you, you can use my name, Nicholas D’Amico and maybe it could inspire the buyer to donate it to the ANS. That coin should not be hidden or forgotten for as long as there is a United States.
-exileon72st

MORE DETAILS Tomorrow …

STAY TUNED

Categories : Location

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May

Why the Chicago Monument Project? ~~ FAQ

By Dan Leininger, Webmaster · Comments (0)

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is Chicago doing this?

Chicago joins cities across the country reckoning with the omissions and over-simplifications present in their public art collections. The Chicago Monuments Project intends to grapple with the often unacknowledged – or forgotten – history associated with the City’s various municipal art collections and provides a vehicle for a public dialogue that will elevate new ways to memorialize Chicago’s history more equitably and accurately.

Are all of these monuments going to be removed?

No, this is not a condemnation of these monuments, but rather this is an opportunity to learn from them. We invite Chicagoans to provide valuable feedback, reflecting on the city’s history and how it should be encapsulated in our public art moving forward.

STAY TUNED HERE: We will post results as soon as they are announced this Summer!

CLICK HERE for MORE:

Marquette Statue in Chicago (9) Today we took a short trip south from our daughter’s…
More Marquette Statue Photos (9) Our Photo journey to this statue produced more pictures than…
Searching for Uncle Hermon in Chicago ~ “The Sun Vow” (cont.) (9) On a cold December day we took the CTA Blue…
“Chicago Sculpture in the Loop” features Hermon A. MacNeil’s Work at Marquette Building (8) Gregory H. Jenkins has posted stories of the Marquette Bronze…
Hermon MacNeil Sculpture in the Chicago Loop (8) Gregory H. Jenkins AIA, Chicago architect and keeper of the …
“PRIMITIVE INDIAN MUSIC” ~ Part 3: 1894 Eda Lord’s Ticket to the Chicago World’s Fair (8) Eda Lord, (the woman who purchased the MacNeil bronze statue,…

Categories : Location

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Apr

MacNeil Medallions Awarded to 25 Volunteers of the Coastal Preservation Network at College Point

By Dan Leininger, Webmaster · Comments (0)

Hooded Sweatshirts given to CPN Volunteers have this logo map of College Point on the backs. This year, 2022, marks the 20th year of CPNs service along the East River shore between the parks. For 50 years Hermon and Carol MacNeil’s home and studio was located above the “C” in “College Point.” Thanks for your “housekeeping”, CPN Volunteers.

Coastal Preservation Network (CPN)

Kathryn Cervino reports that College Point volunteers have been cleaning, planting, and beautifying Hermon MacNeil Park since 2002.

“Uncle Hermon” would be Sooo… proud.

The MacNeil Medallion marks the 150th Anniversary of his birth. Available on eBay.

They periodically scour the shore line of the East River in between MacNeil Park and Powell’s Cove Park, raking, planting, collecting trash, plastic, and any debris that threaten the life, beauty, and enjoyment of College Pointers along this public shoreline of the River.

To honor the work of CPN Volunteers, 25 MacNeil Medallions were given to Kathryn Cervino, president of CPN to distribute to her Volunteers at College Point.

A quartet of smiling College Point Volunteers show off their Hermon MacNeil souvenir Medallions during an afternoon of “polishing” the shoreline.

Kat Cervino (lt) with a proud CPN Volunteer show off their MacNeil Medallions in Hermon MacNeil Park.

CPN6-MacNeil Medallions copy

CPN logo of 20 anniversary sweatshirts

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Jo Davidson (cont.) in the MacNeil Atlier (2) Jo Davidson continues the narrative of his adventures working in…
“Hermon and Jo” ~~ Story #1 ~~ For MacNeil Month ~ February 2021 ~~ (2) Jo Davidson started as a “studio boy” for…

Categories : Location

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Apr

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ What’s the FUTURE of the PAST? ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ The Chicago Monuments Project

By Dan Leininger, Webmaster · Comments (1)

All of Hermon MacNeil’s Lifeworks

enshrine the PAST.

SO… What is the Future of the Past?

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Chicago Monuments Project

Throughout 2021 the Chicago Monuments Project has been pursuing its Mission. From over 500 public monuments in the City of Chicago, the Project has identified 41 for review related to the following issues:

Promoting narratives of white supremacy
Presenting inaccurate and/or demeaning characterizations of American Indians
Memorializing individuals with connections to racist acts, slavery, and genocide
Presenting selective, over-simplified, one-sided views of history
Not sufficiently including other stories, in particular those of women, people of color, and themes of labor, migration, and community building
Creating tension between people who see value in these artworks and those who do not [ Source: https://chicagomonuments.org/about ]

The PAST is under REVIEW

Hermon MacNeil’s

Marquette-Jolliet-Ilini Indian Memorial

is one of the 41 under review.

Webmaster, Dan Neil Leininger and Donna on their first visit to the Marquette – jolliet – Ilini monument at Marshall and Twenty-fourth Boulevard in Chicago.

A report of recommendations is expected to be released in

Summer of 2022

The Project created written introductions for each of the 41 pieces being reviewed. MacNeil’s Jacques Marquette-Louis Jolliet Memorial is introduced as follows:

Title: Jacques Marquette-Louis Jolliet Memorial

Date: 1926

Artist: Hermon Atkins MacNeil (1866-1947)

Location: Marshall and 24th Blvd

Context: As the first Europeans to explore and document the northern portion of the Mississippi, which included the river link from the Great Lakes to the Mississippi basin through what would become Chicago, French missionary Jacques Marquette and the Quebec-born cartographer Louis Jolliet, along with their Indian guides, are ubiquitous figures in the modern iconography of the founding of Chicago.

This imposing representation of Marquette and Jolliet, with a subservient American Indian at their side, was created by Hermon Atkins McNeil, the academically trained sculptor who contributed the relief sculptures of Marquette’s life to the extraordinary decorative cycle at the Marquette Building in thirty years earlier, in 1895.

Other representations of Marquette include the commemorative plaques near the site of the Damen Avenue Bridge (1930) and at the DuSable Bridge (1925), as well as on the northeast DuSable Bridge pylon (1928).

Source: Chicago Monuments Project (https://chicagomonuments.org/monuments/jacques-marquette-louis-jolliet-memorial) retrieved March 28, 2022

“Statues of Limitations:

Jackson Healy, Staff Writer for the The DePaulia ~ The Student News Site of DePaul University offered an insightful article on June 6, 2021 entitled:

“Statues of limitations:

future of 41 monuments up in air

as Chicago reckons with its nation’s past”

Whether they’re made of bronze or marble, apparently not all of Chicago’s monuments are set in stone.

On July 17, 2020, amid a nationwide racial reckoning triggered by the murder of George Floyd by former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, a violent clash between police and protesters broke out after the protesters attempted to topple the city’s statue of Christopher Columbus in Grant Park, resulting in 12 arrests and at least 18 injured officers.

One week later, the statue was “temporarily” removed at Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s discretion, and on August 12, the mayor’s office announced a citywide review of public monuments through what would become known as the Chicago Monuments Project.

The project consists of a 30-person advisory committee made up of city officials, artists, scholars, curators, architects and community leaders dedicated to assessing the city’s public works. The committee gathers input from community members and eventually will release a report with recommendations on how the city should handle its more controversial monuments, as well as a list of potential new monuments that could be commissioned.

[ For entire article CLICK HERE: ]

MacNeil’s depiction of Marquette has the priest with an inviting open right hand as his left hand holds out a crucifix above his heart. Their (Ilini) Indian guide looks on in seeming fascination.

MacNeil’s Marquette-Jolliet-Illini Memorial

“Whether they’re made

of bronze or marble,

apparently not all of Chicago’s monuments

are set in stone.”

The DePaulia

Statues of limitations …

We eagerly await the Chicago Monument Project

report scheduled to be released Summer of 2022.

Categories : 1893 Columbian Exposition -Chicago, Chicago, Chicago Downtown, Illinois, Location, Monuments, Sculptures, Statue

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Mar

The “Apache Papoose” an early Native American study by Hermon MacNeil

By Dan Leininger, Webmaster · Comments (0)

Recently, I procured a plaster casting by

Hermon

Atkins

MacNeil

The work was a very early study dating back to the 1890’s.

The image re-appears as part of a larger sculpture entitled

‘Mother and

Papoose’

A bronze casting of that later work was listed by

J. N. BARTFIELD GALLERIES₁

They state that:

According to the Roman Bronze Works ledger, Only two casts of Mother and Papoose were ever done, both—#1 and #2 on the same day: November 9, 1906. No other casts are known. (Source: https://www.bartfield.com/ retrieved on 1-25-22)

This detail of the bronze ‘Mother & Papoose’ shows the similarity of the plaster model of 1894 and the bronze casting of 1906.

Of the Papoose model, MacNeil scholar and College Point author, James Haas, wrote the following:

“In the summer of 1895 [when MacNeil traveled in the Four Corners area] he modeled two dozen Indian-themed pieces. His subjects were Utes, Navajo, Acoma and Moqui Indians from which sprang his most famous work, Moqui Prayer for Rain.” Mother and Papoose appears to have been modeled by MacNeil while he was on this trip.

1892 0r 1894

Whether the Papoose plaster was made in 1892 or 1894 is in disagreement. James Haas suggests the later date.

The Papoose is dated in Roman Numerals. At first glance they could be read as:

MDCCCXCII

But there is an additional “I” at the end of the hand engraved date on the crown of the papoose. It could appear to be the other side of a letter ‘V’ which would offer an alternative reading of the Roman Numeral date as:

MDCCCXCIV

which changes the last digit to reads out as a 4 (IV) rather than a 2 (II).

The ‘1894’ reading of the date fits better into the known timeline of MacNeil’s life after the ending of the Chicago Worlds Fair — Worlds Columbian Exposition in 1893.

1892 Papoose by Hermon Atkins MacNeil

J. N. BARTFIELD GALLERIES ₁

AMERICAN, WESTERN & SPORTING ART

Hermon Atkins MacNeil (1866-1947)

According to the Roman Bronze Works ledger, Only two casts of Mother and Papoose were ever done, both—#1 and #2 on the same day: November 9, 1906. No other casts are known. Of the model, MacNeil scholar, James Haas, wrote the following, “In the summer of 1895 [when MacNeil traveled in the Four Corners area] he modeled two dozen Indian-themed pieces. His subjects were Utes, Navajo, Acoma and Moqui Indians from which sprang his most famous work, Moqui Prayer for Rain.” Mother and Papoose appears to have been modeled by MacNeil while he was on this trip. A Massachusetts native, Hermon Atkins MacNeil studied in Boston, New York, and Paris before being asked to work on the World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1891. While there, MacNeil saw Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show and was inspired to take his classical training to the American West. MacNeil’s bronzes of Native Americans, perhaps more than those of any other sculptor, portray majesty while preserving the individuality of the subject. The spirituality Macneil’s First Americans convey is expressed through lightness and solidity rather than other worldliness.

Hermon Atkins MacNeil

Mother and Papoose

Roman Bronze Works N.Y.

Cast N.1

16 1/2 inches high