The sculptor of the Standing Liberty quarter, a design that joined preparedness, peace, and a dynamic full-length Liberty.
Biography
MacNeil trained in the United States and Paris and became known for public sculpture. He won the quarter assignment during the 1916 redesign and worked through several revisions with the Mint.
Style and legacy
His quarter uses architectural framing, a forward-moving Liberty, shield, olive branch, and a flying eagle, all compressed into a theatrical shallow-relief composition. The series' design changes reveal the tension between artistic models, public interpretation, and production durability. The design returned in gold for its 2016 centennial.