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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Dougmeister, post: 2023090, member: 56842&quot;]<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_Gobrecht" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_Gobrecht" rel="nofollow">Christian Gobrecht</a>, who became chief engraver upon the death of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Kneass" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Kneass" rel="nofollow">William Kneass</a> in 1840, redesigned the gold $2.50 quarter eagle, giving it the same design as he had created for the $10 eagle in 1838 and the $5 half eagle in 1839.</p><p><br /></p><p>Many refer to this as the &quot;Liberty Head&quot;, but most modern references list it as the &quot;Coronet&quot; design, highlighting his complete revision of the female personification of Liberty.</p><p><br /></p><p>According to Cornelius Vermeule&#039;s <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Numismatic-Art-America-Aesthetics-Coinage/dp/0794822746" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.amazon.com/Numismatic-Art-America-Aesthetics-Coinage/dp/0794822746" rel="nofollow"><i>Numismatic Art in America</i></a>, Gobrecht&#039;s inspiration for the design appears to have been a painting: <i>Pythagoras</i> or <i>The Earth is Round</i> by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pierre-Narcisse_Gu%C3%A9rin" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pierre-Narcisse_Gu%C3%A9rin" rel="nofollow">Pierre Narcisse Guerin</a>, France, circa 1800. This painting is reflective of the Roman <a href="http://www.nga.gov/content/ngaweb/features/slideshows/18th-and-19th-century-france-neoclassicism.html" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.nga.gov/content/ngaweb/features/slideshows/18th-and-19th-century-france-neoclassicism.html" rel="nofollow">neo-classicism</a> of the Napoleonic era.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]366719[/ATTACH] </p><p><br /></p><p>Numismatic researchers suggest that Gobrecht&#039;s placing a coronet upon Liberty&#039;s head signifies noble rank, but without the trappings of monarchy. The 13 stars represent the 13 original states.</p><p><br /></p><p>The reverse was borrowed largely from <a href="http://www.usacoinbook.com/encyclopedia/coin-designers/john-reich/" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.usacoinbook.com/encyclopedia/coin-designers/john-reich/" rel="nofollow">John Reich&#039;s</a> original 1808 design which was later modified by Kneass. Gobrecht strengthened the Heraldic Eagle, with wings raised and head facing left.</p><p><br /></p><p>Due to the longevity of the Coronet design, several significant varieties are known.</p><p><br /></p><p>- Coin World&#039;s &quot;<i>Making the Grade: Comprehensive Grading Guide for U.S. Coins</i>&quot;</p><p>- Screenshot of painting from <a href="http://www.the-athenaeum.org/art/detail.php?ID=142396" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.the-athenaeum.org/art/detail.php?ID=142396" rel="nofollow">The Athenaeum</a>[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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