Blanchard

The MacNeil design has come to be recognized as one of the best in the entire history of our coinage. Miss Liberty is striding forward and her appearance is reminiscent of an ancient Greek sculpture. Her left hand is holding a shield in a protective manner. Her right hand holds an olive branch, but is also removing the drapery covering the shield. This ambiguous design was intended to tell others that America was prepared for anything, be it war or peace.

The reverse, as mandated by law, is adorned with an eagle. To the casual observer, this rendition seems to be one of the prettiest ever to grace a coin. The eagle is depicted in full flight with wings open; it is a gorgeous reverse. In 1916; however, it seems a few disgruntled ornithologists thought otherwise and made their feelings known by writing that the eagle had the "head of a hawk, the wings of an eagle, the body of a dove".