The decade leading up to the
Roaring Twenties was a huge transitional
period for the citizens of the United States.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roaring_Twenties http://www.sagehistory.net/twenties/Twenties.htm
Cities were growing; the
automobile was starting to become the more reliable means of transportation;
people were flocking to the movie houses; the United States had entered the
realm of world politics; and, we entered
the Golden Age of numismatics.
Link:
http://www.grolierclub.org/ExNumismatics.htm http://www.pcgs.com/articles/article...eid=313&type=1
In the same competition that won Adolph Alexander Weinman the commission to
design the new dime, later to be known as the Mercury Dime, he also won the
commission to design the new half dollar. The design would be called the
Walking Liberty, and it is considered to be the most beautiful of all silver
coins ever produced by the United States Mint.
The design was considered
to be so profound that it was reintroduced when the Silver Eagle Bullion coin
made its debut in 1986.
American Platinum, Silver, and Gold Eagle coins are among the most popular coins among investors worldwide. They are the only bullion coins guaranteed for weight, content, and purity by the United States government.
Silver American Eagles, which the United States government first introduced in 1986, have fast become one of the most popular ways to invest in silver bullion.
Like the
Gold American Eagle, the design for the Silver American Eagle was borrowed from an older American coin. The image of "Walking Liberty,' located on the front of the Silver American Eagle, first debuted in 1916 on the half-dollar coin designed by Adolph Weinman. Renowned for their beauty,
Walking Liberty Half-Dollars are widely considered one of the United States' most attractive silver coin.
Minting Information
Silver American Eagles are one-ounce coins made from 99.9% pure silver bullion. A trace amount of copper is added to increase their durability.
Silver has historically been the most affordable precious metal. Since 1986, the United States has minted one-dollar silver coins called "Silver Eagles."
Design
The design on the obverse was taken from the classic "Walking Liberty" design by
Adolph A. Weinman, which had originally been used on the
half-dollar coin of the United States from 1916 to 1947. As this iconic design had been a public favorite –and indeed one most beloved designs of any United States coinage of modern times, silver or otherwise– it was revived for the Silver Eagle decades later. The reverse portrays a heraldic eagle designed by John Mercanti.
The obverse depicts Lady Liberty cloaked in Old Glory walking towards a new day. She carries branches of laurel and oak in her arms.
The obverse design of Weinman's Walking Liberty half dollar is one of
powerful symbolism. Miss Liberty, dressed in the stars and stripes, is
walking Eastward towards the dawning of a new day over war ravaged Europe.
Her right arm is extended with the palm of her hand upward as if to offer a
helping hand, yet on her feet are the crossed thronged sandals of the ancient
Roman soldier. In the crook of her left arm is a large bundle of oak
and laurel branches representing both civilian and military honors. She
also wears a cap similar to the one depicted on the dime, but without the wings
The motto "IN GOD WE TRUST" rests to the right of her calf.
Reverse:
The reverse design of this half dollar depicts a very powerful appearing
eagle facing Eastward with wings spread as if to spring into flight from a
mountain crag. Nearby, it is said, is a mountain pine sapling which is
symbolic of America springing forth from the rocky terrain.
These were powerful symbols to express to the rest of the world as the United
States prepared to enter World War I.
The reverse features an American bald eagle with wings spread proudly. Weinman's initials, AAW, can be found under its wing tip.
It rests on a rocky crag with mountain pine sapling springing from its cracks. The Mint Mark signifying the city where these coins were struck is located just below the pine sapling for all coins struck after 1917 (for the first year and a half, it was located on the obverse under the motto).
An inverse pyramid of thirteen stars representing the thirteen original colonies floats above its head.
Map of the thirteen original colonies. http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/e...o/colonies.gif [IMG]http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee18/cherylkubicko/colonies.gif[/IMG]
The words "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA ' 1 OZ. FINE SILVER ~ ONE DOLLAR '" encircle the eagle.
http://www.bellaonline.com/ArticlesP/art35986.asp Link about John M. Mercanti http://www.usmint.gov/about_the_mint...ction=Mercanti Link about A.A. Weinaman http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adolph_Alexander_Weinman http://www.encyclomedia.com/adolph_w..._engraver.html http://www.pcgs.com/articles/article...tml?artid=1952 
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