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CoinTalk > Coin Forums > Coin Chat TRIVIA: Lady Liberty on Coins:

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LinkBack Thread Tools Rate Thread Display Modes 03-25-2009, 11:05 AM   #1 (permalink) Clinker Coin Collector     Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Fort Myers, FL Posts: 1,704 My Mood: TRIVIA: Lady Liberty on Coins: If an American Citizen sees or hears the words "Lady Liberty," most will immediate equate the phrase with the Statue of "Liberty" (a gift to the United States by France in 1886) standing on Liberty Island in New York Harbor. A numismatist will associate the phrase to the image/s borne on the obverse of the early United States coinage. Bust, sitting, standing or walking. However, there is one constant factor. Most of the world associates Liberty (as a mortal or immortal) as a femine personification (Goddess or Lady). Some Americans across our continent may envision "Lady Liberty" in another form or location, i.e. People in Washington D.C. may point to the "Statue of Freedom" which stands atop the dome of the U.S. Capitol Building; Citizens of Atlanta will direct you to the dome of their Georgia State Capitol Building where she stands proclaiming freedom to all. Texans in Austin proudly declare her presence as "Miss Freedom" atop the dome of their Capitol Building. Citizens of Fort Wayne, Indiana lift their eyes to take a reassuring glance at her spot on the Allen County Courthouse. People in Hackensack, New Jersey see her watching over them as they pass tby the Bergen County Courthouse. Enough of this non-coin chat, let me get down to "Lady Liberty's" revelance to coinage. "Liberty" on coinage didn't start with our coinage. The concept of "Lady Liberty" dates back to the Roman's "Libertas." They minted coinage bearing "Lady Liberty" (Libertas) way back when Rome was a Republic under Farsuleius Mensor as evidenced by this Silver Denaruius minted circa 75 BC (photo courtesy coinarchives): http://www.coinarchives.com/a/lotviewer.php?LotID=219923&AucID=313&Lot=974 Let's jump a bit forward in time to see other examples of "Lady Liberty" on more modern coins. These will be presented in Alphabetical order so as not to show preference. The country, then its "Lady Liberty" followed by a photo of the coin. Columbia - Libertad Note: "Columbia" is another "Lady Liberty" personification. Used as such in word form as Washington District of Columbia, U.S. cities and capitols as Columbia, South Carolina and the country Columbia located in South America. In 1924 Columbia Puctures adopted a version of the personified "Columbia" as its logo. A draped Bust of "Liberty" (Libertad) adorns the obverse of this Columbia Gold 8 Escudos: http://www.coinarchives.com/w/lotviewer.php?LotID=532719&AucID=387&Lot=1028 Ecuador - Libertad The Republic of Ecuador struck this Gold Escudos which was minted by the Quito Mint in 1842: http://www.coinarchives.com/w/lotviewer.php?LotID=532737&AucID=387&Lot=1046 Great Britain - Brittania Here "Britannia" sits on the reverse of a 1797 (George III)Twopence Cartwheel http://www.coinarchives.com/w/lotviewer.php?LotID=658172&AucID=481&Lot=1618 Guatemala - Libertad Wreathed Head of "Liberty" (Libertad) proclaims Freedom from the obverse of this 1878 20 Pesos: http://www.coinarchives.com/w/lotviewer.php?LotID=532755&AucID=387&Lot=1064 Finland - Finnish Maiden http://www.coinarchives.com/w/lotviewer.php?LotID=666656&AucID=486&Lot=101 France - Marianne Minted in Paris in 1908, this 10 Francs coin exhibits a great charicature of "Liberty" (Marianne): http://www.coinarchives.com/w/lotviewer.php?LotID=636648&AucID=459&Lot=1167 But "Marrianne" was featured on coinage of France in the early 1800s: http://www.coinarchives.com/w/lotviewer.php?LotID=662526&AucID=484&Lot=1125 Now you know our dimes of 1916 through 1945 featured a winged helmeted "Liberty" (erroniously referred to as Mercury) on them. Surprise! Look at this French 1929 Gold 100 Francs pattern: http://www.coinarchives.com/w/lotviewer.php?LotID=575428&AucID=421&Lot=2553 Honduras - Libertad How do you like this 1897 Gold 5 Pesos? http://www.coinarchives.com/w/lotviewer.php?LotID=435971&AucID=323&Lot=267 Italy - Turrita In 1848 Italy struck this 40 Lire Coin bearing "Liberty" (Turrita). http://www.coinarchives.com/w/lotviewer.php?LotID=340662&AucID=247&Lot=138 Peru - Libertad An 1857 8 Reales has a full frontal figure of "Liberty" (Libertad) on obverse: http://www.coinarchives.com/w/lotviewer.php?LotID=532890&AucID=387&Lot=1199 Poland - Polonia Both silver and gold coins were struck in Poland diring 1925. Here's a photo of a 5 Zlotych Gold pattern "Liberty" (Polonia) on reverse http://www.coinarchives.com/w/lotviewer.php?LotID=578299&AucID=423&Lot=1031 Switzerland - Helvetia Look! A seated "Liberty" (Helvetia) on this 1850 5 Franken: http://www.coinarchives.com/w/lotviewer.php?LotID=656856&AucID=480&Lot=1 Hope you enjoyed this trivia.... Clinker   03-25-2009, 11:46 AM   #2 (permalink) weryon Self proclaimed messiah     Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Canada , New-Brunswick Posts: 782 Nice post clinker   03-25-2009, 01:27 PM   #3 (permalink) Clinker Coin Collector     Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Fort Myers, FL Posts: 1,704 My Mood: weryon Quote: Originally Posted by weryon Nice post clinker Thanks for reading and commenting... Clinker   04-04-2009, 08:33 AM   #4 (permalink) randygeki Coin Collector     Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Flagstaff, Arizona Posts: 2,040 My Mood: Thanks CLinker great post __________________ My old coins (really old)   04-07-2009, 11:09 AM   #5 (permalink) Clinker Coin Collector     Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Fort Myers, FL Posts: 1,704 My Mood: To randygeki: Quote: Originally Posted by randygeki Thanks CLinker great post Thanks, "Friend," always good to hear from you... Clinker   04-07-2009, 11:20 AM   #6 (permalink) Andrew67 Clueless     Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Central Maine Posts: 558 I learned something new today thanks Clinker! __________________ My cointalk albums   04-07-2009, 02:03 PM   #7 (permalink) Daggarjon Supporter**     Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Michigan Posts: 7,998 My Mood: thats alot of Liberty's thanks clinker __________________ Please visit My coin and currency Website. Any comments appreciated either on cointalk, or by signing my Guestbook WINS Member #: 779 - IBNS Member #: 9963 Most coin or currency storage questions answered here   04-09-2009, 12:34 PM   #8 (permalink) Clinker Coin Collector     Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Fort Myers, FL Posts: 1,704 My Mood: To Andrew67: Quote: Originally Posted by Andrew67 I learned something new today thanks Clinker! Hey...and thanks for reading and copmmenting... Clinker   04-09-2009, 12:35 PM   #9 (permalink) Clinker Coin Collector     Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Fort Myers, FL Posts: 1,704 My Mood: To Daggarjon: Quote: Originally Posted by Daggarjon thats alot of Liberty's thanks clinker Thanks to you, once again. Clinker   Bookmarks Digg del.icio.us StumbleUpon Google Would you like to support CoinTalk? Coin Talk Code of Honor 1. Post unto others as you would have them post unto you. 2. Keep it clean, like a 1950s family television show. 3. 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