You know no real person's image was allowed on early U.S.A. coins. All kinds of renditions of the female "Liberty" fell under the artistry of the U.S. Mint's designers. You, also, know the first living person's image on a U.S.A. coin was Christopher Columbus and that coin was struck in 1893 for the World's Columbian Exposition. Here's an image courtesy of worldcoingallery.com: http://www.coinfacts.com/commemoratives/half_dollar_commems/columbian_expo.htm When and on what U.S.A. coin did the first real woman appear? Not the Sacagawea Dollar. As you see in the photo, the first Sacagawea Dollar was struck in 2000 (image courtesy of worldcoingallery.com): http://worldcoingallery.com/countries.php?img=img4/US-1d00&desc=U.S.A.%20Dollar%20km311%20(2000%2B)%20Sacagawea This Susan B. Anthony Dollar, initially minted in 1979, isn't the first, either. http://worldcoingallery.com/countri...ollar km207 (1979-1981,1999) Susan B. Anthony You have to go back to 1893 and check out that other World's Columbian Exposition coin, specifically the Isabella Quarter. Before I reveal the photo there's more things you should know about the Quarter: 1. The Board of Lady Managers of the World's Columbian Exposition (aka the World's Fair), based in Chicago, wanted a souvenir item to be sold at the Expo to help pay the expenses. 2. The Board petitioned Congress for a souvenir Quarter Dollar. That Authorization was granted on March 3, 1893. 3. Mint designer, Charles E. Barber (Barber Dimes, Quarters and Halves) designed the Isabella Quarter. 4. Yes, that's Queen Isabella of Spain on the obverse. 5. The reverse has two interesting items. The figure centered holding a spindle and distaff is emblematic of Women's Industry. From 9:00 o'clock to 3:00 o'clock text reads "BOARD OF LADY MANAGERS." 6. Only 24,214 were minted and were sold at the Expo for $1.00. Here's the image courtesy of coinpage.com: http://www.coinpage.com/coin-image-1764.html I hope this trivia caused you to appreciate the 1893 Isabella Commemorative Quarter a bit more..do you? Clinker
I almost bought one last week. An Isabella slabbed by NGC and graded AU-58. The price was $429 which I think is reasonable. Instead I got a 1912 Gold Indian two and a half dollar coin. I see other Isabella quarters not as nice and they start at about $450.
Oh absolutely! That and the Lafayette dollar are always on the list. But for some reason I procrastinate. The Indian incused gold coins are just too tempting. lol
Now that is interesting. Glad you linked to that coin though. Maybe it's me but that looks more like a guy than a lady. What about those bust type halves? That lady on there sure looks like one of my relatives.
GD, it is hard for me to believe that the Kennedy family would have approved such a design. (and you know that they just had to have a finger in the pie) I agree with you that it is a very ugly coin. There is another commemorative one in the same time frame of Jefferson with entirely too much neck, another ugly coin.
