Mercury dimes and Fascism

Because the vast majority do not find it offensive...

...and are offended by those who do.

 

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Of course you are right. Thankfully, she has not been totally scrubbed. She also appears on the ASE, AGE & APE bullion coinage.

There is no denying though that liberty has been significantly deemphasized, compared with the first 2/3 of American history when she was featured on the obverse of nearly every circulating coin.

The point that I was trying to make is that Lady Liberty has been largely replaced on our coinage by politicians. As as it has happened, the power of the central government has grown. The power of special interest groups (some popular, some rich, and some just loud) has grown. The freedom of the people has dimished.

 

They don't like the dutch cartoons of Mohamad on the bottom. But I've felt it was an important statement about Free Civilization and Free Speach on a valid topic.

Ruben

 

it wasnt...and the swastika is used often in asian culture and religion, nor should they stop using it because the nazis used it...Simply because a nation that was unsavory in it purpose uses a symbol shouldnt make it off limits to be used. The symbolism was fitting...The nazis used an eagle...should they be taken off our coins as well?

 

However, as a good luck symbol and as used in other cultures, the swastica was reversed.

 

there are examples of it being used both ways...as is and reversed...from ancient greece to asian cultures...it was just a common symbol. As for symbolism on coins...thats what they are for...this takes a close second to the main purpose of coinage which would be a system of exchange...at one time we did not put 'in god we trust' on our coins...not until some christians started a letter writing campaign and some politicians thought it would look good to go along with it...

There will always be symbolism on coins that some will not like, others will...always will be that way. Its so funny to be honest...one person is offended at 'in god we trust'...the next wants it there and is offended at those people who are offended You cant please everyone...ever. The plain fact is people are easily offended...and often go out of their way to offend...

 

Since this strange "nazis & eagle" thing has been brought up a few times in this thread: The nazis did not use the eagle in the sense that they introduced one as a symbol of their ideology. Both the swastika and the fasces, however, were symbols that the two dictatorships introduced. Except that, as I wrote, the fasces had been (and still is) in use in Europe.

Maybe some language related examples work better: In the early 20th century, terms such as "Concentration Camp" (think South Africa) or "Final Solution" may have been somewhat controversial but not worse. In the mid/late 1940s, however, they became strongly connected to the Holocaust - not only in Europe AFAIK but also in the US. Had the US government used them in a different sense at that time, I assume they would have been replaced. Words like "nation", on the other hand (which the nazis also tried to "re-define"), were and are acceptable in the US because they have a different historical context.

As for that eagle on German coins ... there is a reason why it can be found on current coins from the Federal Republic.

Christian

 

Nazi Eagle Usage

The eagle is a symbol that dates back into german history (much as the fasces dates back all the way into Roman history). It was between WWI and WWII that the rise of fascism occurred, and the fascists adopted prior symbols as their own. The Nazi's used extensive eagle imagery, frequently holding a swastika.

Emblems:
http://www.packrat-toyz.com/images/Reenactor stuff/Helmet Decals/Helmet-Decals-German-Eagle.jpg

Pins:
http://www.diggerhistory.info/images/medals-asstd/german-eagle.jpg

Coins:
http://www.jjcoins.com/NaziPics/gerVF.jpg

Kind of seems like they did use the eagle as a primary symbol in their regime.

 

The eagle was and is a symbol representing the country; again, nothing nazi-specific about that. The nazi party's symbol was the swastika - and once that party's dictatorship was established, they combined a symbol of the country (eagle) with the symbol of their party.

Christian

 

Quite Frankly The Eagle In America Symbolizes Something Completely
Different Than In Europe !

 

I learned this on my recent trip to a Buddhist temple (in South China) that was around a long time before this symbol became popular in Germany

- As you can see the monks have not washed it from their walls as it means something different to them... I like their way of thinking!

The first picture is the view from the entrance and the second is the view just to the left as you walk in.

http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee123/USS656/IMG_2429.jpg

http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee123/USS656/IMG_2427.jpg

Good post!

 

... thus thinking British, not German. Perhaps not all know that the term "concentration camp" came from the British - 40 years before Kristallnacht.

 

When we get too heavy, we go to the Fat Camp. Illiterate children are sent to reading camp. The problem is that now I'm getting old, and I have trouble concentrating...

 

Hi Jerome,

No offense, but anyone that makes this connection is REALLY stretching political correctness to a fault.

Western Civ has been using lightning bolts for a couple of thousand years to symbolize this that or whatever. Well, the SS adopted them in WWII also so does that make lightning bolts bad? Of course not.

The eagle is enormously symbolic in this country, but many nasty political movements from all around the world have used it as a symbol. Does the fact that they may be evil, tarnish the symbol? Of course not.

Another example - I use a baseball bat to beat someone to death. Is the bat guilty? Should bats be banned? Of course not - I'm guilty and I should go to jail - not the bat.

just my thoughts,

rono

 

Expect it to return in 2009. Ever look below the eagle on the Washington quarter 1932-98? That tied bundle of arrows is also a fasces. No ax, but still a fasces. A symbol of unity where together they are stronger than the individual unit and on the quarter it still represents the uniting of the states into a stong unified country. It also appeared on the Congress bicentennial silver dollar.