Here's some suggestions for designs that I reckon should go on a coin; The Simpsons. Ren & Stimpy. The Ripping Friends. Hogan's Heroes. or better still,a baboon making a monkey out of himself.
I reckon that the last State President of South Africa,F.W. de Klerk should be depicted on a coin.All the other State Presidents since C.R. Swart (who was the last Governor-General of South Africa (1959-61)) have been commemorated on coins. F.W. de Klerk was the man who destroyed apartheid & paved the way for South Africa's return to the British Commonwealth.
As my friends from the Coin Wold Forum may recall, mine is the lone (or nearly so) voice calling from the wilderness. I like "Dead Presidents." I would be thrilled to see the new dollar proposal start, and have our Presidents commemorated over the next many years. I suppose it goes back to 35 years as a history teacher, and the fact that one of my favorite topics was our Presidents. Probably never happen, but I'd love it.
I'd like to see the concepts of liberty on our coinage. Using Presidents can get too political. Look at the debate over the dime when it was suggested that Reagan be memoralized. Although, I love presidential history as well. Did you know that the first son of a president to be president was also the first president to be photographed, (though not while in office). Care to guess who it is?
No guess, just basic American history. John Quincy Adams, 6th President of the U.S., was the son of John Adams, 2nd President. What I didn't know was that John Quincy had ever been photographed, although thinking about it, photography was developed ( ) during his lifetime.
John Quincy Adams. I remember what the photo looked like. He had a very stern look about him as I recall. I would imagine Adams was serving in the House when the photo was taken. How long was he in Congress after being President? Twenty-four years comes to mind. Jackson was also photograhped. Pretty tough looking customer too. Which, of course he was. The Presidents. All of them were interesting I think. Some more than others. Would still like to see the coin series, but I don't think it will ever happen.
There is a bit of difficulty in doing a series of coins commemorating the Presidents of America,as the currency legislation in America makes it illegal to depict a living person on currency.So depicting the Presidents of America since the first President George Bush would be in contravention of the legislation.
I don't know about New Zealand, but in the rest of the common-law world (the countries whose legal systems derive from England) when there is a conflict between the provisions of two statutes, the specific controls over the general; and at the same level the newer controls over the older. By both measures a statute authorizing a presidential (and/or first lady) coin series would control over the existing statute governing living persons - and of course such a new law would probably expressly provide for either the repeal of, or an exception to, the existing one. Of course, I'm rashly assuming that my 40+ years of practicing law in the U.S., and my six years of teaching law school civil procedure classes, qualify me to express an opinion on this subject.
Roy,New Zealand has a system that is derived from English common law.In fact,there is a number of English laws that are still in effect in New Zealand, as it was extended there by implication.
It seems like every 6 months or so somebody asks this question - I always have the same answer. This is the design I'd like to see -
I am always hesitant about memorializing people on coins, because we all have many good and bad traits, and some of our presidents weren't worth a dime (ouch). There is, of course, the presidential medal series produced by the Mint, but they hardly can get the attention given to a circulating coin. Some related discussion is in the thread at: http://www.cointalk.org/showthread.php?t=1309&page=1&pp=15 which also contains more thoughts about what to put on coins.
I'm pretty flexible when it comes to design changes. I just like change, of any sort, keeps the hobby interesting especially for new collectors. On a personal level, I guess I like to see wildlife used on coins.
Amen to this one. I'm lovin it...and it's not even a McDonald's commerical. Saw it at FUN show in Florida and this concept dollar was offered by a dealer for $250!! in a ICG holder. Both the dealer and I agreed that the mint blew it and went the PC way. Too bad!
