souvenir coin from the unveiling of the Robert E. Lee statue New Orleans 1884

came across this souvenir coin from the unveiling of Robert E. Lee statue in New Orleans 1884

front says:

"New Orleans Feb. 22, 1884"

back says:

"Souvenir
Unveiling of Statue
Gen. Robert E. Lee
Feb. 22, 1884
Born Jan. 19, 1807
Died Oct. 12, 1870"

 

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It saddens me that efforts are being made around the country to tear down such monuments. In Lee County, Florida where I live, not only are people calling for the removal of statues and portraits, but some even want to rename the county.

All one has to do is recall what one maniac attempted to do about 75 years ago. Burning books became the norm in an attempt to eliminate literature. I thought we were supposed to learn from the past, not destroy any record of it. I'm related to Stonewall Jackson. Am I supposed to forget that he ever existed?

Chris

 

What is so odd about this recent activity is that if you know your history, the reason there are so many Lee statues and other things commemorting him is that after the civil war, he was a fierce advocate of healing the Union and travelled all around making the case that the war was over and the nation had to come together as one.

 

They have their place in history. They should not be glorified which is what these statues were when they were put up. Anyone who takes arms against the United States of America is a traitor. You do not have to forget you are related to anyone.

 

That is a really awesome Medal... I've never seen one like it, but it is apparently a "So-Called Dollar"... found it on NGC.

 

Here Here!

 

I always thought Robert E. Lee was an excellent example of the average southern sentiment during the war. Many southern citizens, including Lee, did not share the wealthy plantation owner's interest in succession. However, when push came to shove, they couldn't turn their back on the situation, and they couldn't take up arms against their family and friends.

 

I don't believe that, during the Civil War, either side could be considered a "Traitor". They were not fighting against the United States. They were fighting for their VERSION on the United States. With that, it IS History, and I don't believe that Erasing History, as many would love to do, is the answer.

Edited: Read about the rules before posting again, especially the language section.

We should cherish and learn from the past, no matter if it is good or bad. It all HAPPENED, so people need to stop trying to change that fact.

AND... I still like the Medal.

 

They have bronze and pewter of these coin(s) . They were sold to the public to gather money together to put up the monument ( which was a consider amount of money back in the day ) . It was taken down a few years ago in order to gather and obtain votes from the community and also they had a time capsule in it also ( which was not disclosed to the public at what was in it with previous administration in the city ) .

 

Nice commerative.

As far as all these statues go, and there's over 1000 of them all over the south I think there's over 50 Lee statues, I'm not interested in tax dollars paying for them in perpetuity.
There's museums and history books. Put these statues there and whoever wants to go look at them can go and look at them. For the most part people do not go to see these statues and the locals know they are there but almost as an afterthought like a bridge or a building until something happens and then there's a stink raised.

It's been 155 years since the civil war. If reconciliation hasn't happened by now it never will for those people, but I personally don't want my tax dollars going to maintaining any of these runner up trophies anymore. They lost. They took up arms against the United States. It's time for these to be resigned to museums and history books in my opinion. We have plenty of recorded history from the era.

None of these statues mean anything to me at all, might as well be a park bench as far as I am concerned and the bench would be more useful, but I do understand there are people out there that either feel strongly positive or strongly negative about them.

 

I see these monuments as part of US history and as works of art.

This makes me think of my trip to Central Park In New York, many years ago. As I walked the park, I was learning history and seeing the work of many great artist.
I hope monuments that get moved, find a new home where folks can enjoy the art.

 

I lived in Germany in 1953-1957 and 1964-1966. There was quite a change in their coinage. In the 50's, coins with emblems of the Third Reich(sp?) were still on coins in circulation. Upon my return in the 60's, almost every thing related to WWII had been erased.

 

I saw this on line. Sums it up pretty well as far as I am concerned.

 

America has always been great... And the Confederacy has and will always be part of our history. Good, bad, or indifferent live for today and hope for tomorrow! As for the commemorative, it's part of America's GREATNESS. Thank you for posting it.

 

The history books will be burned next. After the removal of the statues.
Anyone who desecrates art is a barbarian and a Visigoth, despite the subject matter of the statue. If you want something taken down, you go through the proper measures, the proper steps and try to do it legally.
Taking the law in your own hands is just another criminal act.

 

Dear John B. Ever hear of Antietam, Andersonville, or Gettysburg. North against South, Blue against Grey, Yankee Against Rebel. I was taught that the reason it was called Civil War is because it pit American against American! Sad epitaph but very civil don't you think. My own opinion, thank you for yours.

 

364,000+ American soldiers lost their lives in the Civil War, and almost as many traitors. Taking an oath to defend the Constitution is not to be taken lightly, and all should have been hanged for having caused those American deaths. That being said, if Lincoln had not been assassinated, reconstruction would never have taken place, thus the KKK may not have been so prevalent and open, although "jim crow" no doubt would have. Statues to traitors should not be tolerated. Coins and books are the place to showcase the traitors, not statues "honoring" their service against the United States. Most, if not all, confederate leaders strongly believed that slaves were property, not human beings. That was their reasoning to exclude all African-Americans, even those born in the United States, from protection of the Constitution. History revisionists may claim that the Confederacy and the Civil War was fought for "states rights", but the keystone of those "states rights" was the right to maintain slavery. Getting back to the coins, those are fine examples of history.

 

This is my hobby, I do it for fun.

 

Man, that is a WHOPPER of a statement but thank goodness you got it right, CIVIL WAR, and the coins are a fine example of history! Thank you

 

Nice medal. Remember, at the time, there was no Constitutional prohibition for states to succeed from the union. In the early 1800's there were movements for the NE States to succeed because they thought Virginia and the other southern states had too much power.