Weapons On Coins I

900fine

You're right, of course, but most of the themes of eagles clutching arrows reflect peaceful intentions....

Clinker

 

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Doug,some of the European Coats-of-Arms actually use swords as elements,especially on the coins of some of the German-speaking states.

Aidan.

 

I always thought the peaceful option was offered by the olive branch.

My understanding is that any US coin motif involving an eagle with arrows also includes the olive branch, as if we are offering anyone in the world two options. Peace and friendship first, but if you insist...

What a powerful statement our young republic made with those early heraldic eagles from the 1790's - an eagle, a shield, arrows, and an olive branch. The meaning is clear, and stands to this day.

Once again, coins give us a real insight into what was happening at the time.

I really appreciate the Trivia series, Clinker. Always "food for thought" for me.

 

Doesn't the eagle on the great seal of the USA get changed in times of war? By that I mean they change the claw that the arrows are in.

 

Hmmm. I don't know. I had not heard that one.

Maybe a good way to find out is to ask some of the currency buffs; $1 notes have a Great Seal on 'em.

Personally, I doubt it. But it might be so.

 

900fine

Thanks for your kind words....

Clinker

 

What is wrong with guns on coins . I did not carry a coin in Vietnam for protection . I carried a trojan. One of the African national flags has an AK 47 on it. Guns are not bad ,people are

 

I also have a currency note with a battleship(one of my favorites) on it .Lots of guns there

 

This Swiss Shooting Thaler has a lot of hand held weapons on it. Guns, swords, spears, battle axes.....

 

I guess I had it all wrong...I thought the arrows were always held in the left and the Peace/War thing had to do with the way the Eagle's head was pointed.

Left...towards the arrows = War
Right...towards the olive branch = Peace



I see your point, though...the earliest coins had the arrows in the right talon!

 

The Scottish Sword Dollar



Not my coin,a googled image.A real beauty.

 

Hi Fullmoonkid:

Thanks for sharing that borrowed photo of the old Scottish Sword Dollar...:thumb:

Clinker

 

Nope 1921 Missouri Centennial

Correct and that is the eagles left and right not the viewers left and right.

Except that the message on the early heraldic eagle was wrong. The arrows were held in the eagles right or more favored side and olive branch was in the left or less favored talon. Read under the rules of Heraldry the eagle on our coins was saying was "We will accept peace but we prefer to settle matters by conflict."

I've heard that, but it is not true. Some versions of the story have the eagles head turning from the olive to the arrows but that isn't true either. The seal was designed and has not changed whether in peace or war.

If you include other weapons besides firearms then there are a lot of coins that fit.

And as for the Irish pieces mentioned that was "gun money" iisued by I believe James II while he was trying to reclaim his throne (1690's). They were supposedly made from melted down cannon. They had the month and year on them and were supposed to be redeemed in the order they were issued once he was on the throne again. But that didn't happen.

 

Hi Condor101:

Thanks immensely for sharing your knowledge of the Eagle reverse on America's coinage...:high5:

Clinker

 

c1794 Norfolk 11 Conder Token

Weapons and Musical Instruments

 

Hi Catbert:

:secret: Is that an "O" mint mark bottom center?

Clinker

 

Well I can think of quite a number of coins with weapons. Of course, many Roman coins depict a diety or emperor with a spear. I have a number of these, and I'm sure I have a number of non-Roman coins with weapons... however I found this one, and decided it would do well for this thread.

Haiti 1908 50 centimes. Back to back cannons on either side of the palm tree, cannon balls in piles next to them. I got this one in the .25cent bin. sorry about the discoloration of the photo, its not the coin, just a camera problem.

***** **** ***** **** *****
*edit*
***** I'm sorry, I would not have replied if I had realized how old this thread was... it was at the top of my screen and I assumed it was new. I didn't mean to bump this old thread... forgive me.

 

No apology necessary. It's nice to have some of the old ones resurrected from time to time.

Chris

 

.......and here are a couple of medals to go with them.

Chris