The United States 1909-V.D.B. One Cent bears Abraham Lincoln on the obverse and two wheat heads on the reverse. Many people who collect only USA coins may believe this was the first time wheat was placed on a coin, but collectors of Ancient coins and world coins will quickly say, "It wasn't." It's not my intention to overwhealm you with facts and photos of numismatic objects. This article will stay in the realm of "trivia," but I hope to make this trip enjoyable Take a look at that 1909-V.D.B. Cent's reverse (Coin Link photo): http://www.coinpage.com/coin-image-2505.html Do you know, Silver Trade Dollars had a sheaf of wheat on its obverse behind Seated Liberty (27 yrs before the Lincoln Cent)? Trade Dollars were first minted in 1873. Here's a photo of the obverse of an 1876 Trade Dollar courtesy of Coin Page: http://www.coinpage.com/coin-image-62.html Metal coins were introduced in Greece in 625 BC. The coins replaced grain (usually barley) as the medium of exchange. The new coins were lighter and easier to transport than grain, and did not get moldy. It wasn't long before wheat replaced barley on coins. Let's view some of the world's ancient coinage bearing "wheat" on them (images courtesy of Coin Archives): GREEK BOEOTIA Silver Obol Circa 525-500 BC: http://www.coinarchives.com/a/lotvi...3&Lot=54&Val=e3428126288038a3bfae462f0c667217 GREEK BOEOTIA Silver Obol Circa 500-480 BC: http://www.coinarchives.com/a/lotvi...0&Lot=52&Val=e8b146ef5161bc29b3ad5a890c0b6b5b GREEK BRUTTIUM Silver Obol Circa 400-350 BC: http://www.coinarchives.com/a/lotvi...&Lot=103&Val=b09d4e6ce88351ec3517e1a0a6027a43 GREEK BOEOTIA Silver Obol Circa 4th Century BC: http://www.coinarchives.com/a/lotvi...1&Lot=72&Val=4ef63b54e504e0bc89f8eb6dc692e850 CIMMERIAN BOSPHOROS Gold Stater Circa 325-310BC: http://www.coinarchives.com/a/lotvi...&Lot=545&Val=7de7b20a8ea15ce777728bdad2e680f7 GREEK BRUTTIUM Silver Kroton Circa 300-250 BC: http://www.coinarchives.com/a/lotvi...&Lot=105&Val=e44a09e3aa9861fc3e7b0e1a9493933c Ancient ROME Silver Denarius : http://www.coinarchives.com/a/lotvi...&Lot=911&Val=8d6d0d9ad539d3d1fe07b047d7cc76c4 Come with me to the exciting years of the Potosi Mint during the middle 1800s: BOLIVIA - Republic 1851 Gold 8 Escudos: http://www.coinarchives.com/w/lotvi...Lot=2654&Val=15a9a1af9a48a95aeb5fd681533150a2 Let's now go more modern: U.S.S.R. Gold 1923 Chervonetz: http://www.coinarchives.com/w/lotvi...Lot=1461&Val=799eea5994ef0e9d27bec44f2df09f41 HUNGARY NEPKOZTARSASAG 1971 5 Forint http://www.coinarchives.com/w/lotvi...Lot=1116&Val=130e99ec946ab8d971f5a0d3656090eb FRANCE 1975 1 Centime (gold piefort): http://www.coinarchives.com/w/lotvi...&Lot=952&Val=edadb39f30bc5a6236de0ed707f48d53 HUNGARY NEPKOZTARSASAG-BP 1981 100 Forint: http://www.coinarchives.com/w/lotvi...&Lot=779&Val=cb02afb2fba715dc08b9ef55f6c7ece7 HUNGARY NEPOZTARSASAG 1983 20 Filler: http://www.coinarchives.com/w/lotvi...&Lot=783&Val=4b2f2443706e0440f892835beeb809b3 HUNGARY VOLKSREPUBLIK 1983 5 Forint: http://www.coinarchives.com/w/lotvi...&Lot=784&Val=4179d060e443f1ec659cdacb568c2715 Our next "off the beaten path" detour takes us to 1990: HUNGRY KOZTARASAG 1990 10 Filler: http://www.coinarchives.com/w/lotvi...Lot=1104&Val=2be7cc1c0c11207eca22d47be21d8add TUNISIA-REPUBLIC C-N 1990 Dinar (Treasure Realm photo): http://www.treasurerealm.com/coinpapers/countrycoins/coins/T/tunisia06.html Yugoslavia minted several 1 Dinar coins from 1953 through 1991 bearing a National Banner with 6 torches as a single flame surrounded by wheat stalks and a star hovering above. Here's a photo of a 1981 1 Dinar courtesy of Treasure Realm so you can see the National Banner: http://www.treasurerealm.com/coinpapers/countrycoins/coins/Y/yugoslavia13.html In 1960 Israel featured Wheat on its 1 Agora coins (Coin Community Forum photo) Scroll down to see obverse and reverse photos: http://www.coincommunity.com/forum/topic.asp?ARCHIVE=true&TOPIC_ID=53919 And what about Paper Currency featuring Wheat? Here's a photo of a 1946 Hungarian 100 Forint with a "hands holding wheat" reverse courtesy of wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:HUF_100_1946_reverse3.jpg And what about the reverse of this French 1947 5 Francs? A whole field of "wheat" being harvested. (banknotes.com photo): http://www.banknotes.com/frm6.htm Australia issued a $2 Bill featuring William Farrer and Wheat Spears. (banknotes.com photo): http://www.banknotes.com/au43.htm If you are looking for bank notes for your collection it may behoove you to visit Audrius Tomonis at his www.banknotes.com website. Want to see Postage Stamps featuring "wheat?" Bahawalpur 1949 1/2 Anna "Jubilee of Accession" (wheat): (Just Wendy Thematic Stamps photo): http://www.justwendystamps.com/ambrowCart/shop/show_details.php?ref=6755 (A flickr.com photo): http://www.flickr.com/photos/karenhorton/3261674090/ Australia 1969 "Primary Industries" (wheat) 20 Cent Postage Stamp: (Just Wendy Thematic Stamps photo): http://www.justwendystamps.com/ambrowCart/shop/show_details.php?ref=5832 A 1970 USA Stamp (usapostagestamps.com) photo: http://www.usapostagestamps.com/1970/Globe_Wheat_6c.htm Though we weren't first nor probably will be the last nation to feature wheat on our currency (coins, banknotes, etc.), we stand in good company! Don't you agree? Clinker
