Gentlemen, your posts got me really energized. Here's a repost of what they said. How does everyone else feel about this topic? Liberty on the obverse and our Eagle on the reverse again.
I think there have been some fairly nice depictions of "Liberty", and the Bald Eagle, on some US Mint issued coins. I've always thought that Robert Scot's "Draped Bust" design was pretty nice, and had some artistic qualities. I'd sure be dissappointed if every coin had the same theme. I mean, an Amazon wearing a Toga on one side, and a scavenger bird on the other. Seems that would get boring fairly quickly. I've always considered human portraits, and architecture, to be art. I enjoy medallic (coin) interpretations of those themes. Hopefully, those themes will continue on US Mint issued coinage.
I agree 100%. Honor the nation of the UNITED STATES of AMERICA. Put the pledge of allegiance on one side. For example, Great Britain. it makes me proud down inside when I see those Britiana coins. That's the right idea. B
The Susan B. Anthony dollar is one of my favorite coins. "Why", you may ask? Well, it may not be one of the most "beautiful" coins ever produced, but then, beauty IS in the eye of the beholder. Ms. Anthony fought for the right of women to vote. In America, one of the true "liberties" we have is the right to vote. It's hard to believe that women, less than 100 years ago, were denied this basic American liberty. But, it's true! So, when I look at an SBA dollar, I don't see the unattractiveness that so many are quick to point out. I see a depiction of LIBERTY like no other to ever grace American coinage. I see the visage of a true, living American patriot who wanted nothing more than to be treated equally under the law. LIBERTY, as an abstract idea, is difficult to portray. Yes, depicting LIBERTY as a beautiful, Romanesque goddess with rays of light shining from her head is certainly one concept. But, I would rather have someone ask me why Susan B. Anthony is portrayed on the dollar coin. I would explain that "liberty" is not free... even in America... and sometimes we have to fight for our liberties that so many of us seem to take for granted. You would be surprised how many people I encounter who have no idea that women couldn't vote until the early part of the 20th century. They have assumed that women could always vote since the beginning of our country.
May I thank you for such an insightful post. I've never thought that Ms. Anthony was unattractive, nor have I ever thought that women should be allowed to vote, but your insight was intelligent, well-written, and much appreciated.
I think there should be a new coinage program, "Blast from the Past" and they could run through all of the past designs of coinage =p
How about leaving the past in the past. I disagree with re-running older designs. And I do not mind presidents on coins or currency, but I would not mind something new.
Part of the problem is that who wants to be the person to suggest that we remove George Washington, Abraham Lincoln or John F. Kennedy from our coinage? One of the arguments I have heard against halting production of cents is that Lincoln is on the coin. It seems that once a dead president is on a coin, he's likely to stay on the coin (unless the president is Eisenhower I guess). Though we probably don't need to have an eagle on the back of all our coins. There are examples of classic designs that did not feature an eagle, such as the Mercury dime or the $1 gold.
toddestan, You have hit the nail on the head. Nobody is going to want their name associated with removing people from the past who are honored on coins, even if those people themselves would have been horrified at the idea because it runs counter to all that they lived and died for. The symbols on coins used to mean something. Now they are up for grabs for special interest groups to lobby for, just like everything else. CoinOKC pretty much summed up the counter argument that would be heard if such an attempt was made. The basic organizing principle of the nation was and is the concept of liberty. Few other countries in history can say the same. It wasn't depicted on the coinage by accident or because the founders had no imagination. To the extent this is replaced by any form of personality cult, even on our coins and regardless of the achievements of any man or woman, the concept is diluted regardless of the good intentions of the diluters. I would love to see the image of liberty returned to the coinage. It doesn't have to be a copy from the past. I would prefer a new artistic design. But liberty is in very short supply in the world these days, and I guess they can't even spare any to put on the coins.
This may be a pretty out there idea, but I was thinking that maybe the Mint ought to do something similar to the State Quarters program and re-issue coinage in some of the old designs for a number of years while the regular issue coins take a hiatus. Something like, one year the nickel, next year the dime, the quarter the next, etc. Or it may be a completely loopy idea that wouldn't interest anyone but collectors.
Actually, I guarantee if the mint were to issue new coins with previous designs the public would eat them up, likely more so if they were pre-20th-century designs. Remember, most people have no idea whatsoever that our coinage used to have a beauty of its own. No design changes should be necessary, just use the current date, and you're good. And you've got to admit, you'd get a real charge getting a seated liberty quarter in your change. However, what I think would be even better, possibly as a followup to that, would be to use some of the pattern designs that were never used. Many of those are absolutely gorgeous, and there are a lot of collectors who have never even seen them. Regardless of what they do, they should ensure that these are circulating coins, not commemoratives. That way they'll get maximum exposure. And you all know that this will spur more people to collect, which willd drive people to the mint's web site for proof sets and commemoratives, which is what they actually want. Fish
