New coin design

I think I tend to agree.

However, in my opinion, the JFK half dollar is a beautiful coin, and to many of us who lived during his partial term in office, the coin is a reminder of his times, and what might have been.

If it was to be discontinued, my vote would certainly be for the Presidential series to take its place.

But, you know what! Nobody is going to ask our opinion, and it's not going to happen.

 

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Many of our Founding Fathers were also proponents of slavery and I think that history has certainly proven them wrong on that account.

In the same respect, I think history has proven them wrong about not wanting Presidents (or political figures) to appear on our money. I understand that at the time the country was founded they wanted to steer clear of anything that would deify political leaders. They felt it would be akin to placing a king's portrait on the coinage which is something they were against.

However, just as the Founding Fathers knew it would, the country has grown and changed over the years. So, what was once a political hotbed is now an historical footnote.

I think a lot of people would agree that honoring a slain leader (Kennedy) on national coinage is simply a tribute, not necessarily just to the man, but to the position he held. It is a great opportunity for parents to sit down with their children and discuss why the man is depicted on the Half Dollar. Or why any of the other presidents are depicted on their respective coinage. Hopefully, politics will be a subject they will discuss. Is that such a bad idea? After all, our country is based on politics and the Founding Fathers assuredly encouraged that.

We've had a president (Lincoln) depicted on our coinage for nearly half the time the Union has been in existence and I don't think we're any worse for the wear.

However, I'm a proponent of depictions of LIBERTY on our coinage, too. Some of the depictions over the years have been true works of art. I miss the "golden age" of coinage design as much as anyone else. Since the government has proven that different types of coinage designs can circulate simultaneously (State Quarters, Westward Journey Nickels) why not keep our presidents on the coins and ADD new coins of the same denominations depicting LIBERTY? That really ought to stir up some conversations between parents and their kids!

 

TOO RIGHT! *Stands and applauds* Very good post sir!

 

Thanks, Joe... now, we'll see how many disagree... I love this forum!

 

Yup I love it too!

 

Guess you're right. Even though slavery was legal back in the 18th Century, how dare we honor our founding fathers. Matter of fact, we should take their names off of bridges, schools, and all memorials. Before children learn about their lives and their contributions to forming this country, we need to state up front that some of them were slave owners. If that offends you, we can direct you to many politically correct history books that are now being taught in our school systems. We'll set up a separate class for those kids and they could all hold hands and sing non-offensive songs.

Correlating slave ownership, a wrong, to the fact they purposedly did not want actual people (living or dead) to grace American coinage is just like stating the reason why Washington lost more battles during the Revolution than he won was because he owned slaves!?! Also, the Constitution that was written by these very people has survived quite well into 21st Century. Sure, we added amendments along the way, but the heart and soul of this document written by slave owners has endured for the ages. I can see a argument in front of the Supreme Court that a court ruling is unconsititional because some of the framers of this document owned slaves, therefore, eveything should be null and void.

If you are going to get razzled because men like Washington and Jefferson owned slaves, then edit their names OFF of everything. Schools, bridges, buildings and of course coins. It is already happening in some school districts where minorities have petitioned school boards to change high school names of Jefferson to more politcally sensitive deserving people.

You're right...our fouding fathers were evil slave owners and their writings and historical contributions should be all taken with a "grain of salt". What were they thinking when they purposedly decided that no person (living or dead) should grace our coins? What do you expect from slave owners?

 

I think what he ment bay saying that they were proponents of slavery, was back then things were a lot different then they are now. Slavery, by many, was wide spread, and the Presidents on coinage was not. Probably because back then, they were considered just normal people who have stepped up to the plate to have their chance at leading. But now, the world is a lot different, and the Presidents to a lot more than that. The job of being president is hectic, demanding, and a 24/7 job. They lay their life on the line to lead this country, and I can think of no better way to honor them, besides to put them on our money system.

 

I'm happy you agree, Ed.

Why not teach about all the good things they did, but also inform our children of the facts? Let's not repeat the mistakes of our fathers and let us not hide the truth. I think Thomas Jefferson's Declaration of Independence was one of the most magnificently inspired documents from the "mind of man". However, his ownership of slaves was despicable. Should we deify this man, place him on a pedestal and glorify him? The answer is "no". Should we respect the man for fostering a revolution against tyranny, for his brilliance in the principle of Human Rights, for his accomplishments as an inventor and for his willingness to form a democracy at the peril of his own life? The answer is a resounding "yes".

I think you misunderstand. The point that I was trying to make was that our Founding Fathers knew they weren't perfect. They reserved "perfection" to a supreme being.

The framers of the Constitution understood that they could not foresee inevitable changes in our country. Therefore, they allowed for change in the very constitution they so bitterly fought over. That's one of the reasons that I believe the Constitution is so tremendous - it's flexible, by nature.

Had the framers wanted no person (living or dead) to appear on coinage, they would have placed such wording in the Constitution. I think they would rather see a debate as to whether a person (living or dead) should appear on coinage. Isn't political discourse the American Way?

Had the Constitution been based on the principle of slavery, then you may have a point. Since it wasn't, the point is groundless.

I'm not "razzled" as you so eloquently put it. "Dazzled" perhaps, but not "razzled"...

I never said they were "evil". Please don't put words in my mouth.

I never said their writings and historical contributions should all be taken with a "grain of salt". Quite to the contrary, I believe our Founding Fathers were extremely brilliant and I wish their "historical contributions" could be echoed by many of the world's leaders today.

When did they decide that no person (living or dead) should grace our coins? Did they express that in the Constitution? Or did they simply voice their opinion? If they voiced their opinion, then I applaud their freedom to do so (thank you, First Amendment). If it's in the Constitution, I must have missed it. Founding Father or not, their opinion is worth no more than yours or mine.

Well, this particular group of slave owners gave us a form of government unparalleled in the history of mankind. And with their brilliant foresight, they gave us the power to abolish slavery. For that simple fact alone, I think it's enough that we recognize them on our coinage.

 

Dog gone-it, Doug! With such a great discussion by Scotty and Joe going on and I'm sitting here having to remember my New Year's Resolution. Taint fair!

 

I guess you are right, as I feel a lot better about the whole situation. In fact, I'm still trying to figure out the best approach to apologizing to Cladking for some of the stupid things that were said a long time ago. So, if he reads this I hope he will accept my apology and go on from here.

 

What was your New Year's Resolution, OldDan?