1) Who was the first real person to appear on an authorized US coin? 2) Who was the first living person to appear on an authorized US coin? 3) Where did the US Mint obtain most of the gold for it's coinage before the California gold strike? Good luck!
Queen Isabella on the 1893 commemorative quarter? Sen. Carter Glass, on the 1936 Lynchburg, VA Sesquicentennial commemorative (against his express wishes). Open market purchases?
I'll take a shot: 1. Columbus, 1892 2. Eunice Shriver, 1995 (a wild guess -- probably wrong -- some commem in the 20s or 30s probably had a living person). 3. Georgia - which fed the Dahlonega, GA mint
rpm86 has the correct answer to #1. The 1892 Columbian commemorative half dollar was the first authorized coin to portray the image of a real person. Still waiting for the correct answers to #2 and #3.
#3. Most of the gold was supplied by melting foriegn coins. #2 1921 Alabama Centennial Governor TE Kilby
We have the answer to #2. The first living person to be portrayed on a coin of the United States was Governor Thomas E. Kilby of Alabama. His portrait and that of William Bibb, the first governor of Alabama, appeared on the 1921 Alabama Centennial half dollar. Still looking for the answer to #3.
For #3, the Red Book cites gold mines in Georgia and North Carolina, but I suspect you are looking for a more specific answer.
You have the part right about it being mined in America. And yes, I am looking for a very specific area. Hint: It's not in Georgia
Jody, You asked where the Mint got its gold before the strike in California. Are you referring to the strikes in 39? The mint was producing gold coins long before gold being mined here in America. These were melted stock coming from the foriegn gold that people were turning into American coinage.
Rutherford County, NC, supplied most of the nation's gold from 1790 to 1840. There were other sources, of course, including sources outside the US, mines in Georgia, and other areas of North Carolina, but the key word in the original question is "most". Some interesting info on North Carolina gold can be found here: LINK #1 LINK #2 LINK #3 LINK #4
