In all probability you know the origin of the Phyrgian (Liberty) Cap, found on our early coins, hails from the French. You, also, probably know French Revolutionists referred to the Liberty or Freedom Cap as Bonnet Pyrgien. They got the idea from the Romans. During the reign of the Roman Empire, slaves who were emancipated by their former masters, were granted citizenship and were given a Phyrgian Cap to wear as a symbol of their new Freedom. The Romans did not invent the idea of a Freedon Cap, but adapted it's use from the practices of certain tribes and cities in Africa. The French Revolutionists went further by placung a Pyrgian Cap on a pole as a rallingly symbol calling for their own freedom from tyranny. Our early coins bore the Pyrgian Cap atop a pole as a declaration of Freedom and Liberty in the new nation! The following image courtesy of Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:SeatedLibertyDollar.jpeg The United States wasn't the only New Wotld nation to adopt the Pyrgian Cap as a synbol of Freedom on it's coins, Mexico also adopted it. This image courtesy of Coin Gallery: http://worldcoingallery.com/countries/coin.php?image=img12/121-409&desc=Mexico%20km409%201%20Peso%20(1898-1909)%20Liberty%20Cap Did you know, the three Magi of Biblical note, wore Phyrgian Caps? Now here's today's clincher: The Phrygian cap or Bonnet Phrygien is a soft, red, conical cap with the top pulled forward, worn in antiquity by the inhabitants of Pyrgia, a region of central Anatolia. In Pyrgian paintings, caricatures and other works of art it represents freedom, or the search for liberty. AND one of the first coins ever to bear a Pyrgian Cap upon it's obverse was minted circa 90-70 B.C. under the authorship of Indo-Greek King Hermaios of Bactria. It is a bronze coin weighing 8.52 gms measurimg 19mm by 22mm. When you look at it you'll see the bearded bust of Zeus-Mithras wearing a Phyrgian Cap. The reverse boasts a prancing horse. The following image courtesy of Coin Archives: http://www.coinarchives.com/a/results.php?results=100&search=Phyrgian Let me know if you enjoyed this coin trivia, Clinker
Clinker, that was some really interesting history, reminds me of how much more there is to know about these symbols we take for granted.
