Benjamin Franklin flew a kite in a storm at Fort Pitt Producing sparks, crackles and an electrical spit. Scholars lauded him, People applauded him, But Thomas A. Edison made light of it! As you know the main category of Numismatics pertains to the study, collection or selling of Coins, but also includes the following subcategories: Exonumia (Badges, Credit Cards, Medals, Store Cards, Tags, Tokens and Wooden Nickels). Notophily (Script, Fractional Currency, and Paper Money) Scripophily (stocks and Bonds) The person featured in this article (Benjamin Franklin) is one the Founding Fathers of the United States of America plus so much more: Author Printer Satirist Political Theorist Politician Scientist Inventor Civic Activist Statesman Soldier Diplomat What gives him United States of America prominence are the Ambassador appointments to Britain and France, however, his career in American values rises above those two honors: In 1751, Franklin and Dr Thomas Bond obtained a charter from the Pennsylvania legislature to establish a hospital. Pennsylvania Hospital was the first hospital in what was to become the United States of America. Franklin formed both the first public lending library in America and the first volunteer fire department in Pennsylvania. Franklin was 6th President of the Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania (October 18, 1785 - December 1, 1788). Franklin became 23rd Speaker of the Pennsylvania Assembly (1765). Franklin was the United States first Minister to Sweden (1782 - 1783). Franklin was appointed first Postmaster General of the United States (1775 - 1776)./ Do you know what is considered the best art in the world involving Benjamin Franklin's image? Postage Stamps, including the first US postage stamp issued in 1847 bearing a Five Cents face value. Take a look at one courtesy of Wikipedia.org: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Franklin_SC1_1847.jpg The US Post Office has issued more than 130 stamps featuring Benjamin Franklin, second only to George Washington. It is not my intention to post a photo link to every one of those stamps, but here's photos of a few. Look them over and see if you agree with the art world (wikipedia.org photos): 1-Cent Issue of 1857: junior-philatelists.com and wikipedia.com photos: http://www.junior-philatelists.com/Images/5Color100.jpg 1-Cent Issue of 1861: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Benjamin_Franklin_1861_Issue-1c.jpg 1-Cent Issue of 1870: junior-philatelists.com photo: http://www.junior-philatelists.com/Images/134Color_150x480.jpg 1-Cent Issue of 1895: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Benjamin_Franklin2_1895_Issue-1c.jpg 1-Cent Issue of 1903: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Franklin2_1903-1c.jpg $2 Issue of 1918: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Benjamin_Franklin_WF_1918_Issue-2$.jpg You probably know, at one time, Frankin owned his own printing company during which time period he published his now famous periodical Poor Richards Almanack, but do you know what his printing business had to do with currency? This section links Ben Franklin to The Numismatic sub category: Notophily. In 1736 Franklin printed a new paper currency (promisory Note) for Pennsylvania based on innovative anti-counterfeiting techniques which he had devised. Aware of the threat from counterfeiters, Franklin devised utilized mica in the paper and leaf imprints as ways to foil counterfeiters. Here's a look at both sides of a Pennsylvania 20 Shillings: Obverse: http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/treasures/images/bf0050bp1s.jpg Reverse: http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/treasures/images/bf0050bp1s.jpg The first USA coin to feature Benjamin Franklin on it is the Half Dollar, better known as Franklin Halves or just Franklins (worldcoingallery photo). USA Benjamin Franklin Half 1948-1963: http://worldcoingallery.com/countries/coine_us.php?image=img4/US-50c48&desc=U.S.A.%20Half%20Dollar%20km199%20(1948-1963)%20Franklin%20&query=half%20franklin By Congressional Mandate the U.S. Mint produced two NCLT silver One Dollar Ben Franklin Commemoratives in Uncirculated and Proof in 2006 (coinpage.com photo): Founding Father (Proof): http://www.coinpage.com/coin-image-5310.html Founding Father (Uncirculated): http://www.coinpage.com/coin-image-5311.html Scientist (Proof): http://www.coinpage.com/coin-image-5312.html Scientist (Uncirculated): http://www.coinpage.com/coin-image-5313.htm You know the $100 Bill is also called C-Note or (because of the many bearing Benjamin Franklin's image) Ben Franklins or often just Benjamins. 1929: Under series of 1928, all U.S. currency was changed to its current size and began to carry a standardized designs. All variations of the $100 bill would carry the same portrait of Benjamin Franklin, same border design on the obverese, and the samereverse with a vignette of Independence Hall. The $100 bill was issued as a Federal Reserve Note with a green seal and serial numbers and as a Gold Certificate with a golden seal and serial numbers. Here's some photos of a few Benjamins I'd like to own, wouldn't you? (frbsf.org photos) Benjamins http://www.frbsf.org/currency/stability/frnotes/719.html http://www.frbsf.org/currency/stability/certs/kc5.html http://www.frbsf.org/currency/stability/banknotes/1694.html The following three photos courtesy of wikipedia.org: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:US_$100_United_States_Note_1966.jpg http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Usdollar100front.jpg http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:NEW100FRONT.jpg To be issued in 2011: (frbsf.org photo): http://www.frbsf.org/currency/world/future/new100.html Did you enjoy this post? Clinker
In 2006, by the way, France also issued several gold and silver coins honoring Franklin (NCLT, same design but different denominations and compositions). This is the €10 gold piece: (Image: Wikipedia) Christian
That 1914 $100 note is absolutely beautiful. Seems to me lately on your TRIVIA posts I'm finding quite a bit of beautiful notes, don't make me into a paper collector now, Clinker. Thanks for posting!
Don't we all? The beautiful designs on coins and paper money depicting Liberty were about as good as it can get.
I didn't see a mention that the designs used on the Fugio cent, the Continental Dollar, and on some of the colonial paper money came from Franklin.
Thanks Clinker, interesting reading. For those Ben Franklin fans who would want to know more about depictions of Franklin on exonumia, you can pick up THE MEDALS OF FRANKLIN, by PHIL W. GREENSLET (1993), or FRANKLIN AND NUMISMATICS, by ELSTON G. BRADFIELD (1982)
