Message:

<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Clinker, post: 159242, member: 6229&quot;]<b>-</b><img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie1" alt=":)" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" /> Congress never authorized the minting of the Franklin Half Dollar nor the John F. Kennedy Half Dollar.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>In the interest of enthusiasm and freedom the founding fathers of The United States of America decided that no coin minted by the new country would bear the portrait of a president, dignatary or military person. and opted. instead, for a likeness of Liberty.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>During the Roosevelt era, this ideal was done away with. Out came the Lincoln Head cent in 1909. The Washington quarter debuted in 1932. The Jefferson nickel reared it&#039;s head in 1938.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The long running (1916 to 1947)(31 years) Walking Liberty half dollar was put out to pasture in 1948. Now all the above named coins came about because of an anniversary, but not the Franklin half. All the other coins display the image of a former president, not the Franklin half. Congress didn&#039;t authorize the minting. The laws at the time only covered the duration a coin&#039;s design must be kept in circulation (25 years).</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The time had passed for the Liberty Walking half. The, then, Director of the United States Mint (Nellie Taloe Ross) had a pet project or desire to see two great American icons (Ben Franklin and the Liberty Bell) appear on coinage.She took upon herself to see this desire come to fruitition in 1948. </p><p>As I said earlier, both the Franklin half and the Kennedy half were not an authorized issue by Congressional legislation. </p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Now the 25-year provision ended on November 22, 1963. After Lyndon B. Johnson was sworn in as President of the United States upon President Kennedy&#039;s assassination, he issued an Executive Order directing the United States Mint to make the change to the half dollar with JFK&#039;s portrait on it.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Eisenhower Dollars were authorized for the &#039;71 coinage, Susan B. Anthony Dollars for &#039;79, Sacagawea Dollars for 2000, Statehood Quarters for 1999 to 2008, and Westward Journey Nickels (Even Jefferson&#039;s image was changed) for 2004 and 2005.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Did you enjoy this numismatic trivia?</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Clinker[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

Your name or email address:

Do you already have an account?

• No, create an account now.
• Yes, my password is:
• Forgot your password?

Stay logged in