What would they think of todays coins?

If the founders of the US Mint as well as the founding fathers were resurected, what do you think they would say about todays coins?

One thought they might have "where's Hawaii and why is it on a quarter"

 

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I think they would say, "Pot metal tokens."

They'd be used of seeing gold and silver coin.

 

In two words "debased junk".

 

Who are these people depicted on the coins and paper money?

Hey, that's me!

 

I think they would be upset that they've been featured on the coins.

 

Boring

 

some would say this comment is rude, others would simply laugh.... I'm one of them

 

I especially wonder what Washington would say about the likeness of himself on the quarters, since he explicitly stated that he didn't want his image on a coin.

 

Yes, I agree with Magman. They would be extremely upset to see their face on the coins. They considered it sacrilege and only for pompous kings and queens. I'm surprised that we did it. The best coins have the liberty or eagle on them. Why put the picture of an old president. At least put good looking people on the coins. I vote for the Britney Spears dime.

 

but if they put britney spears on a coin...you really think they can fit her dropping her kids on their heads? or would it be britney on the obverse and the mis-shaped kid's head on reverse?

 

I'm quite certain you're right.

Washington very specifically objected to the notion. Knowing what I know about Lincoln's personality, I'm sure he would be opposed.

And as for Jefferson... take a look at the "Jefferson's Liberty" $10. The reverse has an obelisk mentioning major achievments in his life. Notice anything conspicuously missing ?

 

Yup, No eagle...............


















or Jefferson :smile

 

It mentions many achievements... but never mentions he was President.

Jefferson was no fan of the office. He was deeply suspicious of too much power concentrated in one place, given the history of royalty and dictators. He specifically insisted that his memorial not mention his presidency.

 

I could hear them now , poor quality, what are these state quarters , how come some of these coins are the same size but differant value ,looks like abe lincoln got younger 2009 coin.

 

Some people seem to be losing sight of the fact that these coins are very small change now days. Small change has never been made out of precious metal anywhere. Even when dimes were made out of silver in 1964 it would buy a candy bar (or two) that today would cost nearly a dollar or more.

If they thought about the value at all it would be the wondrous things that could be purchased with them. No, not bread or beer but computer time or enough electricity to run a computer for hours. They'd be impressed more by what the coins represented than the dollar's loss of value.

I think they'd be pretty impressed with the durability of the cu ni and cu/ ni clad coinage. They'd be impressed that it could circulate for decades and most get lost and destroyed long before they have a chance to wear out.

They'd be appalled and insulted by the display of "e pluribus unum" on the territorial coins, perhaps but they'd be mightily impressed with the country that now encompasses the fifty states and the territories. They'd be impressed by the diversity of the coinage even if not necessarily favorably.

I think they'd consider the designs to be far too busy and discombobulated by a reference to a deity. I think they'd generally find the coinage to be bland and a tribute to personalities and wonder why the people have lost their sense of the importance of knowing history and the meaning of liberty. They'd find the coins represent a turning away from some of the principles on which the country was founded.

Were they to stick around a while I would think some of these opinions would mellow in time. That some words have evolved in their meanings is not necessarily indication that the most fundamental principles have truly changed but that it's much more how they are practiced and displayed. They would also need to learn 250 years of new knowledge about what money is and what it isn't to fully understand today's coins.

Consider Franklin's reaction to coins that cost more to produce or count than they are worth! Here was the man who said "a penny saved is a penny earned" and we literally waste billions of them every year and saddle the economy with this albatross rather than admit it has no value whatsoever. How ironic these observations occur on the 100th anniversary of this once venerable yet humble coin. And further imagine their reaction to the depiction of the leader who most changed the nature of our government. A leader who a mere 44 years earlier was the most hated man in the country.

I think the overall reaction would be a comic mixture of quizzical, pride, chagrin, and a sort of relief.

It's probably just as well old leaders can't come back because so many are like their followers; too busily spinning in their graves for such trivialities. Life is for the living.

 

they would be amazed at that output at least. Billions and billions of coins amounts to a pretty big job.

 

Indeed!

It's been said that the first coins were made from Martha Washingtons silverware. Now the amount of coins made each year would hardly fit in Mt Vernon and would certainly weigh enough to destroy it.

 

She must have had a lot of silverware to provide coinage for a whole country... :eating:

 

very crazy.

 

nah, flatware was just really big :goofer: :goofer: ...just kidding.