Who Was The First US Personality Who Appeared On A Coin?

DrDarryl, one problem, that 1791 Washington cent was made in Great Britain. And it was made by a private individual, so is it really a coin?

Also although the Declaration of Independence was signed in 1776, we were still really just a bunch of colonies in rebellion until we were recognized as independent county with the signing of the treaty of Paris in 1783. And even THEN we were a confederation of independent states not a true country until the ratification of the Constitution in 1787 (Or 1791 really. Under the Articles of Confederation it had to be a unanimous ratification by all the states in order to change the Articles. So until the last state ratified in 1791 legally it could be argued that the Articles of Confederation was still in effect.)

And if the value has to be incorporated as a design element to be a coin, does that mean the first Half Cents, and large cents were coins, even though they weren't legal tender? And the Half Dime, dime, quarter, quarter eagle, half eagle and eagle were not coins, even though they WERE legal tender?

I say true.

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Thanks jbuck, my humble reply was not equal to yours.
How about your post showing up under "How to Quote" as an automatic hit for this information.

Thanks.
But back to the OP

Yes.


This is interesting. Why would there be no coins of Cuba with Castro or some other historic person?

Yes, it is a very good read! Here is the link...

https://goccf.com/t/244023

I'm sticking with the (correct) answer that George Washington appearance on the 1900 Lafayette Dollar was the first occurrence of a specifically identifiable American individual on a legal tender USA coin.

His appearance was proceeded by Queen Isabella of Spain (1893 Isabella Quarter dollar) and Christopher Columbus (1892/1893 Columbian Exposition half dollar) ... although neither of them is obviously an American.




muddler is correct in his reply to the other question I posed.

Governor Kilby was living when the 1921 Alabama Centennial coin was issued. Designed by the tremendous coin artist Laura Gardin Fraser.

There are three more occurrences in the classic silver commemorative series where the featured individual was alive at the time of coin issuance.

As already mentioned, Joseph T. Robinson on the 1936 issued Arkansas-Robinson half dollar is one of them.

Anyone care to take a crack at the other two?

Bonus question ... next year (2016) the US Mint will issue a legal tender coin that will contain the 5th occurrence of a living individual. Who is it?

David

Wonderful and factual reply Conder101 ... one of the many joys of being a member of this greatest of all coin forums is that even self-proclaimed 'experts' can always learn something new!

Often to embarrassing public results.

You indeed nailed the final two classic silver commemorative I referred to above ... and reminded me of a blind spot in my coin knowledge.

I readily admit to not being an expert on the modern commemorative series ... and completely missed that fact the Eunice Kennedy Shriver was living during the issuance of the 1995 Special Olympics Dollar.

You are also correct that Nancy Regan will be the 6th living person ever depicted on a US mint issued legal tender coin when her first spouse coin is issued in 2016.

Truly hopeful that she is living at the time ... and Thanks on behalf of all of us for correcting the record of living USA portraits on USA issued coins.

David