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Moderator
 United States
15400 Posts |
Yep - there were 4 occasions in the classic silver commemorative series where a living person was depicted on the obverse of a legal tender coin.
Your AI assistant has correctly identified them.
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
745 Posts |
There is a whole lot more to her answer than the fact that living people were featured on coins
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1218 Posts |
Quote:
2019 Apollo 11 Coins — Buzz Aldrin's reflection depicted while alive The Apollo 11 coin was a close up image of the famous man on the moon image. The shot was of Aldrin, taken by Armstrong. The visor is Aldrin's, his face shielded by the gold tinting used to protect the astronaut vision from the sun. The astronaut in the reflection is Armstrong taking the image. So you can almost consider the image as being both astronauts. There is very little still imagery of Armstrong on the moon, he did almost all of the photography. Many think that Aldrin probably should have thought of getting a picture of Neil while on the moon, but it wasn't in the mission plan, and speculation exists that he was still sore over not being selected the first to step on the moon. Images from the Internet, I do have this coin including the 5 oz, the only 5 oz coin I own.   Edited by Gilly
03/22/2026 6:44 pm
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
4589 Posts |
The Apollo 11 coin legislation specified the image to be used.
-----Burton 50+ year / Life / Emeritus ANA member (joined 12/1/1973) Life member: Numismatics International, CONECA Member: TNA, FtWCC, NETCC, EveryCountry (online) coin club Owned by three cats and a wife of 40+ years (joined 1983) Author: 3rd Edition of the Sample Slabs book, https://www.sampleslabs.info/ |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1218 Posts |
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The Apollo 11 coin legislation specified the image to be used. Exactly, minted as specified, good catch. Perhaps we need legislation to specify that no sitting president or other public leaders should appear on coinage in their lifetime. Buzz is having an extraordinary long life and they felt the image and concave design they had in mind was more important than the technicality that Buzz was, (and still is!) with us. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
618 Posts |
BobaDebt, thank you for your research.
Your AI response is correct regarding the Founders rejection of Presidents in particular being used on currency but their concern was actually extended to coinage as they wanted to avoid the use of coinage to represent any reflection of a ruler/Monarch.
And yes the Thayer Amendment of 1866 only directly impacts currency but the justification is the same and has been interpreted as such, that the depiction of a living person is contrary to the dignity of a democracy (self promtion).
Congress indeed has the authority over coin designs, hence public laws passed to authorize the National Parks, American Women and the Semiquinncentenial. At times, certain images and or people are so recognized
It is not an issue of legality if Congress so authorizes, but, as Washington is credited as saying: only kings and despots put their faces on money.
The current issue, which I presume prompted your post, is regarding the proposed minting of a Trump gold coin and circulating dollar. Neither was called for by legislation, the CCAC was not consulted and historical practice is contrary. As for the circulating dollar, it is a part of the authorizing legislation but only if the image is emblematic of our semiquinncentenial. In addition, the CCAC is suppose to give input, which it did not.
Everything else aside, we all can have an opinion as to whether a sitting President alone is emblematic of the Semiquinncenial but in a time of enormous political division in our country it is highly questionable. In addition, if this does occur, will future Presidents begin minting coins with their portrait or profile? Would this be a positive development for our nation? Questions to ponder.
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
5394 Posts |
The minting of a coin featuring a current Whitehouse occupant.
Sure to stoke the political fires !
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6481 Posts |
None of the people pictured on the reverses of quarters and dollars were still alive? There's a lot of famous women, native Americans, inventors pictured on those coins. I find it a little hard to believe that all of them were deceased at the time of minting, particularly for the reverses depicting late 20th century events.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1218 Posts |
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None of the people pictured on the reverses of quarters and dollars were still alive? I sure can't think of an example, no. |
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Moderator
United States
187950 Posts |
Can? Apparently so.  Should? No. This is way too divisive. This is a clear political message from one side of the aisle to the other. It would be just as inappropriate and un-American if an administration ran by the opposing party did the same.  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1962 Posts |
I'll vote with my wallet and pass on any coins or medals featuring POTUS 45/47.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5606 Posts |
Boba, Your research is Well received, Our history Should play a strong role in Celebrating America's milestones, As it Always has. People are divided by basic daily decisions, going forward I am hopeful 2026 will be remembered for the Anniversary, The Celebration of America. Maybe instead of a committee deciding Our coinages, How about " We the People " decide...  |
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Moderator
United States
187950 Posts |
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I am hopeful 2026 will be remembered for the Anniversary, The Celebration of America. Easy fix: Keep current political figures off our coins.  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3323 Posts |
Quote:
There is very little still imagery of Armstrong on the moon, he did almost all of the photography. Many think that Aldrin probably should have thought of getting a picture of Neil while on the moon I've studied the Apollo 11 mission for years out of simple curiosity - the dynamic between Armstrong and Aldrin and their specific duties on the moon's surface. While Aldrin was tasked with all photography from within the LM during the mission and took several shots of Armstrong from there, I'm pretty sure he wasn't outfitted with a suit-mounted camera. You can see from this image of Aldrin on the surface; he doesn't have the chest mounted camera that Armstrong had.  "Nummi rari mira sunt, si sumptus ferre potes." - Christophorus filius Scotiae
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1218 Posts |
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I've studied the Apollo 11 mission for years out of simple curiosity Well we definitely have that in common. I never would have obtained those Apollo 11 coins if I wasn't extremely interested in early space exploration. They both had what's called the RCU, the Remote Control Unit. It mainly was for controlling the PLSS (life support system) but also had a camera mount on it. Mainly just to have the camera there and have their hands free, but the camera could be operated while on the mount as well. What I've read was mainly from Neils autobiography, First Man, regarding that there are no great images of Neil on the moon. Not that Aldrin "couldn't have" at some point just said "hey Neil, smile for the camera!" and taken a good shot of him. But time was tight and it just never happened. Probably not intentional, but the writer who helped Neil write his book was just throwing it out there, questioning whether it was intentional or not Edited by Gilly
03/23/2026 2:52 pm
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Replies: 16 / Views: 536 |
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Posted 03/22/2026 6:00 pm
