Post Your Coins/Medals/Tokens Depicting Imaginary Personifications Or Allegories.

Nice example!



Very interseting!

For the most part, yes. I want to say that the "the head of a cow" is more Easter Egg than allegory.

very nice one commems.

nice one commems.

Turning attention to the 1935-36 California-Pacific International Exposition Half Dollar:

The coin combines mythology and allegory on its obverse.

The primary element of the coin's design is a depiction of the Roman goddess Minerva, seated and holding a shield. Also included: a California grizzly bear, a sailing ship, a gold miner, a cornucopia/horn of plenty and mountains in the background beyond the water of the bay. The "Eureka" motto is also present, though relocated.

Minerva is used as an allegorical symbol of California becoming a US state without first going through the preliminary stage of being a territory. According to Roman mythology, Minerva was born as a fully-grown adult vs. an infant and thus skipped the awkward "growing up" stage. As such, she is used as an allegory to represent California's skipping of the prelims and moving straight to the main event - Statehood.

The other design elements included, symbolically represent various aspects of California's history.

Very interesting!

Next up, the 1936 Cincinnati Music Center 50th Anniversary Half Dollar:

The Cincinnati half dollar is another example of a coin that presents historical realism on its obverse, and allegorical symbolism on its reverse.

The obverse depicts Stephen Collins Foster, a prolific composer/songwriter that has been referred to as "the Father of American Music." He wrote over 200 songs during his brief lifetime, he died on January 13, 1864 at the young age of 37. (Note: He had no meaningful connection to Cincinnati's music scene.)

The coin's allegorical elements appear on its reverse. The design depicts an allegorical female figure meant to symbolize the Goddess of Music. The goddess is depicted holding/playing an ancient musical instrument - the lyre - to connect her with music.

Excellent example!

In line with several other members of the classic era of US commemorative coins, the 1936 Bridgeport, Connecticut Half Dollar combines historical realism and allegorical symbolism.

The "real" side of the coin is its obverse, which depicts a left-facing portrait of Bridgeport's most famous resident, Phineas Taylor (PT) Barnum. He was famous as a promoter, a publicist extraordinaire, a museum owner/operator, a circus owner/operator, an author and a touring temperance lecturer, among other related things. He was also a generous philanthropist, a land developer, a politician and an elected government official of the State of Connecticut and of the City of Bridgeport, CT.

The allegorical reverse depicts what continues to the present day to be considered the most "modernistic" eagle displayed on a US coin. The eagle is used as an allegorical symbol of the strength and independence of the United States - of which Connecticut is part.