Post Your Coins And Medals With A Public Service Career Theme

Phineas Taylor (PT) Barnum (1810-1891) was known for being many things in his life: 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.

PT Barnum, Seated Portrait (circa 1860)

(Image Courtesy: Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division. Public Domain.)


Barnum was elected to the Connecticut State Legislature (as a Republican) in 1865. He served two terms before serving a one-year term (in 1875) as the Mayor of Bridgeport, CT, his beloved, adopted home. He gave much to Bridgeport, including the land that became Seaside Park and the Barnum Institute of Science and History (today, the The Barnum Museum). He also made a signficant donation to Tufts University (Medford, MA) to help establish the Barnum Museum of Natural History.

Barnum spent much of his life, by choice, in the public eye. He believed his shows, oddities and artifacts improved the lives of those who encountered them. So, though he was not a life-long government office holder, he believed himself always to be in the service of the public.

The 1936 Bridgeport half dollar was struck to mark the centennial of the 1836 incorporation of Bridgeport, CT as a city. The coin's obverse presents a left-facing portrait of PT Barnum, while the reverse depicts a standing, stylized American Bald Eagle facing proudly/defiantly to the right. The classic and realistic style of the obverse portrait paired with the modern, Art Deco-inspired eagle on the reverse makes for an interesting artistic combination!

Side Note: The phrase "There's a sucker born every minute" is often attributed to Barnum - there is no documented proof that he ever uttered such words.

1936 Bridgeport, CT Centennial Half Dollar


Check out my other Bridgeport half dollar posts, and those about other commemorative coins and medals, here: Commems Collection.

Trinity House in the UK is the Public Service body dedicated to maintaining lighthouses around the British coast, and is also responsible for the lighthouse at Europa Point in Gibraltar. This circulating £2 coin commemorated the institution's 500th anniversary in 2014:

The 1923 Monroe Doctrine Centennial half dollar features two long-term Federal public servants via the conjoined, left-facing portraits on its obverse. Depicted are President James Monroe, the fifth US President, and his Secretary of State John Quincy Adams (JQA). John Quincy, the son of John Adams, the second US President, succeeded Monroe to become the sixth US President. Monroe is the portrait in the rear of the pair. Monroe served as the US President from March 4, 1817 to March 4, 1825.

Why is the President taking a "back seat" to the Secretary of State on the coin? See below for the answer!

James Monroe

President James Monroe Portrait

(Image Credit: Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division. Public Domain.)

James Monroe was born in Virginia on April 28, 1758. In 1774, he enrolled at William & Mary College to study law, but soon dropped out and joined the fight against the British by enlisting in the Continental Army (1775).

While serving under General George Washington, Monroe distinguished himself at the Battle of Trenton on December 26, 1776. Monroe was second-in command of a Company that was led by Captain William Washington, a second cousin of George Washington. When Captain Washington was shot and incapacitated, Lieutenant Monroe took over. Unfortunately, he was shot in the shoulder by a musket ball while leading a charge of his men and was also incapacitated to the extent that he had to be taken from the field of battle for medical treatment. Monroe, who was bleeding profusely, had his life saved by Dr. John Riker, a local physician who had volunteered to join up with the American forces the day before.

Monroe continued to serve in the Army and Virginia militia for several years, eventually attaining the rank of Colonel. After resigning his commission in the military, he returned to school, earned his law degree, was a member of the Continental Congress from Virginia, got married, practiced law in Fredericksburg, VA and went on to launch a highly-successful political/public service career that included:

US Senator from Virginia / November 9, 1790 -- May 27, 1794
US Minister to France / August 15, 1794 -- December 9, 1796 / Under George Washington
US Minister to the UK / August 17, 1803 -- October 7, 1807 / Under Thomas Jefferson
Governor of Virginia / Two non-consecutive terms: December 28, 1799 -- December 1, 1802 & January 16, 1811 - April 2, 1811
United States Secretary of State / April 6, 1811 -- March 4, 1817 / Under James Madison
United States Secretary of War / September 27, 1814 -- March 2, 1815 / Under James Madison
5th United States President / March 4, 1817 -- March 4, 1825 / Followed James Madison


John Quincy Adams

Secretary of State John Quincy Adams Portrait

(Image Credit: Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division. Public Domain.)

At first glance, it seems odd that the portrait of James Monroe, the US President and leader of the country, not to mention the man whose name is permanently linked to the Doctrine, is positioned behind that of John Quincy Adams, the Secretary of State. But there is a reasonable explanation: the US was becoming concerned about the possibility of Spain attempting to regain its South American colonies and JQA was the man who convinced Monroe to have the United States enunciate the principles that warned against such activities. Adams also recommended that Monroe make his announcement independently vs. making a joint announcement with Great Britain.

JQA was responsible for outlining the principles Monroe announced and largely wrote the pertinent section of Monroe's address to Congress. In some respects, JQA is the reason there exists a "Monroe Doctrine." For that reason, JQA's prominent, forward position on the coin makes plenty of sense!

As did Monroe, John Quincy Adams had an extended public service career in office that included:

US Minister to the Netherlands / November 6, 1794 -- June 20, 1797 / Under George Washington
US Minister to Prussia / December 5, 1797 -- May 5, 1801 / Under John Adams
US Senator from Massachusetts / March 4, 1803 -- June 8, 1808
US Minister to Russia / November 5, 1809 -- April 28, 1814 / Under James Madison
US Minister to the UK / June 8, 1815 - May 14, 1817 / Under James Madison
Secretary of State / September 22, 1817 -- March 3, 1825 / Under James Monroe
6th United States President / March 4, 1825 -- March 4, 1829 / Followed James Monroe
US Representative from Massachusetts / March 4, 1831 -- February 23, 1848


1923 Monroe Doctrine Centennial Half Dollar





For other of my posts about commemorative coins and medals, including more on the history of the Monroe Doctrine half dollar and discussion of its design elementss, see: Commems Collection.

The obverse of the 1936 Lynchburg, VA 150th Anniversary Half Dollar depicts a long-term public servant, with a career in State and Federal Government that spanned 45+ years - Carter Glass.

Carter Glass Portrait

(Image Credit: Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division. Public Domain.)

Carter Glass was born on January 4, 1858 in Lynchburg, VA. His early career found him working in the newspaper business, followed by a brief stint as a clerk at the Atlantic, Mississippi & Ohio Railroad. He soon returned to the newspaper industry where he advanced from reporter, to editor, to publisher at the Lynchburg Daily News, a morning paper. Eventually, he purchased the Lynchburg Daily News, and went on to purchase the other two major Lynchburg papers: the Daily Advance, an afternoon paper, and the Daily Republican.

After engaging in the periphery of politics as a backer of candidates via his newspapers, Carter moved into politics. His political career began at the State level, but soon turned to the national stage where he spent the remainder of his career. His public service career included:

State Senator, Virginia / December 6, 1899 -- November 4, 1902
Delegate, Virginia Constitutional Convention / June 21, 1901 -- April 4, 1902
US Representative from Virginia / November 4, 1902 -- December 16, 1918
Chair, House Banking Committee / March 4, 1913 -- December 16, 1918
US Secretary of the Treasury / December 16, 1918 -- February 1, 1920
US Senator from Virginia / February 2, 1920 -- May 28, 1946
Chair, Senate Appropriations Committee / March 4, 1933 -- May 28, 1946
President pro tempore of US Senate / July 11, 1941 -- January 3, 1945

Glass died at the age of 88 on May 28, 1946 in Washington, DC, little more than a year after leaving the Senate.

An interesting numismatic collecting angle re: Carter Glass: As the US Secretary of the Treasury under Woodrow Wilson, his signature appears on Federal Reserve Notes, Series 1914. He holds the unique distinction of being the only person to have a US coin with his image and a US note with his signature - both during his lifetime!


1936 Lynchburg, VA 150th Anniversary Half Dollar


For more of my topics on commemorative coins and medals, including more on the history and designs of the Lynchburg half dollar, see: Commems Collection.

1976 A German Democratic Republic (Germany)
10 Mark. National People's Army

Nice examples!

2021-P Law Enforcement Commemorative Silver Dollar Proof

Service recognition medals are a big thing in Mexico. I have images of about 50 different such medals. Here are a few: