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 Replies: 17 / Views: 2,212 |
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Valued Member
United States
455 Posts |
Variety is one of the key reasons I was attracted to coin collecting. When I started collecting at age 8 or 9 and learned nickels used to have Buffaloes on them, pennies used to have Indians on them, and Ben Franklin used to be on the half dollar, I was floored. Now here we are in 2006 and current designs on our circulating coinage have been the same for many, many years. We have the: Cent since 1909 in honor of Abraham Lincoln's 100th birthday Nickel since 1938 in honor of Thomas Jefferson's 200th birthday Dime since 1946 in honor of FDR who died the prior year Quarter since 1932 in honor of George Washington's 200th birthday Half dollar since 1964 in honor of JFK who died the prior year I'm bored with these designs now circulating 97, 68, 60, 74, and 42 years and I think it's time for a change. If it were up to me I would put Teddy Roosevelt on the cent (not till 2010 though), Harry Truman on the nickel, Ronald Reagan on the dime, Dwight Eisenhower on the quarter, and Andrew Jackson on the half dollar. I'd employ some of the classic reverse designs on the coins' reverse sides. While at it, I'd change notes too. George Washington & Abraham Lincoln would go on the $1 bill, Lyndon Johnson on the $5, Franklin Roosevelt on the $10, John Kennedy on the $20. I'd leave Thomas Jefferson, Ulysses Grant, and Benjamin Franklin on the $2, $50, and $100. What do you guys think?  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4589 Posts |
I do wish they would change it up as well
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Valued Member
United States
179 Posts |
 I also think a change is overdue, and founding fathers are ok but somewhat overused, but PLEASE NO MORE POLITICIANS. Surely we can be more original than that on our coins/currency  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2269 Posts |
 I would love to see Teddy Roosevelt on anything. He was responsible for so many of the greatest designs, on any circulating coinage. If any dead president deserves to be on a circulating coin, it is certainly him. As for those dollar coins, that doesn't count since every dead president is going to be on it. |
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
1091 Posts |
I would like to see some beautiful "Art Deco" Designs of Liberty on the coins. The absolute beautiful Mercury dime was replaced by FDR. The Standing Liberty, Walking Liberty are just wonderful designs. It would be great to make the currency a work of classical art rather than honoring a man elected to office who may or may not have done such a wonderful job. Some peoples political views will be voiced when some of the Presidents are on the coinage. There are a lot of ugly mugs going to grace the president dollar series, so it would be a good time for the smaller coins to change to some beautiful designs and forget the politicians. Of course WHO WILL MAKE THE DECISION?...a politician. LOL. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
595 Posts |
I would like a change too, but I would rather not have real people at all, especially anybody from the 20th Century. I'd like to go back to the designs "emblematic of liberty" as called for in the 1792 Act. |
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Pillar Of The Community
3147 Posts |
If we must have Presidents then celebrate them on our currency and do something, ANYTHING, with our coins other than continueously pounding politicians down our throats. You would think (hopefully) the Presidential dollar series would FINALLY end Presidents on our coinage? We are way past time for a change in our change and, as I have said so many times before, our coinage circulates throughout the world like tiny pocket sized billboards, so its time to take full advantage of that advertising space and show the world we have much more to offer than politics! The current designs are what drove me into world wide collecting! Edited by crystalk64
12/22/2006 7:52 pm
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Rest in Peace
United States
3730 Posts |
TSmith3510, I agree with most of your selections, especially TR and Truman.
Funny thing though. I really don't think it makes a dime's worth of difference to the Government as to what we think!!
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Pillar of the Community
United States
830 Posts |
You're right - the current designs have been on our coins way too long. I, however, would never put another dead president (or a live one for that matter!) on any of our coins again. I much prefer the classic renditions of Lady Liberty. Sheesh, even the Barber designs would be better than what we have now  |
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Valued Member
United States
470 Posts |
Thank God that it is NOT up to up you...whew.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7123 Posts |
quote:
Originally posted by Andrew289
Thank God that it is NOT up to up you...whew.
What is not up to who ? Communication with meaning contains a few essential elements like detail !! ******************************************************************** I agree that our coinage is boring,, that is one of the reason why I have expanded beyond our shores and into the darkside coins,, there is so much diversity that the selection is endless. I find a few of our coins still interesting and I have most of the modern and classical designs at least represented in my collection but for diversity there is nothing like roaming the world !! Rick |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
560 Posts |
If we must have dead presidents on our coinage; then, I also like most of your choices TSmith3510, excluding Ike, whose bald head I'm a little tired of looking at too. I would love to see more of our wildlife and natural wonders grace our coins. As for people on our change, why must it be presidents? Why not poets, authors, civil rights greats, inventors, aviators, philanthropists, scientists, explorers, etc? I can think of hundreds of Americans who contributed greatly to this country and are worthy of a place on our coinage. We need to celebrate our diversity. If they could make Lady Liberty look like a beautiful, feminine woman and not an Amazonian warrior or 14 year old Greco-Roman male, I wouldn't mind her on the coins. In my opinion, Liberty is too stylised and needs a make-over to reflect modern femininity.
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Valued Member
 United States
455 Posts |
Our nation and government were conceived and established as an experiment by our founding fathers because of the unfair treatment the colonials were subjected to under British rule. While ours may not be perfect, imo it's the best system of self rule developed by mankind thus far.
It is impossible for any person to become president unless he is extremely driven and has the political skills required to get elected. I found 2 definitions for politician: (1) a person who is professionally involved in politics, esp. as a holder of or a candidate for an elected office. (2) a person who acts in a manipulative or devious way, typically to gain advancement within an organization.
The great majority of our presidents fall under the first definition. Most were from humble backgrounds who made it their life's work to serve the people through elected office. "We the people" elected them and they served our nation in good times and bad, often at great personal costs. The president is the head of state, head of government, and commander in chief. Who better can we honor by depicting on our coinage and currency?
Believe me I'm not a pollyanna and I understand, perhaps better than most, that not all of our presidents were great presidents, but I think it's about respecting the office as well as the temporary occupant. Callously referring to our former heads of state as dead politicians and dead presidents can be construed by many as disrespectful. Of course under the first amendment we're all entitled to speak freely and express our own opinions, this is just mine.
Thanks for the soapbox guys. Great forum!
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4867 Posts |
I agree there needs to be a change but I don't think having different presidents on them is the answer. I'd prefer something more american like the coins of the earlier days of our history.
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Valued Member
United States
256 Posts |
American history would be a great series for circulating coins. The possibilities and topics could be used and changed forever and never get boring. Of course then what would commemoratives cover? A return to Liberty would be very welcomed by collectors I'm sure also. Presidents had their run now it's time to let them go! I do like the reverse VERY much for the pres series and wouldn't mind seeing that a permanent design on one denomination. Of course we have to remember the last 2 changes ( SBA and SAC) and what GREAT designs they were! Choke!! |
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Valued Member
United States
129 Posts |
I think it's time to change our money. But I highly doubt it will happen as say you try and change the dime or the nickel or whatever people that are in love with that president will have a cow and make a big stink over it.
I think that FDR will be on the dime forever and Jefferson will always be on the nickel. I like the coins we had before the current ones.
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Replies: 17 / Views: 2,212 |
Posted 12/22/2006 3:07 pm
