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 Replies: 20 / Views: 4,340 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
997 Posts |
When Congress approved the concept of Bicentennial coins why did they exclude the dime?
They included all the other "silver" (actually clad) coins of the time.
For that matter, why not the cent and nickel as well?
What designs would you have used for the 3 smaller denominations?
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2270 Posts |
They initially wanted to change only the half and dollar but by 1974 these were already becoming rarely seen in circulation and it was pointed out that some people might never see a bicentennial coin unless a circulating coin was included. The mint was somewhat hesitant to "disrupt" circulating coinage but not enough to really fight it.
The winning design (by Jack Ahr) actually went on the quarter because it was the one that would be seen the most. Second place winner went on the Ike, I believe.
Time don't fly, it bounds and leaps.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2270 Posts |
The penny was a waste of space even in 1976.
I'd have liked to have seen something about John Paul Jones on something. He's one of relatively few military figures whose motivations are understandable and entirely admirable. Many have courage and genius which he also displayed. Perhaps the ship Bon Homme Richard for the nickel and the Declaration of Independence for the dime.
Time don't fly, it bounds and leaps.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
17884 Posts |
We were lucky to get the three coins we did. The Treasury Dept fought the idea tooth and nail. At that time the official Treasury line was that you should not have more than one design for a coin in circulation at the same time because it would confuse the public and they would have doubts about the authenticity of the coins in circulation. The people just couldn't handle more than one design. They pretty much held to that opinion until they discovered they were making a lot of money from people hoarding the State Quarters. (They had lobbied against them as well.) Once the seigniorage profits started rolling in suddenly multiple designs were a GREAT idea! |
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Valued Member
United States
63 Posts |
Good topic. Awhile back I was wondering the same thing.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1903 Posts |
I think this is how it should have gone... Have a theme of the founding documents of our nation...
Dollar...Declaration of independence reverse
Half Dollar... Articles of Confederation
Quarter... Treaty of Paris
Dime... Constitution
Nickel... Bill of rights
Cent... Gettysburg Address.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1599 Posts |
Thanks for this info, I too had wondered about that. Condor 101, what you reported is another example of our government believing that they have to think for us since we are too simple minded to think and reason for ourselves.
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Valued Member
United States
446 Posts |
Quote:
We were lucky to get the three coins we did. The Treasury Dept fought the idea tooth and nail. At that time the official Treasury line was that you should not have more than one design for a coin in circulation at the same time because it would confuse the public and they would have doubts about the authenticity of the coins in circulation. Never mind that during a changeover from Barber to Liberty designs in 1916, we had more than one design in circulation for dimes, quarters, halves. Never mind that happened again in 1938, with two different nickel designs bearing that date. Or, that in the early 1960s we had two different cent designs in circulation. Edited by DCM Coins
09/08/2014 10:09 am
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Moderator
 United States
187702 Posts |
Quote:
I think this is how it should have gone... Have a theme of the founding documents of our nation...
Dollar...Declaration of independence reverse
Half Dollar... Articles of Confederation
Quarter... Treaty of Paris
Dime... Constitution
Nickel... Bill of rights
Cent... Gettysburg Address. I like it.  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
506 Posts |
unholyroller, lets use those for maybe a tricentennial or a 250 year anniversary of the USA?
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
11951 Posts |
Quote:
Quote:
I think this is how it should have gone... Have a theme of the founding documents of our nation...
Dollar...Declaration of independence reverse
Half Dollar... Articles of Confederation
Quarter... Treaty of Paris
Dime... Constitution
Nickel... Bill of rights
Cent... Gettysburg Address.
Would have been a interesting theme ... But for me the Gettysburg address, does not fit into this group. I would change the cent to Common sense, (pamphlet by Thomas Paine) To me that only makes sense .....  |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
I never did like those bicentennial coins. So many people started to hoard them and then just dump them in banks. No value except face and to this day, not much value. I too used to wonder why not all coins made to celebrate that but not doing that made the ones they did, seam odd.
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Valued Member
United States
446 Posts |
Me, I've always liked them, and glad that we did them and in the way in which we did them.
I wish though we'd ditch the ATBs and the Presidents and go back to the 1916 designs.
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Moderator
United States
187702 Posts |
Quote:
I would change the cent to Common sense, (pamphlet by Thomas Paine) Nice idea, but it would mess with the chronological order used to assign designs to the other denominations. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
8515 Posts |
Quote:
I wish though we'd ditch the ATBs... What'chu talkin bout Willis ? I love the ATB's...  Oregon coin geek.....*** GO BEAVS ! ! ! ***
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Moderator
United States
187702 Posts |
At least let the ATB program finish first. We have albums to fill! |
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Replies: 20 / Views: 4,340 |
Posted 09/06/2014 10:29 am
