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 Replies: 38 / Views: 4,620 |
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New Member
Cuba
27 Posts |
Please, correct me if I am wrong, but I understand in the beginning of the United States, Washington was strongly against personality cult, so he ordered currency should now show images of personalities, as rulers of kingdoms and empires at that time did, but symbols of liberty or typical of the new nation.
Thus, early coins show only symbols, bison, Native Americans and so forth.
I wonder, when did that change?
When was the US mint first convinced to strike a coin with the bust of a political leader?
Who was the first US personality who appeared on a coin?
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1436 Posts |
I believe it was Lincoln in 1909
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Moderator
 United States
14463 Posts |
I believe Dave H is correct for actual coins produced by the US Mint. I think there were tokens prior to 1800 with George Washington.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
9395 Posts |
There's the 1892 Columbian commemorative half dollar, although it's not a regular issue -- it's just a personality, not a US political leader.
As for real US political leaders (presidents), Washington appeared on the Lafayette dollar in 1900, and Jefferson and McKinley appeared in 1903 on the gold commemorative dollar.
Edited by pepactonius
11/19/2015 07:26 am
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2824 Posts |
very interesting fact  |
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Valued Member
United States
374 Posts |
In about, 1788, before Washington established that law, he appeared on some one-cent pieces made then.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
17884 Posts |
Quote:
In about, 1788, before Washington established that law, he appeared on some one-cent pieces made then. It wasn't a law, just a precedent, and the early tokens were not made by the US government, they were privately made. |
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New Member
 Cuba
27 Posts |
Thanks! I meant coins which actually circulated as currency.
Lincoln was indeed a great man. It would totally make sense if he was the first one.
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Rest in Peace
United States
4078 Posts |
Gronkikachi, as you stated, Quote:
Thanks! I meant coins which actually circulated as currency. You have a good question which I believe was answered by Dave H, Lincoln. My question, is this a research paper you are doing or a coin collector question. The other question, how can you join CCF with the restrictions from your country .  Edited by bpoc1
11/19/2015 4:13 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6130 Posts |
Not really a "person" for the purposes of this thread, but it is worth mentioning that many of the depictions of Liberty on the coinage of the the 19th-20th centuries were in fact based upon real persons: The 1859-1909 Indian Head cent is rumored to have been based on a sketch or photo of Sarah Longacre, the designer's daughter. He claimed that Liberty was based on a statue of Venus, however. The Morgan dollar was based on Anna Willis Williams, a teacher and friend-of-a-friend of Morgan. The Standing Liberty quarter was based on Doris Dorscher, an actress. The Peace dollar depicts Teresa de Francisci, wife of the engraver. |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
94367 Posts |
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Moderator
United States
187950 Posts |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
94367 Posts |
As I say, Chief Whats-His-Name.  |
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Moderator
United States
187950 Posts |
 Well, at least he used real Native American Chiefs and not white people in wigs.  |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
94367 Posts |
Now be careful sir, you might be offending me and George Washington, both white people with wigs and cetainly personalities. |
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Moderator
United States
15400 Posts |
I concur with pepactonius observation that the 1900 Lafayette Dollar contains an image of George Washington and is the initial appearance of a United States figure on an authorized US Mint coin.
More challenging question ... what US Mint issue first contained the image of a USA person who was living at the time of issue?
The answer lies within the classic silver commemorative set ... a series of coins full of fascinating history and design.
David
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Replies: 38 / Views: 4,620 |
Posted 11/19/2015 06:59 am
