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 Replies: 11 / Views: 1,595 |
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Valued Member
299 Posts |
I like Presidential history but was never enthralled with this set. However, I faithfully collected Proofs, Satin Finish, and Business Strikes. It is a fairly attractive set when seen in its entirety.
Now I find it lacking because living former Presidents have been omitted statutorily.
Living persons have occasionally been portrayed on coins - i.e. Mrs. Shriver, Joseph Robinson, Calvin Coolidge et al.
I'd like to see all former Presidents' coins issued. Former being the operative word, not the sitting President until his term ends.
What possible harm could there be in issuing a coin for 92-years old Jimmy Carter or George H.W. Bush ? Or any of the others, love them or not.
I don't like holes in my set. They should change the legislation to add the former and in perpetuity the future former Presidents.
I don't think that's monarchial in practice. Jimmy, George, Bill, George and Barack are not going to take over the country. Their terms are over ; they are history.
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Rest in Peace
10197 Posts |
Maybe some wiser than us decided we needn't remember these jokers so soon. Let history speak for itself whether any should be honored or despised, that takes time. You know the adage," Time wounds all heels."  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
604 Posts |
I think they do this purely out of tradition. An 1866 law was passed saying no living president could be on a coin. Also, he could be on a coin only after he has been dead for a minimum of 2 years. This law has been broken...more than once that I know of! The Kennedy half dollar came out only 6 months after he died. Also, the 1926 commemorative half (and 2 1/2 eagle) dollar had president Coolige on it. And here's the kicker, he was still president at the time! |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
17884 Posts |
Quote:
An 1866 law was passed saying no living president could be on a coin. There is no such law. The law forbid the portraying of a living person (Not President) on the PAPER CURRENCY. The only laws that forbid the portraying of a living person on US coins were those clauses in the State Quarter, ATB Quarter, and President dollar legislations. And the President dollar legislation is the only one that carries a "Must have been dead for two years" clause. So the Kennedy half was perfectly legal, no laws broken. Quote:
Also, the 1926 commemorative half (and 2 1/2 eagle) dollar had president Coolige on it. And here's the kicker, he was still president at the time! I always found the Arkansas/Robinson and the Lynchburg VA/Carter Glass half dollars to be more interesting. Robinson and Glass were sitting Senators and they actually got the chance to vote to put themselves on a US Coin. Edited by Conder101
04/04/2017 10:05 am
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Moderator
 United States
188048 Posts |
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I'd like to see all former Presidents' coins issued. Former being the operative word, not the sitting President until his term ends. I am all for this. I do not like holes, either.  It is not impossible, but it would take an act of Congress to amend the existing legislation. |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10034 Posts |
The problem I have with this is that it can become a political thing if living people are allowed on a US coin. Even if they put a first past president on a coin, it could be seen as a rallying point (politicians take advantage? Never!) for one party or the other.
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Moderator
United States
188048 Posts |
No different live or dead. There were just as many conservatives celebrating the Reagan dollar as there were liberals celebrating FDR two years prior. I see no problem giving Carter and GHW Bush their dollars now, as the two balance out and are arguably less politically active than Clinton, GW Bush, and Obama are today.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3468 Posts |
I see no problem adding all of the previous Presidents. Moving forward, dollar coins will be issued for each POTUS some time after they leave office.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1913 Posts |
No way would I want any president still alive to be on a coin. It's all to fresh and has the potential to be used to make a living person seem greater than they really were. There are a couple of ex-presidents that I absolutely can't stand the sight or thought of as I believe they were extremely destructive to our nation. There's no way that I'd want to have them on a coin while they're still alive. In fact, a 25 year delay after their death would be a good idea too. I really don't think that dead politicians should be on regular issue coins either. Though we certainly have some truly great presidents on our regular issue coins, they're stuck on them because nobody wants to remove them as it would imply that we no longer appreciate what they did.
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Moderator
United States
188048 Posts |
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In fact, a 25 year delay after their death would be a good idea too. So, to be clear, you would have preferred not having Nixon, Ford, and Reagan dollars? |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1913 Posts |
Although I was alive when Nixon and Ford were president, I have no personal recollection of them. I do have personal recollection of Reagan. If not having them on coins would keep a couple of former presidents who are still alive off for an additional 25 years after their deaths, then I would have made the trade. I think 25 years is reasonable because there is more emotion involved when you've actually lived through something versus having just read about it or been told about it. Plus, 25 years gives more time for history to be judge what happened.
We should have coins that inspire people when they look at them. When a person is put on a coin we're basically saying that that person is worthy of being honored and we should strive to be like that person. Most of the population would not agree that all former living presidents meet this criteria, so I believe it's just best to avoid having such divisiveness on our coins.
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Moderator
United States
188048 Posts |
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... there is more emotion involved when you've actually lived through something versus having just read about it or been told about it. I completely disagree, but concede that this is a matter of opinion rather than fact. |
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Replies: 11 / Views: 1,595 |
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Posted 04/04/2017 12:36 am
