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 Replies: 19 / Views: 4,252 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
524 Posts |
The Eighteenth Amendment (alcohol prohibition) to the US Constitution was ratified in 1919 and that same year the US Congress passed the National Prohibition Act (the Volstead Act) which established penalties for the manufacture and sale of alcohol. The Act took effect on January 17, 1920 marking the start of "Prohibition". Prohibition lasted 13 years ending in December 1933. It was a period marked mostly by non-compliance by the American public. The Prohibition era produced, among other things, flappers, bathtub gin, 3.2 beer, Al Capone, Prohibition agents, medical alcohol permits, speakeasies, moonshiners, bootleggers, rumrunners, stills. Personal notes: I live near San Francisco, a town which was infamous for non-cooperation. The coast south of the city was a prime landing point for alcohol deliveries. The primary job of the local US Coast Guard at the time was chasing rumrunners. Prohibition would be a suitable candidate for commemorative coins. It is a known American historical period which affected almost everyone in the country at the time, and it is well known to the current public through books, films, and television programs (remember "The Untouchables"?). Write your congressman or senator, or better yet, buy him a drink. ******** A numismatic note from one of New York City's former speakeasies:  Leon and Eddie's Nightclub Good Luck Coin The club began as a Prohibition-era speakeasy and later operated as a nightclub. Leon and Eddie are shown thumbing their noses (at Prohibition?).  *** Moved by Staff to a more appropriate forum. ***Edited by willieboyd2
05/21/2017 3:11 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2023 Posts |
Greetings, fellow Bay Area resident! Of all the things we could "honor" with a commemorative... Such a blight on our history. I'll wait for the anniversary of the 21st Amendment, thanks.  Edited by Alpha2814
05/20/2017 11:16 pm
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Moderator
 United States
187556 Posts |
An interesting idea, considering the cultural impact. Quote:
remember "The Untouchables"? Or more recently, Boardwalk Empire. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
8137 Posts |
I don't understand why we would honor the only amendment to ever be repealed with a commemorative coin. Seems like there's other stuff we could commemorate than a failed policy.  |
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Valued Member
United States
231 Posts |
Quote:
I don't understand why we would honor the only amendment to ever be repealed with a commemorative coin. Seems like there's other stuff we could commemorate than a failed policy. My thoughts exactly. |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
4587 Posts |
Plently of other stupid things we've thankfully missed.
-----Burton 50+ year / Life / Emeritus ANA member (joined 12/1/1973) Life member: Numismatics International, CONECA Member: TNA, FtWCC, NETCC, EveryCountry (online) coin club Owned by three cats and a wife of 40+ years (joined 1983) Author: 3rd Edition of the Sample Slabs book, https://www.sampleslabs.info/Edited by BStrauss3
05/22/2017 07:10 am
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2606 Posts |
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An interesting idea, considering the cultural impact.  I initially thought that a commemorative of Prohibition would not make sense, but the more I think about it, the more I can see that it was both a major event in US history and a major example of civil disobedience that is worth remembering and studying. At the very least, it will generate a conversation about history (and coins), which is always important.  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3468 Posts |
I'll raise a glass to an Eighteenth Amendment commemorative coin or two.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10284 Posts |
The reverse should commemorate the repeal of that amendment. ... and I don't drink alcohol. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1475 Posts |
Interesting idea... I like the token though... |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
1118 Posts |
My great grandfather was a rumrunner. That is why the old homestead is a 5 minute walk from Maine.
Prohibition had a major impact in my province, New Brunswick. Some historians look at New Brunswick's moonshining and rumruning era as our "golden years" economically.
On a side note the last time I was out to the bar was New Years'. I struck up a conversation with a young lass from Houlton, Maine. Her friends and her were celebrating New Years' in New Brunswick because they were older than 19 (NB's drinking age) yet younger than 21 (ME's drinking age).
Yup, New Brunswick is still helping Maineiacs get plastered.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
12808 Posts |
I grew up in Cleveland, OH. In high school I partied many times at a house with a red-shingled roof right on Lake Erie. It was a very old house and not sure if it's true, but the story went that the roof was red to help the bootleggers spot it as they were cruising from Canada. True or not, fun story for high school kids.
No way this gets its own coin. 21st I could get behind, but there's no organization that would profit from such an endeavor.
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Moderator
United States
187556 Posts |
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The reverse should commemorate the repeal of that amendment. ... and I don't drink alcohol. I agree and same here, not for 21 years, four months, and 22 days.  Actually, I think a companion commemorative for the 21st amendment should be issued in 2033. That would be nice.  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4211 Posts |
@jbuck...AWESOME!
Super Congrats!
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Moderator
United States
187556 Posts |
Quote:
@jbuck...AWESOME!
Super Congrats! Thank you. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3468 Posts |
Ratified on August 18, 1920, the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution granted American women the right to vote. This is going to be the major theme for 2020 commeratives. At least it should be.
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Replies: 19 / Views: 4,252 |
Posted 05/21/2017 12:46 am
