Post Your Coins Depicting Beards!

1978 Greece.
20 Drachmai old lettering.

Obverse
The portrait of Pericles (ca. 495 - 429 BC)

The 1920 Maine Statehood Centennial half dollar features a beard that is very easy to miss. It is found on the coin's obverse courtesy of the figure of the farmer standing to the left of the Shield. Viewing the coin/figure under magnification is the easiest way to see the minor details of the farmer's face.

Here is a larger image of the Maine Seal: The color image presents the beard more clearly.



It's common to lose fine details when a design is reduced to fit on a smallish coin such as a US half dollar. So, Anthony de Francisci, the artist who sculpted the models for the coin, from design sketches by Maine artist Harry Cochrane, can't really be blamed for the beard not being distinct.

The beard is small. but it's there!

1920 Maine Statehood Centennial





For more on the 1920 Maine half dollar, visit:

- 1920 Maine Statehhod Centennial
- 1920 Maine Statehhod Centennial - Revisited

To read other posts on commemorative coins and medals, check out: Read More: Commems Collection.

Nice alliteration!

The beard on the 1925 Fort Vancouver Centennial commemorative half dollar can be found on the coin's reverse courtesy of the buckskin-wearing fur trapper depicted in the foreground. In the scene's background is found Fort Vancouver, with Mt. Hood rising behind it.



The obverse of the coin presents a left-facing portrait of Dr. John McLoughlin; he established the fort and served as its HBC Chief Factor (manager) until he retired in 1846. While McLoughlin might appear to be bearded as well, he was generally a clean-shaven man with a full head of hair (the hair is a bit "wild" in some photos, however!).

Statue of John McLoughlin in Statuary Hall within the US Capitol

Image Credit: Architect of the Capitol web site. Public Domain.

The coin marks the 100th anniversary of the establishment of Fort Vancouver in the Oregon Territory (in the present-day State of Washington) by the Hudson's Bay Company (HBC). The half dollar was sponsored by the Vancouver Centennial Corporation. The fort served as a major fur trading post for the Columbia River valley and the very large surrounding region.

Shown here is a photograph of Stephen Meek, a pioneer trapper, prospector and guide. He worked for John McLoughlin and the Hudson's Bay Company for about a year (Spring 1835-Spring 1836) out of Fort Vancouver and is representative of "the look" seen with many trappers of the day as depicted on the coin.


Image Credit: Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division. Public Domain.

1925 Fort Vancouver Centennial Half Dollar



For more information about the coin, check out:

- 1925 Fort Vancouver Centennial
- 1925 Fort Vancouver Centennial - Redux

Other of my posts about commemorative coins and medals can be found here: <b>Read More:</b> Commems Collection.

Nice examples!

Very nice!

Fantastic!

Excellent!