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 Replies: 31 / Views: 6,519 |
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New Member
United States
39 Posts |
I am not necessarily sensitive to the modern use of the concept of "cultural appropriation" where a white person gets dredlocks for example. With that said, I do find it a bit jarring thinking about the Indian cent depiction of a white female liberty donning a native american male headdress. Given that the first minting of this design was done in 1860, 12 years after the U.S. combined territories reached a pretty much contiguous coast-to-coast status, it seems this could have been taken as a pretty inappropriate gesture for the time when REAL persecution of Native Americans was still fresh in the American consciousness. It seems to me just another symbol of our manifest destiny. I have found little mention of this symbolism that I find obvious in the 21st century looking backward. I wonder what, if any, relevance, this reading would have had on Longacre, the mint and the average citizen of that era. If anybody has links on the topic you could point to or feedback, would be interested! |
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Valued Member
United States
475 Posts |
Plenty of other coin series to collect, if you have an issue with IHC. Keep in mind, this series started in 1859. |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
999 Posts |
The Indian Head cent would not be allowed today because as you have mentioned it would be considered "cultural appropriation". In fact many people would take issue with using the word "Indian" to describe the previous cent and would probably prefer the name Native American Head cent. |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
94367 Posts |
The Native American Head cent?  |
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Rest in Peace
United States
18456 Posts |
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The Native American Head cent?  |
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Moderator
 United States
187862 Posts |
Please, tread carefully here. If this topic becomes overtly political it will be removed.
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
2843 Posts |
Consider that the term cultural appropriation came about in the 1980's.
Longacre's design was intended to be respectful to Native Americans in using their headdress on the existing concept of Liberty.
Would modern values consider it CA? Probably. Could we say it was wrong of him (and the US who accepted it)? Certainly not.
Did I write/erase/rewrite/erase this post several times until I felt it was appropriate? Yes I did!
Edited by BigSilver
03/11/2019 3:41 pm
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
94367 Posts |
Well said! (Din't have to think about that at all.)
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New Member
 United States
39 Posts |
Not meaning to be overly political or anything. Just trying to understand if this would have been something people of that era would have considered at all. I do like the series and am considering collecting it more seriously. It seems that Americans in general DID start to take this concept a little more seriously as a more authentic representation of a Native American came out of course on the Buffalo nickel in 1913. I guess the appropriate description of the coin would be Liberty in Native American Headdress. |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10034 Posts |
@Bigsilver - good job in explaining. Maybe 100 years in the future people may judge us for having _________ (fill in the blank) on our present coins (eg. maybe the shield on the Lincoln Cent will be seen as horrible b/c a shied is an implement of war - so they will perceive it as being aggressive). At present, this is a ridiculous notion to us. Past cultural norms cannot adequately be assessed if taken out of context of their own time period. The historic background/mindset of the culture MUST be known and taken into account before a legitimate assessment can be made. I don't know if back in 1856 Mr. Longacre (or anyone else fr that matter) would have worried about how accurately the design depicted an actual American Indian's profile People of that time period, obviously, saw the design as an American Indian and as far as I have been able to ascertain, actually enjoyed and appreciated the design. Quote:
I guess the appropriate description of the coin would be Liberty in Native American Headdress. Not really. The way it was originally named and made is what it actually is. People can rename it to be something else, but the creator and culture of the day gave the design its proper and intended name. We cannot be correct and rename the Mona Lisa as Jane Doe b/c we decide we have found some reason to do so. Remember that the "enlightened" culture we have nowadays will be see as unenlightened in the future. Its the way every culture works. Each culture is always the epitome of education/reason/art/etc. in their own time in their own eyes. But future cultures always look back at previous ones as being in error and even somewhat primitive. Ever see how "goofy" your parents high school yearbook pictures look?  Guess whose will look goofy next? Edited by Earle42
03/11/2019 6:30 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
8938 Posts |
I don't know what to comment on, the original topic, or jbuck being assertive. I'm more terrified by the latter frankly. All I'll state is to affirm as times change so do cultural norms. As a high schooler I can say some of my classmates are offended by things that seem rediculous to me. I think the same principle applies here. I grew up under a different cultural influence then they did, therefor I have a difference in what may offend me. That's all my opinion. (jbuck don't ban me :) )
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4233 Posts |
I think around the time this coin was introduced, the Native American was starting to become highly romanticized (and sensationalized), even in Europe. The Wild West shows from 1870-1920 for example. As far as "still fresh in the American consciousness", perhaps that is an understatement. Wounded Knee didn't happen until 1890, 30+ years after this coin was introduced. Times and opinions about it change, like everything. My grandmother was quite proud to have many ancestors who fought in the "Indian Wars" (her term in our genealogy). Their collection of IHC was carefully split up and proudly passed to the 5 grandchildren, some of which undoubtedly came from her Civil War veteran great-grandfather. The design was a reflection of the times. |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10034 Posts |
@Grapecollects  Keep that logical head on your shoulders as you grow older. It will serve you well and save you many headaches! How much squash could a Sasquatch squash if a Sasquatch would squash squash? Download and read: Grading the graders Costly TPG ineptitude and No FG Kennedy halveshttps://ln5.sync.com/dl/7ca91bdd0/w...i3b-rbj9fir2 |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
94367 Posts |
I have lots to say but it's probably best unsaid.
As a sensitive soul, I'm against appropriation for sure, as long as I can wear my Chief Wahoo cap at the senior center.
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Bedrock of the Community
13014 Posts |
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Just trying to understand if this would have been something people of that era would have considered at all. Considering there was no Tumblr, Twitter, or FB back then the amount of people that spent their days being outraged over trivial issues was likely minuscule. The overwhelming majority would have never even considered it, and the overwhelming majority would have been much more concerned about the Civil War that was brewing Quote:Maybe 100 years in the future people may judge us for having _________ (fill in the blank) on our present coins (eg. maybe the shield on the Lincoln Cent will be seen as horrible b/c a shied is an implement of war - so they will perceive it as being aggressive). At present, this is a ridiculous notion to us. Every future time frame feels they're morally superior to previous ones. Edited by basebal21
03/11/2019 7:25 pm
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New Member
United States
39 Posts |
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...the amount of people that spent their days being outraged over trivial issues was likely minuscule. The overwhelming majority would have never even considered it, and the overwhelming majority would have been much more concerned about the Civil War that was brewing This puts it in a proper perspective for me. Certainly, the average American in those days did not have the luxury of fretting about the the perceived offense of the obverse of a cent. |
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Replies: 31 / Views: 6,519 |
Posted 03/11/2019 11:23 am
