Post Your "Coins With Hands"

Tuvalu 2020 1 Dollar John Wayne

Columbia's hands figure prominently on the obverse of the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition half dollar, as she is depicted tossing flowers into the waters of San Francisco Bay as the sun sets behind her. A cherub. holding a cornucopia full with additional flowers. is seen behind her. Columbia is symbolic of the United States and the cornucopia and flowers are meant to represent the "boundless resources" of the American West.

The Panama-Pacific International Exposition was held in San Francisco, CA from February 20 to December 4, 1915. It was staged to commemorate the completion of the Panama Canal in August, 1914.

The coin's obverse design is the work of Charles Barber; the reverse of the coin was designed by George Morgan.

1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition Half Dollar



I've posted before about the 1915 Pan-Pac half dollar. Briefly here: 1915 Panama-Pacific Exposition Half Dollar and a bit more thoroughly here Revisiting the Pan-Pac Half Dollar.

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

1961 UK.
1 Penny - Elizabeth II 1st portrait; without 'BRITT:OMN'.

Very nice!

1949 J Germany - Federal Republic
50 Pfennig.

There is strong symbolism on display with the hands of the "Concord Minuteman" depicted on the obverse of the 1925 Lexington-Concord Sesquicentennial half dollar. As Chester Beach modeled the 1925 coin's obverse design on the statue created for Lexington-Concord's centennial in 1875, the credit for the symbolism needs, therefore, to go to the statue's sculptor, Daniel Chester French.

The minute men were citizen-soldiers - often farmers, or other tradesmen - vs. professional soldiers. In his statue, French depicts his citizen-soldier with his left hand gripping his plow (representing his connection to his "day job" on his farm) and his right hand holding a long gun that he will use, if necessary, to defend his family and home.

The statue has become iconic in the US, and has been used by the US Government on coins, postage stamps, war savings stamps and military payment certificates. Its image has also been used on countless commemorative/souvenir medals by private mints, especially on those issued during the US Bicentennial years.

1925 Lexington-Concord Sesquicentennial Half Dollar





You can read my previous posts about the coin and its original packaging here: 1925 Lexington-Concord Sesquicentennial and here 1925 Lexington-Concord Sesquicentennial Ephemera.

I've presented a full-color image of the statue here: 1925 Lexington-Concord Sesquicentennial - Coins with Hats Thread.

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

1924 Republica Peruana.
Un Sol.

One last go for the 1925 Norse-American Centennial medal, this time with a focus on the medal's obverse and the Viking's hands.

In his right hand he holds a sword. In the circa 1000 AD age, the typical Viking sword was two to three feet in length and weighed between two and four pounds, with most swords closer to the lower end of the weight range. The blade was double-edged (i.e., sharpened on both edges) and had a slight taper (wider at the hilt). The small grip with which the sword was fitted indicates it was meant to be a one-handed weapon.

Swords were difficult to make and therefore very expensive items during the Viking era. They were so valuable, in fact, that they were often considered a family heirloom and were passed down from one generation to the next. More great information about Viking swords can be found here: http://www.hurstwic.org/history/art...ng_sword.htm.

In addition to the sword, the viking on the medal is depicted holding a circular shield in his left hand. Shields of the era were made of wood, often solid planks of spruce or pine - a warrior looked for the best combination of light weight and strength/durability. The solid planks were held together via bands of iron on the back. They were approximately three feet in diameter, and just 1/4-inch to 1/2-inch thick. When I learned of the relative thinness of the shields, it was a surprise to me. An interesting/amusing note about the shield depicted on the medal, if it is the common size of three feet in diameter, the Viking holding it would need to stand at least eight feet tall! That's a BIG Viking! Great additional information about Viking shields can be found here: http://www.hurstwic.org/history/art...shields.htm.

The octagonal medal was designed by James Earle Fraser of Indian Head/Buffalo nickel fame. On the reverse of the medal (to the left of the ship) is seen "Opus Fraser" which means "Work of Fraser" or "Fraser's Work." He signed the medal this way vs. simple initials.

1925 Norse-American Centennial Medal, Silver - Thick Variety





You can check out my previous posts about the Norse-American medal here:

- 1925 Norse-American Centennial
- 1925 Norse-American Centennial Medal - Upgrade

Other of my commemorative coin and medal posts can be found here: Read More: Commems Collection