Post Your "Coins With Hands"

Very interesting!

On the obverse of the 1920 and 1921 Pilgrim Tercentenary half dollars, William Bradford is seen carefully holding a book in his left arm and hand.

The book is not identified, however, and so two different schools of thought have arisen over what it is.

One group believes he is holding a Bible. Considering the religious connection to the Pilgrims and their departure from England to enable them to worship as they deemed proper, Bradford holding a Bible makes sense.

Another camp holds that the book is actually Bradford's own Of Plimoth Plantation, a book he wrote over a number of years that provides a first-person history of the early days of the colony; it was first published in 1656 (the year before his death). Considering Bradford's lengthy central role in the colony's development (he served as its governor on five different occasions between 1621 and 1657 - for a total of approximately 31 years), it seems logical for him to be depicted holding a copy of his important volume on a coin celebrating the history of the Pilgrims and their days at the Plymouth colony.

Which do you think seems more plausible?

(I plan on delving deeper into the background of the book story over in the "US Commemorative Coins" area of CCF within the next few days.)

1920 Pilgrim Tercentenary Half Dollar
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I've posted about the Pilgrim Tercentenary coins multiple times, you can read the posts here:

- 1920 Pilgrim Tercentenary
- 1921 Pilgrim Tercentenary
- 1920 & 1921 Pilgrim Tercentenary - Redux
- 1920 Pilgrim Tercentenary Newspaper Ads

For more of my posts about commemorative coins and medals, see: Read More: Commems Collection.

1969 Jamaica.
25 cents.

The arms and hands of Lady Liberty, as depicted on the obverse of the 1926 commemorative gold quarter eagle ($2.50), played important roles in the coin's symbology.

In her right hand, she is holding the Torch of Freedom. In her left hand she is holding a long scroll. The scroll is meant to represent the Declaration of Independence, though, relatively speaking, it is much longer than it needs to be based on the true size of the actual document.

The reverse of the coin presents Independence Hall in Philadelphia, site of the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution.

The coin was issued in conjunction with the 150th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence and American independence, in general. A same-themed silver half dollar was also struck; both coins were sponsored by the Sesquicentennial Exhibition Association (the organizers of the Sesquicentennial International Exhibition in Philadelphia, PA).

John Ray Sinnock, eighth Chief Engraver of th US Mint, designed and modeled the gold quarter eagle.


1926 American Independence Sesquicentennial, Gold Quarter Eagle





To learn more:

- 1926 American Independence Sesquicentennial
- What if? 1926 American Independence Gold $1.50

For more stories of commemorative coins and medals, check out: Read More: Commems Collection

1536 Hungary.
1KB Denar.
Roman Emperor Ferdinand I.

1890 H British North Borneo Co
1 Cent.

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Time to have a quick look at the hands of the Roman god Neptune as depicted on the 1935 Hudson, NY Sesquicentennial half dollar. Neptune is featured on Hudson's original Seal, which was created in 1785; the half dollar's reverse design was based on the Seal.

On the Seal, Neptune's right hand is holding a trident (something he is almost always depicted as holding), while his left hand is empty with its palm turned down toward the whale with its index finger extended and its other three fingers and thumb curled under. Such detail is very difficult to see on the coin due to the majority having less-than-full strikes, but on those with a better strike, Neptune's left hand's index finger can be seen pointing down toward the whale.

Note: A trident is a three-pronged spear that can be used as a weapon or to fish. On the original Seal, the pole of Neptune's trident passes in front of the whale, while on the coin it disappears behind the whale. Just one of several modifications Chester Beach made while adapting the Seal for his design of the Hudson half dollar.

1935 Hudson, NY Sesquicentennial Half Dollar





You can see my previous post about the Hudson half dollar here: 1935 Hudson, NY 150th Anniversary.

More of my stories about commemorative coins and medals can be accessed from: Read More: Commems Collection.

Great examples!