Week Thirteen

 

Coin of the Week: Libertas Americana Medal

The year was 1781. The American Revolution was still going 5 years after the Declaration of Independence was signed. Tensions were high. Benjamin Franklin was the U.S. diplomat to France, and had succeeded in winning the French king over to the American side. Franklin wanted to present a special medal to the king as a sign of American friendship.

One problem. The United States Government had no Mint at which to strike such medals. So Franklin had to improvise. The Medals, called the Libertas Americana Medals, were struck at the Monnaie de Paris (the French Mint). The design shows Lady Liberty with a pole that is topped off with a Liberty cap, and the reverse features a goddess, which represents the French, protecting a baby (the infant America) from a lion (the British). Two were struck in gold for presentation to the French king and queen, Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette (later executed during the French Revolution), several others were struck in silver for other members of the French court. The two gold pieces were lost to history, but the silver specimens are relatively common, though expensive. Over the years, the Monnaie de Paris has made restrikes in gold and silver with a nice premium price. Restrikes are plentiful and inexpensive.

 

Modern Gold Restrike of the Libertas Americana Medal

 

Original Silver Libertas Americana Medal

 

Trial and Error: Amazonian Pattern Coins

William Barber is often criticized for a lack of artistic talent with coin designs. But the Amazonian Patterns are regarded as some of the most beautiful coins in American history. Designed by Barber, these coins were his finest work, the silver coins showing a seated Amazonian goddess on the obverse, and a majestic standing eagle on the reverse. Interestingly, these coins were not criticized by the public because of The goddess’ exposed breast. Barber meant no harm in doing this, he just wanted to re-create the art of the ancient Greeks and Renaissance artists, and no harm was done. But several years later, Herman MacNeil’s bare Liberty on the Standing Liberty Quarter aroused resentful feelings (though MacNeil’s intent was the same as Barber’s).

Another set of Amazonian coins is the unique gold set that was also designed by Barber. Although not as beautiful as the Seated Amazonians, these coins are quite lovely, and were placed on each circulating denomination of gold coinage at the time ($1, $2.50, $3, $5, $10, and $20). Examples made in other metals exist. These coins featured an image of Ganymede, the cupbearer of the Greek Gods, on the obverse, and the same standing eagle as the Seated Amazonians on the reverse.

Amazonian Quarter Dollar

 

Amazonian Gold $3

 

Making a Mint: San Francisco

The San Francisco branch Mint was the third functioning U.S. Mint facility, after Philadelphia and New Orleans. It opened after the gold rush. Actually, it opened because of the gold rush. All of that extra gold could be used for coins, but it would have to be shipped to either Pennsylvania or Louisiana. This was a long trip before the transcontinental railroad. So the Mint opened a new branch Mint, and coin production began in 1854. It struck mainly gold and silver coins until 1909, when cent production began there as well. General circulation coins from San Francisco ended in 1980 with the Susan B. Anthony Dollar. Today it produces mainly Commemoratives and proof and uncirculated sets. In 2006 a special commemorative coin program was introduced to celebrate the mint with a Silver Dollar and $5 gold.

San Francisco Mint

 

San Francisco Silver Dollar Commemorative

 

San Francisco Gold $5 Commemorative

 

Wonderful World: Australia Pillar Dollar

The Spanish Pillar Dollar was the standard trade unit in the Americas, and was legal tender in the U.S.A. until 1857. This Australian Commemorative celebrates this coin with a center reproduction of the coin. The coin is legal tender in Australia, and is a very nice commemorative.

Week Twelve

Coin of the Week: 1909 S V.D.B. Cent
Phew! That’s a long name! And a great story.
The Indian head cent of 1859-1909 was a very big success. In 1909, it was the centennial of Abraham Lincoln’s birth. So the Mint decided to create a design to celebrate it. This was the Lincoln cent. The wheat pennies of 1909-1958 are also well known. But the most famous is the 1909 S V.D.B. cent.  Only about 484,000 were produced, and when you consider how many people collect wheat pennies, that number is puny. Today these coins are valued at $750-$2000, depending on condition. Other 1909 pennies had the V.D.B. on the bottom of the reverse. But they were struck at the Philadelphia Mint, and not worth as much. The V.D.B. stands for Victor David Brenner, the designer. His initials on the coins were not very popular, so they were removed the next year. Today, the initials can be found underneath Lincoln’s bust on the obverse.

Trial and Error: $50 Gold Coin

In 1877, William Barber, Chief Engraver of the U.S. Mint, Decided to take a chance.

He designed the first $50 coin in the U.S.A.  Barber slightly modified James Longacre’s $20 gold design, and created one of the greatest coins of all time.
Unfortunately, Barber’s idea didn’t quite take off, which paved the way for the failing of George Morgan’s $100 Union.
Today, only 4 specimens are known to exist. Two gold (both in the Smithsonian) and two copper. However, the idea didn’t leave, and there have been several $50 golds, or Half Unions, created with different designs.

$50 Gold Piece (Half Union)

Pan-Pacific Expo Commemorative $50

$50 Gold Buffalo

Modern Gold Eagle

Making a Mint: West Point

The West Point, New York Mint started producing coins in 1937, and for 35 years, it produced Cents without a mintmark. It is also a bullion depository, and is sometimes referred to as the “Fort Knox of silver”. But it was not always as distinguished.

The West Point Military Academy was founded in 1802. It was the school that taught such famous generals as Ulysses S. Grant and Robert E. Lee. It had no coinage facility, and was not even involved with the U.S. Mint. Today is produces American Eagles and Commemorative coins. There has even been a West Point bicentennial commemorative silver dollar. And it is now a very distinguished Mint faculty.

West Point Bicentennial

West Point Mint

Week Eleven

Coin News: Kennedy Comes Back
On November 22, 1963, President John F. Kennedy was driving through Dallas, Texas, when a shot rang out. A pro-communist sniper was waiting for Kennedy (who was strongly opposed to communism), and killed the President with two bullets. The youngest elected President of the United States, Kennedy’s death was a huge blow to the United States. Almost immediately, plans were made to celebrate the slain President on the Half Dollar. Kennedy Half Dollar production began in 1964. This year is the 50th anniversary of the Kennedy Half Dollar. So to celebrate, the U.S. Mint is producing limited edition sets of specially made coins to sell to collectors. The first is a set of 4 coins, one from each Mint (Philadelphia, Denver, San Francisco, and West Point), all 90% silver. The second includes 2 clad uncirculated coins with the 1964 design (already selling as of this writing). Another specially made coin is the 3/4 oz. 24 karat gold commemorative.
                        
For more information about these coins, visit the U.S. Mint website’s page on these coins at:
www.usmint.gov/pressroom/kennedyhalf

Coin of the Week: Arches National Park Quarter
The 23rd coin in the National Park Quarter series, Arches is a classic natural wonder, and one of the most well-known National Parks in America. Located in Moab, Utah, it consists of several hundred landmarks, the most famous of which are it’s monumental arches. The arch on the coin is the most famous, Delicate Arch, a 65-foot tall freestanding arch that can also be found on most Utah license plates. I found an example in a roll of quarters from the bank, even though it is only a few weeks out there. Never underestimate the power of quarter rolls!


Wonderful World: Chinese Pandas
The Chinese Panda Series is yet another example of bullion coinage that was made to compete with the Krugerrand (even though private gold ownership was illegal in China until 2004). It did introduce a new idea, a design change every year. They also have one up on the U.S.A., a palladium coin. The design always features a panda, sometimes multiple, and is one of the better selling coins in the world.
 

Gold Panda

Silver Panda

Platinum Panda

Palladium Panda