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.