Coin of the Week/Cool Commemoratives: Goddesses on American Coinage
Americans, and indeed, the world, have often used goddesses to illustrate freedom, liberty, peace, and several other ideals. These goddesses can be portrayed in almost any way. Most of the time, they are portrayed as beautiful young women, sometimes accompanied by a flag, or an infant, or some other representation. This blog post will explain the goddesses shown on United States commemorative coins.
LADY COLUMBIA
Lady Columbia was the first goddess to grace American coins. She appeared on the 1915 Pan-Pacific Exposition Half Dollar, opening a golden gate with an infant behind her, and the same year's Quarter Eagle ($2.50 gold) riding a mythical Hippocampus.
One other coin that I think she appears on is the Monroe Doctrine Centennial Half Dollar. Two goddesses appear on the reverse, and they form the shape of the Americas. But to be perfectly honest, I really don't know if they represent Lady Columbia.
MINERVA (ATHENA)
Minerva also debuted in 1915, featured on the obverses of the two $50 gold pieces, and made her second appearance on the California Expo Half Dollar.
Her hand appears on the obverse of the 2000 Library of Congress bi-metal $10.
LADY LIBERTY
Lady Liberty was the first subject on the first coin of the United States. But she did not appear on a commemorative coin until 1926, the sesquicentennial (150) of the United States, when she graced the obverse of the sesquicentennial Quarter Eagle.
Since then, she has made at least five other appearances: on the Lynchburg, VA Sesquicentennial Half Dollar,
on the 2012 Star-Spangled Banner $1,
and the 1986 Statue of Liberty coins (Half Dollar, Silver Dollar, Gold $5 Half Eagle).
Lady Liberty appears on several formerly circulating United States coinage as well, and the many depictions of her from around the world seem rather similar to those of the United States.
OTHERS: LADIES JUSTICE, FREEDOM, AND KNOWLEDGE
These goddesses are not as familiar to most people. Every good coin collector knows about Lady Liberty and Minerva, but these three, Justice, Freedom, and Knowledge are slightly more quirky, as they have never appeared on particularly famous commemorative coins or circulating coinage. All three of these goddesses appear on only one or two coins apiece:
Justice appears on the Columbia, South Carolina sesquicentennial Half Dollar, as a slightly aged woman holding a set of scales.
Freedom shows up on the 1989 Congress bicentennial Half Dollar and Silver Dollar, shown as the statue of the same name atop the Capitol Building in Washington D.C.
Knowledge debuts on the 1996 Smithsonian Silver Dollar reverse, seated on the globe and holding a torch.
Rooting Through the Lost Art: Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Maryland State Quarters
Connecticut:
Original:
Other Designs:
Massachusetts:
Original:
Other Designs:
Maryland:
Original:
Other Designs:
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