Week Twenty-Six

Coin of the Week: Lafayette Silver Dollar
Struck in 1900 (most of them were really struck in 1899), the Lafayette Silver Dollar was the only silver dollar (though not the only dollar coin) in the early commemorative years (1892-1953). It features busts of the Marquee de Lafayette, who helped us win the revolutionary war, and George Washington, obviously the less famous of the two (roll eyes here). Interesting note: Charles E. Barber modeled the bust of Washington on the same bust that the Washington Quarter was modeled on. The reverse shows Lafayette on horseback. The pieces were struck to help fund a statue of Lafayette being built in Paris. 36,000 of the authorized 50,000 coins struck were sold. Today, these coins are extremely expensive, climbing into the ten-thousands when offered for sale.

Pay the Bills: 1896 Educational Series
Out west was a great place to be in the 1890’s…. if you didn’t want a proper education.
That line just about summed up the feelings about the wild west in big cities on the east coast. The people who live there must be uneducated slobs (I would have resented this. I live in the wild west). So how can we make them smarter, more refined, more appreciative of art?
Well, what things do they even use over there?
Guns!
Oh, wait. If we educate them via guns, then that might put the wrong idea into their heads. Sighhhh…
Cows!
Okay, really? Who wants to see art on cows? They give milk, not education.
Cash!
Hey, you might be on to something there… what if we put fancy designs on money? That’ll get those people to appreciate it!
And so the Educational Series was born. They are 1896 1,2, and 5 dollar bills with absolutely beautiful designs. And here they are: (Sorry for the low resolution pics)