american currency coins | Top 10 American Coin Designs

Top 10 American Coin Designs



It is true that beauty is often in the eye of the beholder, it is also true that there can be a consensus in which beauty is concerned. Few people, for example, consider Rembrandt or Michelangelo David to be eyesores, so judging beauty is not nearly as subjective as imagined. This applies to designs on the coins for famous works of art, bringing me to the latest top of my list of ten-in this case, the best top ten or historically historically significant American coins ever designed. (Of course, I realize there are also coins beautiful than any other country, but because it may be less familiar to most readers-and I only collect US coins myself-I think it is better to concentrate on the design of the United States. Perhaps foreign coins could be the subject from another list of ten in the future, however) Many readers will recognize that most of the coins in my list are currently not in production, which have been otherwise replaced by more contemporary (read boring) designs over the years. That's not to say not there may be some intrinsic aesthetic level in some of today's modern design, only that the coins of the past-many designed by some of the most famous and talented sculptors and engravers of their era-leave many of their modern counterparts in the dust. Of course, not all old coins are great works of fine art, but some of them are so historically significant I feel compelled to include them in this list. And, without further ado, here are my nominations for the best designed or most historically significant coins in American history.

10. TheLincoln Penny, 1909-now
penny

Despite a rather quiet and serious overall design, Lincoln's common and beloved penny holds the longevity record as the longest manufactured coin in American history, with the design on the front-known as the front-remaining virtually unchanged for over 100 years. (The same is not true of the rear or reverse side of the coin, which has been redesigned several times, first in 1959 and again recently.) Also holds the distinction of being coins in circulation the first to bear the likeness of real people-in this case, Honest Abe-thus started the trend and so potentially made it possible for every president to make their way onto a coin (a good prospect of FDR and JFK since taking advantage of). Sen calm is not without controversy, however. When it first appeared, the designer coin, Victor David Brenner, had his initials dominant display in the reverse of the coin design faux pas that have been criticized as (apparently, the self-promotion was favored back in 1909 "elitist.".) Quickly remove the letter offensive, in doing so he deliberately created one of the most famous rarities in the sen community, the 1909 "VDB" variant (with them printed in San Francisco worth hundreds of dollars in great condition).

10. The Liberty "V" Nickel, 1883-1912
Liberty V

Okay, not a great design, but a coin that captures the essence of the Victorian era and has a cool story to go with it to boot. The coin itself was designed by the same people who bring you a dime Barber then and forgotten, quarter and half dollar series (1892-1916) -Quite simple: the profile of Lady Liberty on the front surrounded by the stars of thirteen and a giant Roman numerals " V "on the back surrounded by flowers and garlands of all kinds of chaos. The only problem is that Mr. Barber forgot to put the word "Cents" under "V", so that person is less than the sterling character of electro-plating gold coins and pass this as a five-dollar gold piece (a substantial amount at the time). This forced a rushed redesign on the part of the embarrassed carver and the rest, as they say, history. (Making people appreciate the importance of proofreading, is not it?) Another small anomaly with this coin is that despite the fact it was out of production in 1912, the dying for 1913 was already made. Before they could be melted, officials-perhaps some mints had too freely participated in the new year's libations-decided to root out five cents by 1913 on them as souvenirs. Today, all five cents in a private collection, each worth well over a million dollars each, make them the most valuable coins ever produced on a whim.

9. The Kennedy Half Dollar, 1964-present
Kennedy Half Dollar
While it may not be the most beautiful coin ever produced artistically, the awards are so popular for the late president holding the record for being the fastest coin designed in American history. When one considers that less than nine weeks passed between the president's death and the printing of the first Kennedy semester in January 1964, one can begin to appreciate the pace at which a government bureaucracy can move when it wants to. Fortunately, the elements that make up the coins already exist: the profile used has been designed for President coins and the presidential emblem used on the back has been around for decades. This makes producing the overall design, getting it approved (Mrs. Kennedy and her sister Robert Kennedy are at the end okay), and creating coins die faster than it might otherwise. Half Kennedy also holds the record for being the most hoarded coin in American history (especially the first printed in 1964 in 90% silver) and remains today billed popularly. What is so remarkable is that despite the fact that half a dollar generally falls from current use, the government continues to root out millions of them every year, suggesting that the company continues production like the Cuban embargo-remains as more of a legacy to a murdered president than to the needs of the economy .

8. The Penny Indian Head, 1859-1909
Indian Head Penny

Though not all that great an artistic triumph, the much-loved Indian Head pens remain a favorite among collectors for over a century and, like Buffalo Nickel (see # 4 below) is the classic American currency of the nineteenth century. Designed by Engraver Chief James B. Longacre on the orders of the director of Mint, Longacre came with a portrait of an Indian girl-or, in fact, a Caucasian wearing a head-cover for hairy front. (The story is often repeated that Longacre modeled "India" after his daughter, Sarah, proved untrue, but still makes for a great story anyway.) On the back, she laid a simple laurel bouquet and a bare shield with ONE bone Cent inscribed on middle, indicating that Longacre is anything if not to the point. In each case, the percent of Indian Head won direct and enduring praise from the American public and remains one of the coolest, if simple, coins ever designed.

7. The Peace Dollar, 1921-1935
Peace Dollar

In 1921 the country was still basking in the light of having finally ridded the world of war forever by blasting Kaiser soldiers to pieces and deciding to celebrate the achievements as well as helping silver financiers-by producing Morgan's replacement dates on the dollar. The result was a brief but cheerfully optimistic Couple Dollar that easily captured the Art Deco movement of the twenties. While offering for new extended dollar designs for successful designers such as Victor D. Brenner, Adolph A. Weinman and Hermon A. MacNeil, all of whom had designed the previous US coin, the winner turned out to be a young Italian immigrant named Anthony de Francisci, who carved a fine portrait of Liberty model after his wife. The opposite of a coin shows an eagle on a resting rock, peering toward the sun through a series of rays, with the word PEACE superimposed on a rock. No other US coin has ever been produced for circulation to bear the previous or subsequent motto, perhaps because it seems foolish to carry the "peaceful" coins stamped on it while fighting World War Two. There is a bar-pulling side with coins, however. It seems that the Peace Doll was very nearly raised in 1964-nearly thirty years after the beginning of death-when the official Congress of production of 45 million dollars of new silver, appears in an attempt to serve the needs of Nevada gambling casinos. After the Denver Mint produced over 300,000 of the coins-each dated 1964-May 1965, the LBJ decided on a currency that seemed to serve a special interest group and he canceled the order, resulting in an entire warehouse of melted coins used for something more useful set of tea as. However, there are many rumors that survive today-that some of the 1964 dollars may have survived and are now being held incommunicado in private collections. (If true, they will remain hidden because it is technically illegal for themselves).

6. The Morgan Dollar, 1878-1921
Morgan Dollar
Everyone has seen one of the old cowboys where some Gunslinger decided to show his shooting skills by throwing silver dollars in the air and drilling with a trusted Colt revolver. If you've ever wondered, like I do, if A: the coin is still worth the money with a hole in it and B, the type of coin they use, no wonder. The undisputed gunslinger used one of Morgan's respectable dollars-a currency better than the other symbolizing the Old West. Designed by a talented English sculptor named George Morgan, the coin features a rather plump profile-bordering lady-fat Liberty on the front and what many consider to be a rather skinny eagle on the back (which results in it being an occasional ridicule referred to as "Buzzard" dollars by some). Regardless, coins turn out to be one of the most enduring designs of all time and remain among the most popular coins to collect for numismatics (coin collectors) to this day. What is particularly interesting about this design is how well Lady Liberty-with flowing hair and spinning flowers-both reflect the movement of art nouveau so popular in art in the late nineteenth century (though actually preceded by a decade of good or more, suggests that Mr. Morgan is nothing if not visionary.)

5. Standing Liberty Quarter, 1916-1930
Standing Liberty

1916 is a big year for coins, with redesigning wholesalers of almost every major denomination done, thereby forever changing the landscape of American currency. Among the lesser-known but still aesthetically pleasing designs to come is Liberty Standing's quarter, the notes noted the sculptor Hermon Atkins MacNeil. Famous for his works dealing with Indians and American history, especially in public buildings and monuments, what Hermon emerges is a real-eye catcher: the front of the coin features a frontal view of Liberty, a picture reminiscent of an ancient Greek sculpture, with an olive branch of peace in his right hand . Left arm raised, holding a shield in protective gesture. On the contrary, as mandated by law, it depicts an American eagle in full flight, once again so very American in nature. But this coin is not without scandal. It appears that Mr MacNeil left Lady Liberty's right breast naked in her original design, creating something of an uproar in a polite society and forcing her to do a quick redesign in an attempt to mask the offending bulge. The following year, Liberty was properly dressed once again and the crisis was averted. It's a good bet that most Americans who do not collect coins are unfamiliar with special coins, because they do not last long. It seems that he went out about when the Great Depression struck, only to be replaced in 1932 by the familiarly familiar Washington Quarter now, which seems to be something of an insult to a girl who is willing to bare all for God and the country.

4. Buffalo Nickel, 1913-1938
Buffalo Nickel

Easily the most classic of all American coin designs, these designs by James Earle Fraser, former assistant Saint-Gaudens and a best earning artist known for his monumental "End Trail" Indian sculpture, create a truly unique design for new nickel designed for replacing the quiet and serious Liberty "V" nickel of the nineteenth century (No. 10 above). Until then, most "Indians" portrayed on US coins were mainly Caucasians in an Indian headdress. Fraser's design, however, accurately depicts Indians as they see, with India on the front being the composite of the three heads who have posed for it. In keeping with the obvious American theme, he also decided to put the American bison behind, and thus create a work that is one of the best known of all American coins even today, more than seventy years after coming out of production. As a result, it remains one of the most popular coins to collect, with a complete collection in a higher value (condition) worth thousands of dollars. Attempts to reintroduce the classics over the years have repeatedly ended in failure, although the coins have a comeback of its kind in 2006 when a modified version of the design was used on a $ 50 gold bullion coin. However, I would love to see it replace the boring Jefferson nickel that has been like being the mainstay of pocket change for the last seventy years.
3. "Mercury" Dime, 1916-1945
Mercury Dime

Probably one of the most famous of all American coins, this design by Adolph A. Weinman is busy (who also designed the same Walking Liberty year-see entry 2) began a misnamed life. Though called "Mercury" penny, the one thing that does not describe is Mercury, the messenger of the gods in Roman mythology whose wings are attached to his feet. The actual portrait that Liberty wore a winged hat, which should symbolize freedom of thought. So, the coin is more appropriately known as the Head of Liberty for a dime winged, but the irony that "Mercury" applied to it early on, and after years of common use, has stuck. Whatever it is called, this dime represents a welcome change when making its first appearance in 1916. Indeed, it serves to symbolize more than freedom of thought: it is also a symbol of the new American spirit, a joy reflected in the freshness and vitality of the new US currency as a whole in the early 1900s. Coins were replaced, Barber loose change, rooted in the 19th century, when American life was more rigid and formal, making new coins breathe in fresh air. One particularly exciting news about this coin is the design on the back, which describes fasces, a symbol of ancient Roman power, with a battle ax on it to represent the preparedness and olive branch beside it to show love and peace. Unfortunately, lately it turns out that fasces is also a symbol for the Italian Fascist Party Benito Mussolini dictator, so strange if during the Second World War, American coins bear the symbol of one of his enemies. I think it's a good thing the Weinman has not decided to put the swastika on the back side. That might be a little overkill.

2. Liberty Walking Half Dollar, 1916-1947
Liberty Walking Half Dollar

In 1916, major changes not only occurred in American culture, but in American currency. In a desire to not only replace the 19th century design date of James Barber but should be more prominent on the world stage, the Mint was assigned to come up with new and exciting designs that could compete with their European counterparts, the result being one of the most artistic coins ever stamped out of the coin press. This extraordinary design by the German-born sculptor Adolph A. Weinman-the famous Augustus Saint-Gaudens student (see entrée is below 1.) Managed to get almost everything right. For the front of the design, Weinman chose the Liberty full-length character to walk to the dawn of a new day, dressed in Stars and Stripes and the recorded branches of greetings and oaks symbolizing civil and military glory. Instead depicts a majestic eagle perched on a mountain reef, the wings revealed in the pose pose show, with the symbolic American mountain pine tree jumping from a crack in the rock. These highly patriotic themes resonate perfectly throughout the nation then prepare (intentionally or not) to enter into World War I, (ironically against the Weinman's birthplace). While the coins ended production in 1947-replaced by a forgotten half-dollar Franklin design-it's dramatic front can still be seen on a single silver bullion ounce coin, a little bigger, yet every bit as spectacular as it appeared on a smaller half-dollar almost a century ago.
1. Saint-Gaudens Twenty Dollar Gold Piece, 1907-1933
Saint Gaudens

The product of one of the world's leading sculptors at the time, Augustus Saint-Gaudens, this coin-often referred to as Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle-is considered by many to be the most beautiful American currency ever designed. The design shows the very ideal Lady Liberty surrounded by a sunburst theme-one that is carried to the back of a coin and illuminates a large eagle in mid-flight. This coin also has the distinction of being an American coin only where that date is given in roman numerals (though this is only for a few months immediately after its release in 1907, after the date of returning back to Arabic numerals). Another interesting feature is that it has a star for each country on the front running around the minus circle of Hawaii and Alaska, of course, that does not become a country until after the coins are out of production. It's also one of the most valuable US coins as well, with high quality examples from a few years going to upwards of half a million dollars. (In fact, the only known example of the 1933 Saint-Gaudens double eagle was sold at auction a few years ago for a whopping 7.6 million dollars!) All-in-all, one of the most collectible and sought-after coins in American history- at least for coin collectors who can lay half a million dollars for high class instances.

Jeff Danelek is a Denver, Colorado author who writes various subjects related to history, politics, psychics, spirituality, religion and, of course, coins