Our ugly coinage

[shirohniichan]

DEPRAVITY OF AMERICAN COINAGE.

 

The October issue of the American Journal of Numismatics has an article upon the " Depravity of American Coinage, which is of general interest. We concur most heartily in all that ihe writer says of the abominable character of our coinage, its design, which is but caricature, and its execution, which is unworthy the rude efforts of the engravers of Chinese cash. The Journal is especially indignant at what it charges to be a dishonest valuation. The writer says that until recently our coinage has been honest, the old dollar and from that downward being worth the valuation marked upon its face, and the old cent, if clumsy and uncouth, containing a full cent's worth of copper. With, however, the "advent of the present small coinage of composition and admixture of every base metal, came a new order of things.'' He asks "To whom do the profits of these pettifogging attempts at coinage accrue ?" With the writer's statements as to the quality or valuation of the coins, we hardly agree, as we believe them to fairly represent the values stated upon them; but as to their execution we heartily coincide witn him.

 

lt may be laid down as a general truth that the American coinage is the most contemptible in existence. The designs are trivial and commonplace, and the execution is infinitely beneath the coins of China, India, and even the South American States, whiie no comparison can be made between it and the elegant coinage of Great Britain, France, Italy, and many of the Germanic States. From the establishment of the Mint, in 1793 to the present time, our coins have not only been universally bad, but have been growing worse with each new issue. The present one, two, three, and especially the five cent pieces, are a positive disgrace and the suggestion of a correspondent in the same journal to substitute buttons, is not without force, as one could at least distinguish their valuation without a microscope. No consideration has ever been paid to the art idea of our mint engravers. The lettering is wretched. The eagle is always a goose, whether it be spread or volant, and the Goddess of Liberty is invariably a wretched, uncomfortable looking woman with a night cap on her head .The colonial coins and State issues were fair specimens of coinage. The "Bungtown coppers," as they are vulgarly called, of Jackson, Webster, and Benton, were classical in their designs and spirited In execution compared with our national series.

 

If there be anything in which a great commercial country holding intimate relations with the other great commercial countries of the world should strive to excel, it should be in the character of its coinage. An elevated standard of coinage is one of the strongest evidences of civilization. Judged by the standard, Buenos Ayres excels, and Japan rivals us. There is no excuse for this. We have engravers able to produce beautiful deigns and durable coins. The Congressional and private medals issued from the Mint are models of beauty and graceful execution. Why should the coins be deformities ?

 

Daily Alta California, Volume 18, Number 7021, 15 December 1866

 

Alas, kvetching about US coin designs has been going on for an awfully long time.

[rrantique]

Interesting read Thanks for posting. (thumbs u

[$ilverHawk]

DEPRAVITY OF AMERICAN COINAGE.

 

The October issue of the American Journal of Numismatics has an article upon the " Depravity of American Coinage, which is of general interest. We concur most heartily in all that ihe writer says of the abominable character of our coinage, its design, which is but caricature, and its execution, which is unworthy the rude efforts of the engravers of Chinese cash. The Journal is especially indignant at what it charges to be a dishonest valuation. The writer says that until recently our coinage has been honest, the old dollar and from that downward being worth the valuation marked upon its face, and the old cent, if clumsy and uncouth, containing a full cent's worth of copper. With, however, the "advent of the present small coinage of composition and admixture of every base metal, came a new order of things.'' He asks "To whom do the profits of these pettifogging attempts at coinage accrue ?" With the writer's statements as to the quality or valuation of the coins, we hardly agree, as we believe them to fairly represent the values stated upon them; but as to their execution we heartily coincide witn him.

 

lt may be laid down as a general truth that the American coinage is the most contemptible in existence. The designs are trivial and commonplace, and the execution is infinitely beneath the coins of China, India, and even the South American States, whiie no comparison can be made between it and the elegant coinage of Great Britain, France, Italy, and many of the Germanic States. From the establishment of the Mint, in 1793 to the present time, our coins have not only been universally bad, but have been growing worse with each new issue. The present one, two, three, and especially the five cent pieces, are a positive disgrace and the suggestion of a correspondent in the same journal to substitute buttons, is not without force, as one could at least distinguish their valuation without a microscope. No consideration has ever been paid to the art idea of our mint engravers. The lettering is wretched. The eagle is always a goose, whether it be spread or volant, and the Goddess of Liberty is invariably a wretched, uncomfortable looking woman with a night cap on her head .The colonial coins and State issues were fair specimens of coinage. The "Bungtown coppers," as they are vulgarly called, of Jackson, Webster, and Benton, were classical in their designs and spirited In execution compared with our national series.

 

If there be anything in which a great commercial country holding intimate relations with the other great commercial countries of the world should strive to excel, it should be in the character of its coinage. An elevated standard of coinage is one of the strongest evidences of civilization. Judged by the standard, Buenos Ayres excels, and Japan rivals us. There is no excuse for this. We have engravers able to produce beautiful deigns and durable coins. The Congressional and private medals issued from the Mint are models of beauty and graceful execution. Why should the coins be deformities ?

 

Daily Alta California, Volume 18, Number 7021, 15 December 1866

 

Alas, kvetching about US coin designs has been going on for an awfully long time.

 

Sharp tongued diatribe, and I would take exception to many points in the article. Care to disclose the author?

 

Carl

 

[newprepper]

Sharp tongued diatribe, and I would take exception to many points in the article. Care to disclose the author?

 

Carl

 

Why? Do you want to argue with the author? If you do, you are going to need a DeLorean with a flux capacitor! haha

[BillJones]

I guess this author never saw the reverse of a Gobrecht Dollar, or a beautifully preserved Draped Bust / Small or Large Eagle piece of early U.S. coinage.

 

Here is a nice comparison. This British Spade guinea and these two half eagles were issued during the same era. Do you think that King George III is really handsome on this coin? Do you think the lettering is really that well done? When you look at the design details in the shield, are they really that impressive? They look like silhouettes to me.

 

 

U.S. gold coins

 

1795 half eagle

 

1806 half eagle

 

 

This author is entitled to his opinion, but we don't have to agree with what he says. Yes, the Seated Liberty design was around for too long. Yes, the Coronet Head $5 gold was not a handsome coin, but the same design looked quite nice on the $2.50 gold coin IMO. And I think that the Liberty $20 gold piece is an attractive coin. Blanket condemnations are often not accurate.

[Nutmeg Coin]

Aesthetic judgments are relative. Teddy Roosevelt regarded the Greek era as the high point of numismatic attractiveness so tried to promote a more attractive reform of the coins. Morgan dollars are a central workhorse of numismatics, I prefer earlier designs though the Walking liberty design and similar ones are a high point.

 

Some of our most attractive coinage is still being produced but not designed for general circulation, only commemorative.

[erwindoc]

I think the proof platinum reverse coins are quite beautiful, but that is about it for me on moderns.

[$ilverHawk]

Sharp tongued diatribe, and I would take exception to many points in the article. Care to disclose the author?

 

Carl

 

Why? Do you want to argue with the author? If you do, you are going to need a DeLorean with a flux capacitor! haha

 

Of course not. Author is long gone. Just wanted to know the author of the article to understand the historical perspective and if there was some background to understand the strong negative bias regarding the author 's derogatory comments on US coinage.

 

Please note the OP s title and closing statement.

 

Carl

[Xamgin-migration]

Hi!

I really like Biljones's cover coins!

They are fantastic!!