However, the idea of an American international currency was never implemented. Morgan’s version is referred to as “The Coiled Hair Type.” Lady Liberty’s hair is worn coiled, a more reserved depiction of the American symbol of Liberty. Mint employee under Barber designed his own version of Stella, which is the one displayed here. Mint at the time, designed one version of the Stella coin depicting Lady Liberty with flowing hair on the obverse and a single star on the reverse, which is referred to today as “The Flowing Hair Type.” George T. The coin got its name “Stella,” the Latin word for “Star,” due to the star design on its reverse. Mint to create a coin with a value comparable to European markets. This four dollar gold coin was minted in 1879 as part of a commission from the U.S. Mint during the late 19th century Philadelphia, Charles E. At least, that is according to two prominent coin engravers of the U.S. ONE STELLA / 400 CENTS DescriptionĪpparently Lady Liberty’s name is Stella, and she likes to wear her hair two different ways. Reverse Text: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA / E PLURIBUS UNUM / DEO EST GLORIA / FOUR DOL. Accessed August 2, 2011.Obverse Image: Left-facing Liberty with coiled hair. From the Web site of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco. A Brief History of Our Nation's Paper Money. Congressional Documents and Debates, 1774–1875. I’m Andy Boyd at the University of Houston, where we’re interested in the way inventive minds work.Ī Century of Lawmaking for a New Nation: U.S. Yet there it appears on one of the great symbols of American power.Īnd if you reach in your pocket, you can hold that mighty symbol in the palm of your hand. In God we trust is a foundational belief for most Americans but for some, it violates the separation of church and state. And though the nation strives toward the highest ideals, it constantly grapples with conflicting principles. Yet, e pluribus unum, it’s recognized that the many must band together as one for the common good.
Us liberty coins history free#
citizens are free to act as they choose - members of a republic founded on individual liberty. coins offer a fascinating perspective on American culture. In addition, the phrase “under God” was incorporated in the Pledge of Allegiance, and in God we trust became the United States’ official motto. In 1954, at the height of the Cold War with “godless communists,” Congress passed legislation requiring in God we trust to appear on all coins and paper currency. However, it wasn’t until the early nineteen-hundreds that its use became mandatory on all but the smallest coin denominations. The phrase first appeared on the two-cent coin in the mid eighteen-hundreds. Meaning “out of many, one,” e pluribus unum reflects the states’ willingness to unite under a common currency - a far cry from the many years when the states routinely printed their own.Ī relative newcomer to U.S. It was used on and off for eighty years at which time the Fourth Coinage Act made it mandatory for all coins. Coin designers simply felt it was appropriate given that it appeared on the Great Seal of the United States. The phrase e pluribus unum began appearing on coins a few years later, but not due to an act of Congress. “On one side of each ,” reads the paragraph, “there shall be an impression emblematic of liberty, with inscription of the word …” The rule remains in effect to this day, reminding citizens of their constitutional right to “life, liberty, and property.” But it also included a single, short paragraph about inscriptions. The first Coinage Act spelled out many detailed rules for the mint - the roles of various administrators, the denominations of the coins. Paper currency wouldn’t show up for some seventy years, making its first appearance during the Civil War - a time the coins’ metal was needed for the war effort. Mint was established shortly after ratification of the Constitution by the first Coinage Act. What do coins and paper currency say about a culture? For one intriguing story, we need look no further than the United States.
Us liberty coins history series#
The University of Houston’s College of Engineering presents this series about the machines that make our civilization run, and the people whose ingenuity created them.