Lady Liberty is a cosmopolitan sign of exemption. Her name conjures visions of immigrants hungry for a fresh life and a blowtorch raised high against the New York City skyline. Before she was known as the Statue of Liberty, though, Lady Liberty first graced the face of american coins. Learn how and why Lady Liberty ’ s invention evolved over prison term, from the 1794 “ Flowing Hair ” dollar to today ’ south Silver and Gold American Eagles.
The Origins of Lady Liberty
The Coinage Act of 1792, which created the U.S. Mint, declared that one side of american coins had to show an “ impression emblematic of Liberty, ” a fabulous female figure who had appeared as a symbol of America in colonial cartoons and prints, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston.
The first U.S. coin bearing an image of Lady Liberty was struck in 1793. Lady Liberty was chosen for the Chain Cent because she “ absolutely represented America ’ s promise of exemption, ” Chase Bank notes. Henry Voigt, the foreman coiner at the Mint, designed Lady Liberty with long, flowing hair’s-breadth. Critics complained that she appeared unattractive and disheveled, according to Chase Bank.
Flowing Hair Dollar
Robert Scot, the Mint ’ s first headman engraver, tamed Lady Liberty ’ s mane with his Flowing Hair dollar in 1794. The 1794 adaptation of this silver mint is hard to come by, with only 150 to 200 of them remaining. More of the 1795 coins exist, but they ’ re besides highly coveted however.
Draped Bust Dollar
Her hair pulled back and styled with a bow, Lady Liberty went on to grace the front of the 1795 Draped Bust dollar. As the coin ’ s name suggests, the front shows a flop of Lady Liberty designed by artist Gilbert Stuart. She ’ second surrounded by 13, 15, or 16 stars, depending on how many american colonies there were when each coin was minted. This depiction of Lady Liberty remained on flatware dollars through 1804.
Liberty Seated Dollar/Gobrecht Dollar
Decades after her debut, Lady Liberty got to take a rest in 1836 with the insertion of the Liberty Seated dollar, besides known as the Gobrecht dollar. christian Gobrecht, an engraver at the Mint, gained credit for designing this coin, which went into wide circulation in 1840. Some human body of the Liberty Seated dollar continued to be produced through 1873.
Trade Dollar
The Trade dollar emerged in 1873 as a rival to the Mexican uruguayan peso. At the time, chinese businesses favored the colombian peso over the U.S. dollar because the Mexican coin contained more silver. The U.S. mint features Lady Liberty sitting on a bale of goods and holding a branch in her justly hand and a “ LIBERTY ” -inscribed ribbon in her bequeath hand. The U.S. halted the production of the Trade dollar in 1887.
Morgan Dollar
Under a federal police passed in 1878, mass output of ash grey dollars returned. With this came yet another look for Lady Liberty. George T. Morgan ’ s design depicts Lady Liberty in profile. The most meaning change, though, was that Lady Liberty was an american english woman rather of a greek figure, Chase Bank reports. She was modeled after a real number womanhood named Anna Willess Williams, who was later nicknamed the “ Silver Dollar Girl. ” The Morgan dollar reigns as one of the most popular of all american coins, thanks to its large size, ample supply, and “ pleasing appearance, ” according to the Professional Coin Grading Service.
Peace Dollar
On the Peace dollar, which premiered in 1921, Lady Liberty faces left and wears a crown of spikes ( like to those seen on the Statue of Liberty, which was unveiled in 1886 ). The discussion “ LIBERTY ” is above her head, and the words “ IN GOD WE TRUST ” are below. Designed by Italian-American sculptor Anthony de Francisci, the mint celebrates the end of World War I. The artist ’ sulfur wife, Teresa de Francisci, served as the exemplary. These silver medal dollars were minted from 1921 through 1928 and again in 1934 and 1935.
Walking Liberty Half Dollar
Lady Liberty shines on this silver coin, which was minted from 1916 to 1947. The Walking Liberty half dollar has been praised as one of the most arresting depictions of Lady Liberty to always appear on a mint. The cultivate of German-born american sculptor Adolph Weinman, this coin design shows Lady Liberty walking toward the sun “ and the click of a newfangled sidereal day, ” Chase Bank notes. “ She is carrying laurel and oak branches to symbolize military and civil victory, and her outstretched arm represents her attempts to impart the spirit of shore leave to others. ”
Silver American Eagle Coin
This silver coin, first minted in 1986, takes its diagnose from the dramatic american eagle on the rearward slope, designed by John Mercanti, who retired in 2010 as the Mint ’ s foreman engraver. The front of silver american Eagle Coin is equally spectacular, though, featuring Weinman ’ s iconic Walking Liberty image.
Gold American Eagle Coin
The gold american english Eagle Coin, which besides premiered in 1986, rivals the silver american Eagle Coin for plain beauty. This coin, one of the most popular gold bullion coins in the world, showcases a gorgeous effigy of Lady Liberty created in the early 1900s by fabled sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens. The plan was initially made for the $ 20 Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle Gold Coin. A full-length calculate of Lady Liberty dominates the movement of the Gold American Eagle Coin. Her hair is windswept, and her gaze is intense. She holds a common mullein in her right hand and an olive branch in her leave hired hand. It appears as if she ’ s striding right off the coin. A family of bald eagles populates the change by reversal slope of the coin.
American Liberty High Relief Gold Coin
A more contemporaneous and graphic Lady Liberty appears on the 2015 American Liberty High Relief Gold Coin. The front man of the mint, which has a mintage limit of 50,000 and a noun phrase denomination of $ 100, features Lady Liberty grasping an american pin in her left bridge player and hold a literature torch in her right field hand. A bald eagle in fledge highlights the back of the coin. Lady Liberty ’ s search for this coin was heavy influenced by the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee, an 11-member dialog box that advises the U.S. Treasury security on themes for all U.S. coins and medals. The U.S. Commission of Fine Arts, a seven-member panel established by Congress in 1910, besides weighed in on the design. For this coin, Lady Liberty ’ sulfur creators were sculptor Phebe Hemphill and architect Justin Kunz.
American Liberty 225th Anniversary Gold Coin
The American Liberty 225th Anniversary Gold Coin puts a modern twist on a classical design. In honor of its 225th anniversary, the U.S. Mint introduced in 2017 a coin depicting Lady Liberty as an african-american woman—the first time for a charwoman of color to appear on a Liberty coin. The $ 100 coin, designed by Justin Kunz and engraved by Phebe Hemphill, shows a profile of Lady Liberty wearing a pate of stars, with the inscriptions “ LIBERTY, ” “ 1792, ” “ 2017, ” and “ IN GOD WE TRUST. ” The back of the coin features an eagle in flight. The Mint is producing precisely 100,000 of these special gold coins. Does your portfolio include Lady Liberty ? The U.S. Mint is presently redesigning the Gold and Silver American Eagles. That could mean Lady Liberty as you know her might change. Call 1-844-307-1589 to secure Lady Liberty as you know her—right nowadays.
