Was the run of Liberty Head gold due to international considerations?
topstuf
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The Liberty Head design was on our gold for a loooooonnnnnggggg time. But then so also were sovereigns with only the monarchs changed.
Was the Liberty Head also a popular trade coin? That would explain the longevity of the design.
??
1
Comments
There was a tendency in the 19th century to not change designs frequently. Look at how long the Seated series lasted. Effectively, silver dollars only had 2 designs (Seated then Morgan) for 80 years. Liberty Head gold had one design for 67 years. Quarters and dimes had only 2 designs (seated then barber) for 75+ years.
I'm not sure why we are calling it international considerations. It is a domestic consideration also. If you changed designs frequently, the public would not be sure of what was actually coin of the realm. In a non-internet, non-TV, non-radio age, there was no fast way to get the word out about design changes. It would take weeks or months for the public to become aware. In the meantime, they might reject actual coins as counterfeit. [Or look at the the 1883 Liberty nickel $5 gold scam.]