What do you think was the most controversial U.S. coin minted?

dan1ecu

The chain cent comes to mind as a controversial design (something to do with slavery?). It was quickly replaced with another design.

Do you know of any other coins that had designs that were considered offensive by some?

Dan

andy007

Type 1 Standing Liberty quarter

cosmicdebris

The Alabama Cliton quarter.

morganbarber

Andy's right. You just don't show off Liberty's melon without stirring up some wrath.

dan1ecu

Does anyone know if people had a problem with Lady Liberty in an Indian head dress?

Max

1959 Mule cent?

Bustman

The 1804 dollar!

NumisEd

In terms of controversial coinage, I have to go with the type 1 Std. Lib. Qtr., as stated by Andy007 and morganbarber.

Regarding the chain cent, the chains on the reverse were misinterpreted to symbolize slavery, but they really represented the unity of the 13 colonies, hence 13 chain links.

wingedliberty

This is a great thread.
Other examples would also include the following:

1. SBA $
2. BTW and Wash.Carver commems.(some thought it represented communist ideals)
3. Mckinley gold commems (Some thought it was too socialist)

Brian.

oldshep

The Susan B. - just gotta be.
Shep

nwcs

You all have it wrong. It's the crapagawea. Years of debate, politics, arguments, and so on. And if it isn't the crapagawea, it barely missed. And whatever the next one will be (Reagan? MLK? Greenspan?) will probably be even more contentious than the last.

Neil

Bear

The VDB placed on the Lincoln Cent.

ARCO

I took great umbrage at the bare breast on the SLQ's lady LIBERTY....hardly any detail, too covered up and less tittillating than most other naked art. Come on mint people show some skin!

Tyler

MrEureka

All "In God We Trust" coins.

prooflike

michael

wow wild!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

i thinks that the arkansas clinton quarter is far and away the best as for the most controversial usa coin

i am surprised they would issue something like that even though it is 100% true!


i would like the have one of those clinton quarters slabbed proof 69 deep cameo at pcgs!

i will offer $1000 sight
unseen for a slabbed pcgs proof 70 utlra cameo and a ms 70 both of this clinton arkansas quarter


sincerely michael

dan1ecu

I thought that the quarter was a joke. You mean that's really the design!? Is it intended to be what it appears to be?

Deadhorse

And nobody has yet mentioned the work of the villiage idiot, Jimmy Carter. When he brought back the $2 dollar bill, people wondered why.
A quick look at the back of the bill showed his politically correct nature and total lack of respect for history or the founding fathers, and the resaon why he forced it back into circulation.

He had the famous painting of the signing of the Declaration of Independance altered to include a black man as a signer.

Seems not too many folks are aware of that even today. I have a HUGE problem with revisionist history.

construct

<< <i>And nobody has yet mentioned the work of the villiage idiot, Jimmy Carter. When he brought back the $2 dollar bill, people wondered why.
A quick look at the back of the bill showed his politically correct nature and total lack of respect for history or the founding fathers, and the resaon why he forced it back into circulation.

He had the famous painting of the signing of the Declaration of Independance altered to include a black man as a signer.

Seems not too many folks are aware of that even today. I have a HUGE problem with revisionist history. >>



Sorry, Deadhorse. That was Pres. Ford. BTW, I use $2 bills all the time.

The SBA was the most controversial coin coming in such close conjunction to the ruckus over the ERA.

There is not evidence for any significant contemporary complaint over the SLQ.

supercoin

Whatsamatter construct, you have a problem with revisionist history?

Also, according to the BEP, "There are no images of African-Americans printed on U.S. currency."

Link

jonesy

The Clinton Arkansas Quarter is a joke. You can get them off Ebay if you wish to part with hard earned
Glenn

braddick

<< <i>I took great umbrage at the bare breast on the SLQ's lady LIBERTY....hardly any detail, too covered up and less tittillating than most other naked art. Come on mint people show some skin! Tyler >>



According to Bowers, that is just an old wives tale. Sure, the bare breasted quarter had its detractors, but all in all it was really just a minting issue.
The Type I's didn't stack well.

originalisbest

I think the whole don't stack well issue was directed at the $20 high reliefs and possibly the incuse gold Indians, wasn't it? As far as the revealing miss Liberty, I think the addition of chain mail was inspired by America's entry into WWI, was it not? But that may have an element of the wive's tale too.

Deadhorse

<< <i>

Sorry, Deadhorse. That was Pres. Ford. BTW, I use $2 bills all the time.

The SBA was the most controversial coin coming in such close conjunction to the ruckus over the ERA.

There is not evidence for any significant contemporary complaint over the SLQ. >>



I sit corrected, I was sure it was Carter, it certainly fit his MO anyway. Ford was no bright bulb either.

My apologies to village idiots everywhere.

My quick google research shows the $2 bill as reissued April 13, 1976. Thomas Jefferson's birthday, coincidentially.

The back was re-done as an "artist's reconception". "A rose by any other name."

construct

I t could be that the chain mail was added for the war, or it could be that someone was looking towards a political campaign and was engaging in a little CYA.

jonesy

You saw Bo Diddley in the SHOWER!!
Glenn

newsman

Most controversial US coin: the Morgan dollar, which was only minted to soothe silver mining interests, who waged a fierce lobbying campaign that resulted in the Bland-Allison Act of 1878.

The SBA $1 might not have been controversial, but it was definitely political correctness run wild -- I wonder how many in the non-collecting public even know or care what most US coins look like these days.

braddick

<< <i>I think the whole don't stack well issue was directed at the $20 high reliefs and possibly the incuse gold Indians, wasn't it? As far as the revealing miss Liberty, I think the addition of chain mail was inspired by America's entry into WWI, was it not? But that may have an element of the wive's tale too. >>


I just went and looked it up. you're partly right. Instead of going back and editing my post (above yours) I'll make the correction here (so your post will make sense): It wasn't a stacking issue it was a minting issue. The quarter didn't strike up easily and by the replacement of the reverse stars and eagle the quarter then did a bit better. I read where the change to the obverse was an afterthought and not directily due to pressure placed on the Mint by the general public although later that is what some would have you believe.

JD

At the time many folks thought the Trade dollar was unnecessary and a waste of effort. I happen to like trade dollars. Personally, my vote's on the that Minuteman pissing quarter.

JD

Another thought, the seated liberty dime and quarter went through a few changes. Can anyone comment why so many revisions?

WilliamGibbs

The belief that the nudity on the original obverse design on the Standing Liberty quarter dollar generated widespread outrage and controversy has never been documented by contemporary news accounts or government documents. It appears to be a modern myth. Interestingly, surviving government documents discuss the changes made to the reverse concurrent with those made to the obverse, but make no mention specific to the obverse changes.

William T. Gibbs
News Editor
Coin World

originalisbest

That makes perfect sense, Braddick, I'd forgotten about the shifting around done to the reverse.