Updated "Timeline of US Coinage" - Looking for Input (LARGE Image) - Draft 2

astrostu

I've shown my draft around of the timeline and gotten some input from this board, ATS, and my local coin club. Some of the most visible changes since the last version:

(1) Added two more wars.

(2) Moved the timeline labels from between a few things to the bottom.

(3) Changed the color bars for each denomination to only span when the denomination started to when it ended. I'm not entirely sure if I like it better that way or not -- I think it's much easier to see by glancing when the denomination was in use, but my OCD nature doesn't like that they don't all line up nicely.

(4) Added gaps in the quarter and half eagles in the early 1900s.

(5) Changed the manner that I indicate whether there was series overlap vs. a year gap (e.g., Barber-Mercury dimes for the former vs. changing to the memorial reverse on the Lincoln cent. For non-overlapping series, there is just a small gap (assuming that the series change was the next year, otherwise it's a larger gap as before). If they overlap, I went from a -| |- to - - (sorry, that's the best ASCII representation I can do at the moment ... look at it and you'll get the idea). This was based on a recommendation by the Secretary of the local coin club here and I think it much better illustrates that "something different is going on" than just series meeting up.

(6) I think I changed the font size since when I last posted a draft here. I increased it. This has led to some crowding in the text, and I'm definitely open to ideas on how to un-clutter it.

I'm still looking for any input from folks as to perhaps stuff to add, design elements to change, etc. I'm posting a "small" JPG preview below. Or click here for a PDF that you can view at any resolution. It is clickable to a PDF version of the file which you can view at any resolution. Note that the colors in the PDF may not desplay properly depending upon your particular PDF viewer - use the JPG version to judge color and font weight.

STONE

My vote is: EXCELLENT



I will keep in mind ways to improve upon this (if there are any!)

HTubbs

Wow, that's very well done!

JoeLewis

JoeLewis

Dang, that's awesome.

GoldenEyeNumismatics

I like it! Very cool.

HighRelief

Super job, thanks for sharing.

MikeInFL

Excellent idea and presentation!

Question: Why the inflation graph?
Comment: Inflation doesn't fit with the tone of the page, IMO.

astrostu

<< <i>Question: Why the inflation graph?
Comment: Inflation doesn't fit with the tone of the page, IMO. >>



I was looking for something that would take up about 3" of vertical space that was somewhat coin-related. Since the economy can affect coinage, I thought annual inflation rates may be appropriate. They also correlate nicely with wars, at least before 1950. I'm completely open to a suggestion for something else to go there to take up 2-3 vertical inches (since that's what's needed to keep the 2:1 aspect ratio of the product).

SirAnthonyAC

Very well done indeed!

ambro51

On your $1 gold timeline, you missed the type 2

type 1 coronet 1849-1854 type 2 small head 1854-1856 type 3 indian princess 1856-1889

pmac

You don't have the Gulf War in the early 1990s.

speety

Seated dollars went until 1873. There was a without motto from 1840-65 and with motto 1866-1873.

Very nicely done though!

MoneyCollector

If this represents more than circulating coinage, you could add bullion coins to take up some space (maybe too much).

Randy

astrostu

Please keep constructive feedback coming, especially in regards to (a) errors I may have made, and (b) what you think about whether to include "important" types (e.g., silver vs. clad 10¢, 25¢, 50¢) and, if so, what you consider to be the important ones to include. I have responded to some of the corrections/questions below:



<< <i>type 1 coronet 1849-1854 type 2 small head 1854-1856 type 3 indian princess 1856-1889 >>


I'm not 100% sold on the larger idea here, in general: What types to differentiate? Obviously, series are noted. And I admit that I've done some types, such as the revised matron head obverse on the large cent, the Lincoln reverses, Washington reverses, and direction of the Liberty Cap cent and half cent. But, you'll notice that I didn't note the dime, quarter, and half dollar composition change in 1965, and I think almost all collectors consider that a significant type change. Same with the motto / no motto on the early 1900s gold eagles and double eagles. I think I agree that the gold dollars Type 1, 2, 3 are significant enough to note down, but what do people think about this denotation of types, in general?




<< <i>You don't have the Gulf War in the early 1990s. >>


I didn't think that was officially considered a war, but a friend of mine today pointed out that the US hasn't officially declared war since WWII, so I will go ahead and add this.




<< <i>Seated dollars went until 1873. There was a without motto from 1840-65 and with motto 1866-1873. >>


Whoops!! I've fixed that on my own version (not uploaded at the moment). Definitely let me know of errors!! As for motto / no motto, that gets back to the type/variety issue. According to my reading, there are up to 7 different types of seated dimes/quarters/halves/dollars depending upon composition, stars, arrows, and mottos. But, I would personally consider those minor enough that they don't need to be delineated on a broad timeline like this. What do other folks think?




<< <i>If this represents more than circulating coinage, you could add bullion coins to take up some space (maybe too much). >>


I initially had bullion on a version I created 2 years ago. But I think it looked too crowded, and once you get into non-regular-issue coins you also have things like commemoratives, which I don't have on here. I've opted to make this just for a "for regular use" coin timeline, though there are three main exceptions that I included on it (1856 flying eagle cent, Trade dollars, and the 1877-78 20¢ that was only made in proof).

FredF

So if I'm reading this right, 1873 was the year of the largest number of different coins (excluding mint marks/arrows/etc)?

1c, 3CN, H10c, 5c, 10c, 25c, 50c, S$1, T$1, G$1, G$2.50, G$3, G$5, G$10, G$20


1857 also looks like a cool year - one fewer

1/2C, 1c large, 1c small, 3CS, H10c, 10c, 25c, 50c, S$1, G$2.50, G$3, G$5, G$10, G$20


That is a very useful chart. Thank you for putting it together.

-Fred

mumu

What do the grey bars in the back illustrate, if anything?

astrostu

<< <i>What do the grey bars in the back illustrate, if anything? >>


Wars.