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George Washington's Role in the Production and Distribution of the 1792 Half Dismes?

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  • CoinosaurusCoinosaurus Posts: 9,614 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Congress had a fierce debate in March 1792 regarding the use of the President's portrait on the coinage, and in the end opposed it. The colonies did not want a King. For an engraver to use his wife's portrait a few months later is unthinkable.

  • dengadenga Posts: 903 ✭✭✭
    edited May 27, 2017 10:24AM

    The question of the legality of the 1792 half disme coinage is an interesting one. The
    law did require that the chief coiner and assayer each post $10,000 bonds before
    beginning their work in the precious metals, gold and silver. The problem is more
    complicated than appears on the surface, however. In point of law there was no
    chief coiner or assayer at the Mint during 1792.

    We speak of Chief Coiner Henry Voight as doing this or that during 1792 but in legal
    terms he was not appointed to this office until January 1793. Until that date his job
    was in limbo and perhaps chief coiner pro tem is the proper title.

    On July 7, 1792, Attorney General Edmund Randolph, in response to an inquiry, stated
    that the post of chief coiner was vacant. The timing of the opinion is obvious and came
    just days before the mid-July coinage of half dismes. There is little doubt that this opinion
    cleared the way for the half disme coinage.

    The person who made the inquiry of Randolph? It was none other than Thomas Jefferson,
    clearing the way for the coinage.

    The point of a bond is to protect the government against loss. However, because there
    was no chief coiner (in a legal sense) there could be no bond. What we then have is the
    government striking the coins under the direct supervision of Secretary of State Thomas
    Jefferson. That the bulk of the bullion was his does not affect the overall legal status of
    the coinage, only the official control of the operations.

  • goldengolden Posts: 9,017 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited May 27, 2017 11:19AM


    How about this picture. The first time that I saw this picture I said " That is it !".

  • CaptHenwayCaptHenway Posts: 31,499 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Now THAT picture bears a resemblance to the portrait on the Half Disme!

    Numismatist. 50 year member ANA. Winner of four ANA Heath Literary Awards; three Wayte and Olga Raymond Literary Awards; Numismatist of the Year Award 2009, and Lifetime Achievement Award 2020. Winner numerous NLG Literary Awards.
  • northcoinnorthcoin Posts: 4,987 ✭✭✭✭✭

    While none of us have a real stake in these historical issues, this thread goes to prove that the book that was supposed to settle it all has only opened up the discussion further. :)

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