True or false (and "why" if you know)?

Rollerman

I don't have access to information about pattern coins. Was the 2 cent pattern showing George Washington the first coin to carry a likeness of a U. S. President (though it never made it to circulation)? I know that both McKinley and Jefferson appeared on Commemorative coins in 1903 and, of course, Lincoln also on the "struck for circulation" 1909 cent.

I'm doing a display of two cent coins with the title of "The 2 cent coin, a coin of firsts". The firsts being the first coin to carry "In God We Trust" and if it's correct, the first coin to carry a U. S. President on it's pattern version (of which I have one).

Thanks for any enlightenment you may provide!

jmlanzaf

Depends on what you mean by "patterns". There were a number of them at the end of the 18th century when Washington was still alive. He argued against the "royal" use of portraits.

coinauctionshelp.com/washingtonpieces_getzpatterns.html#.WqbHf1TwbIU

Rollerman

Wow! What I didn't know about patterns!? Thanks for the info, it will reduce the 2 center to just being the first coin to carry "In God We Trust", but that's alright too.
Pete

illini420

Don't forget about the 1900 Lafayette Dollar (struck in 1899) with Washington on both sides.

BuffaloIronTail

Quite interesting thread. I learned a lot of stuff I really never thought about.

Pete

BillDugan1959

@illini420 said:
Don't forget about the 1900 Lafayette Dollar (struck in 1899) with Washington on both sides.

Actually, Washington is only on the obverse side. The figure on horseback on the reverse is Lafayette.

The Lafayette statue (not exactly the same as the image on the coin) stood in the courtyard of the Louvre from 1908 until about 1979-1980 (some say 1984) when the present glass Pyramid entranceway was constructed. The bronze Lafayette statue was then restored (which it badly needed) and re-erected on the banks of the Seine River near the Alexander III bridge, where it stands today.

Sorry, this photo is a rip, but I do have some photos that I took forty years ago...

It appears that they could clean the statue again...

BuffaloIronTail

Thanks for the info Bill.

Pete

ricko

I wish they had never started putting Presidents, or any politician, on coins...reminds me of the European kings and queens...much like Washington's opinion. There is no reason we could not maintain images of Liberty or commemoration of U.S. historical events...Cheers, RickO

RogerB

Check out USpatterns.com website.

BillJones

I thought that the Two Cent Piece pattern to which he is referring was first struck circa 1864. If so then it was the first U.S. coin, to extent that patterns are coins, that had an actual person on them. The Washington pieces referred to earlier were medalets or tokens and were not really coins. There was a British piece that was made from dies that were cut by a fellow named Hancock, that was not a U.S. Mint product.

The U.S. Mint also sponsored a Civil War token that made at the 1864 Philadelphia Sanity Fair. It had the image of Washington that appeared on the Two Cent pattern on it. That piece was struck in bronze, coin silver and gold plated bronze.

jmlanzaf

@BillJones said:
I thought that the Two Cent Piece pattern to which he is referring was first struck circa 1864. If so then it was the first U.S. coin, to extent that patterns are coins, that had an actual person on them. The Washington pieces referred to earlier were medalets or tokens and were not really coins. There was a British piece that was made from dies that were cut by a fellow named Hancock, that was not a U.S. Mint product.

The U.S. Mint also sponsored a Civil War token that made at the 1864 Philadelphia Sanity Fair. It had the image of Washington that appeared on the Two Cent pattern on it. That piece was struck in bronze, coin silver and gold plated bronze.

That's why I said that it depends on what you consider "patterns". The Getz patterns are often considered patterns as, though they were not struck by the Mint, they were actually used as prototypes (handed out to Senators).]

https://coins.nd.edu/ColCoin/ColCoinIntros/WashGETZ.intro.html

Rollerman

The pattern coin I have carries an image of George Washington, has a motto of "God and Our Country" and is dated 1863. Here's a remark about the history of this coin that led me to believe it was one of the first coins, though it never saw circulation, that depicted General Washington:******** "Two Cent Piece patterns featuring a bust of George Washington are extremely important in the context of the history of the U.S. Mint. A U.S. president was not featured on a regular issue U.S. coin until the Lincoln cent was introduced in 1909."********

BLUEJAYWAY

@ricko said:
I wish they had never started putting Presidents, or any politician, on coins...reminds me of the European kings and queens...much like Washington's opinion. There is no reason we could not maintain images of Liberty or commemoration of U.S. historical events...Cheers, RickO

Maybe the Gov't felt the commemorative program filled this void. Sure got one to buy more mint wares.

TurboSnail

@BillDugan1959 said:

It appears that they could clean the statue again...

Could be a lot worst.

BillJones

@jmlanzaf said:

@BillJones said:
I thought that the Two Cent Piece pattern to which he is referring was first struck circa 1864. If so then it was the first U.S. coin, to extent that patterns are coins, that had an actual person on them. The Washington pieces referred to earlier were medalets or tokens and were not really coins. There was a British piece that was made from dies that were cut by a fellow named Hancock, that was not a U.S. Mint product.

The U.S. Mint also sponsored a Civil War token that made at the 1864 Philadelphia Sanity Fair. It had the image of Washington that appeared on the Two Cent pattern on it. That piece was struck in bronze, coin silver and gold plated bronze.

That's why I said that it depends on what you consider "patterns". The Getz patterns are often considered patterns as, though they were not struck by the Mint, they were actually used as prototypes (handed out to Senators).]

https://coins.nd.edu/ColCoin/ColCoinIntros/WashGETZ.intro.html

The Getz piece was a proposal. A pattern is a experimental piece that is made by or for the issuing government. They have an official sanction. A proposal is an unofficial item that is made with the hope that it might be accepted. The Feuchwanger Cents and three cent pieces were proposals, not patterns.