Indians on coins
wayfarer
Posts: 93 ✭✭✭
My favorite coinage are the coins with Native Americans like the Indian head half eagle and others.
I wonder why they were portrayed on coins. Usually I would say it’s recognition - but I’d suppose this reason can only be fact for the later coinage. 1856 for example like my Indian Head Dollar below were hard times for the Indians.
I would really appreciate if you want share some thoughts about this topic –
and also some coins/tokens etc. with Indians.
5
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I thought that was Liberty wearing a headdress.
The dollars are Indian headdress, but this is an Indian, and an awesome one at that!
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And there’s the $5 silver certificate.
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Chief Hollow Horn Bear.
I recently read that he was among the chiefs who paraded on horse back past Teddy Roosevelt's review stand on inauguration day March 4th 1905.
"Inspiration exists, but it has to find you working" Pablo Picasso
It is Lady Liberty on the Indian Head cent as well.
Lance.
Here's my eagle:
And another:
Agree with above posts. Most "Native American" depictions on our coins are actually Liberty wearing indian headdresses.
The exceptions are coins like the buffalo nickel, some early 20th century gold, etc.
As for the reason for the Native American representatives (coins, banknotes, checks, advertising, etc.), it is a hot topic that had been touched upon here in the past.
It has been suggested that the American Indian was seen as a uniquely American figure and representative of the nation. In an odd way, of course, since they were usually not treated well in treaties, etc.
Whatever the background for the depictions and the inconsistent treatment of them, I have to think there was an inherent respect and admiration by many for them to be portrayed so widely.
No love for the Buffalo nickel?
In my opinion this is the best rendition of all.
To address the OP's question, the $2.50 and $5 Indian gold, $5 Chief note, Oregon commem, and Buffalo nickel were all 20th Century coins (1899 for the banknote). As stated earlier in the thread, the 19th Century renditions were actually Liberty wearing a headdress.
Thanks for posting the comments/explanations and pictures! All are really great coins, also the Buffalo nickel is an awesome coin!
And it's not a Philly Mint coin. Here's the reverse. It's just about the most amazing circ strike Buff I've ever seen, with matte-like surfaces and a sharp, full strike equal to any matte proof. It almost looks like some kind of special strike, similar to the 1927 specimen strikings.
Nice coins!
It's difficult to reconcile how they were treated and the prominent place they occupied on our notes and coins.
The One Dollar note below sort if says it all-"Here we come, like it or not"
The mighty Buffalo nickel👍
I also like the gold half eagles....
About a decade ago I set up an exhibit, at a show, of Indians on U.S. coins and currency. I have since sold off some of them that are not a part of my core collection.
I'm surprised that no one has mentioned the Sacajawea dollar coins.
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
I was just writing the same. There is an entire Native American coin series that is currently ongoing. https://catalog.usmint.gov/coins/coin-programs/native-american-dollar-coins/
Nothing is as expensive as free money.
Did someone say Indians on coins 🤓
Boone Commem, Arkansas commem, Robinson Commem
I like this representation.
Robinson?
This is the compelling issue.
It is difficult for us to reconcile, but not necessarily for those who lived in these eras. American Indians were revered and/or were objects of fascination. It would be very interesting to learn the perspectives and first hand accounts of people who lived through it. Apparently for them there was a different mindset.
I have some photos from a family photo album from 1920 or so, and they showed an Indian chief in full headdress on a horse participating in a parade. They were apparently guests of honor at public events and wild west shows.
I think there may be something missing in the 2020 viewpoint that people in 1920 saw differently.
some fractional gold Indian
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And there's also the Massachusetts copper cents and half cents.
"Inspiration exists, but it has to find you working" Pablo Picasso
So many interesting posts. So many awesome stories, coins, medals, banknotes....
Thanks again for your contributions!
Old picture, but handy at the moment....Cheers, RickO
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Battle worn...
There are some nice coin here
Some selections from my collection
Here she is. One of my favorite Idahoans, and one of my favorite photos:
That's Jean Baptiste Charbonneau with his mother.
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
My two favorite renditions of native Americans:
Commems and Early Type
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