What portrait belongs on a coin?

coppercoins · October 22, 2003 2:33PM

I saw a couple of posts in a related thread regarding some nice statues that people had seen that they thought would work well on coins. I have been thinking about this issue for a long time and have come up with two really good candidates, and was curious to see if anyone else would name them. Here's your chance to come up with what you think would best fit a coin, and actually have someone artistic design it!

That's right, I'll be working on models for coinage that will be submitted to the mint for thought based on the two I have thought of, along with the best 'other' candidate mentioned in posts here. I will first bounce the idea off of the person who suggested it for a design, and will submit the design with my name and that of the suggestor. In addition, as soon as I can figure out how to cast a copy of the design, I will make a copy for myself and give the original to the submittor.

How'zat??

Edited to add: I really am serious about this project, and although I don't mean to boast myself, I am very capable of desiging something that would be very befitting of a coin and carving it into plaster. I have done some rather stunning work in the past.

JohnZ · October 22, 2003 2:38PM

I'll vote for Martin Luther King Jr., a pivotal force in twentieth-century history. His efforts set the nation on a path away from racism - a path we still struggle to follow, but one that is well worth struggling for.

MrEureka · October 22, 2003 2:50PM

What portrait belongs on a coin?

See picture at left.

Gemini · October 22, 2003 7:27PM

He is cute Andy he has such soulful looking eyes. What is his name?

MrEureka · October 22, 2003 11:04PM

What is his name?

Aki!

LanLord · October 22, 2003 11:13PM

A bust of Dolly Parton?

EvilMCT · October 22, 2003 11:20PM

Thomas Alva Edison or Jello Biafara, I can't choose between the two. Of course, Jello's still alive. . .

Ken

Fairlaneman · October 23, 2003 1:25AM

The center piece and then go from there.

MICHAELDIXON · October 23, 2003 1:31AM

I personally believe it's time to do away with portraits on coins. Lets go with some classical designs, as in the days of old.

DeepCoin · October 23, 2003 1:33AM

The Winged Victory statue in the Louvre (sp?) is always one that I have liked. I would just add, No more dead presidents please!

BillF · October 23, 2003 1:37AM

<< <i>A bust of Dolly Parton? >>

There isn't a coin big enough for Dolly Parton's bust!

How about a true American (movie star) series of coinage. There's many movie stars know worldwide, that when somebody sees them, they instantly think "American". John Wayne, Bob Hope, etc.

kamehameha00 · October 23, 2003 3:37AM

Frederick Douglass,liberty,or as the above poster said,movie stars who we instantly think of USA after we see them.

coinlieutenant · October 23, 2003 4:34AM

Give me liberty on the coins. That is all we need; no statues, no dead people....no outlines of states, cars, trumpets, or other ugly BS!!!
I really really hate the designs on our coinage now...

WWW · October 23, 2003 5:17AM

And how about eliminating E Pluribus Unum and In We God We Trust from the designs?

Myriads · October 23, 2003 5:28AM

I vote for renditions of liberty, and other symbols of America and such over real people on my coinage any day. Time to move away from the idea of 'honor' the past men and women who made our nation, and get back to the ideas of what it was based upon. Liberty, Justice, Freedom

At the '39 Worlds fair there were the four freedoms depicted as statues. Start there.....

Myriads

1946Hamm · October 23, 2003 6:01AM

My icon would look nice on a coin. Here is a bigger pic.

CalGold · October 23, 2003 6:02AM

While I am tired of our current coin designs, except perhaps the Kennedy half, what is more American than a portrait of George Washington or Abe Lincoln? Maybe Babe Ruth swinging a bat. Maybe an Indian, but that raises PC issues, though I think putting Chief Joseph on a coin would be neat.

I think the current portraits should be reworked. The Lincoln portrait on the commemorative half is a nicer rendition than the one on the cent, but may be too big for a small coin.

The reverses of the nickel, dime and quarter should be scrapped. The law requiring an eagle on the reverse of the quaters, halves and dollars should be repealed. A stealth bomber would look good and would be a more honest statement about the current state of American diplocmacy than a bird that we nearly poisoned into extinction.

Alright, maybe a space program theme would be a nicer statement.

The 1792 trial motto Liberty Parent of Science and Industry was prescient and should be added to at least some coins. E Pluribus Unum can go--who understands Latin?

I do not think most Americans have any concept or recognition of the "goddess" Liberty. If you show someone a 1798 bust coin they see a buxom wench.

CG

Shamika · October 23, 2003 6:29AM

Teddy Roosevelt has not been given enough credit for his desire that the U.S. have beautiful coinage. Thus I nominate him.

I recall seeing photograph showing him in profile with a stern look that would be great on a coin, but I don’t know where I saw it.

paigowjohnny · October 23, 2003 6:40AM

Benjamin Franklin

paigowjohnny · October 23, 2003 6:42AM

<< <i>There isn't a coin big enough for Dolly Parton's bust! >>

God bless her....

Bring Liberty back

mintluster · October 23, 2003 7:20AM

Lady Liberty needs to come back for sure.
"In God we trust" should come off of at least the small coins because there is just too many words on the coins as it is and that would be the easiest one to remove. But I'm sure their are political reasons that will not happen, it was political reasons that put there in the first place. Its unfortunate, but it would take a federal jusge to remove it.
If we want another President I vote for Ronald Reagen on a coin.

bigindie · October 23, 2003 9:13AM

I think this image should be on a coin. I think it would look cool incuse -- like the classic Indian gold pieces.

What portrait belongs on a coin?

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