Frightened Liberty - Chain Cents

poorguy · February 22, 2008 2:19AM

From an article that I saw on coins.about.com:

The Frightened Liberty cent is so-named because when the public saw the rendering of Lady Liberty on the coin, they thought she looked frightened. At a coin show where a rare Chain Cent was on display, I once heard a child ask his dad if the lady on the coin had stuck her finger into a light socket! (It sure looks that way, doesn't it?) Numismatic art has, fortunately, improved although we've certainly had a few dogs here and there along the way.

Really? I happen to think that the CHAIN CENT is one of the coolest looking pieces of Numismatic Art ever produced. Frightened Liberty? Sheesh.

ahooka454 · February 22, 2008 2:22AM

Ive heard this before but agree with you. Its one of the coolest designs and one of my personal favs.

MisterBungle · February 22, 2008 2:24AM

~

mrearlygold · February 22, 2008 2:25AM

<<

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ahooka454 · February 22, 2008 2:27AM

I dont know weather to laugh or cringe at that one.

curly · February 22, 2008 2:40AM

I'll tell you brothers right now, that's one wild hair old lady that can slide her slippers under curly's bed any time she wants to!

One a you brothers post one so we can see real beauty.

RedneckHB · February 22, 2008 2:53AM

<< I'll tell you brothers right now, that's one wild hair old lady that can slide her slippers under curly's bed any time she wants to!

One a you brothers post one so we can see real beauty. >>

notwilight · February 22, 2008 2:57AM

Yes, the mint responded quickly to public displeasure with the chain on the back and released the vine and bars. It took a little longer to come up with a new obverse but by pushing it into service late in 1793 instead of waiting for the new year (again as a result of public outcry) they created the 93 liberty cap. the best specimen 93 liberty caps might even sell for good money one of these days.

19Lyds · February 22, 2008 3:33AM

Sorry, but I think the child was being honest. I think the coins real beauty is in its rarity, cost, and collectability but certainly not in the "artistic" rendition of LIBERTY. If anything at all, the design and engraving is very crude.

Coxe · February 22, 2008 3:35AM

My old secretary used to call that JBF hair.

clarkbar04 · February 22, 2008 3:44AM

<< My old secretary used to call that JBF hair. >>

ROFL!!!

curly · February 22, 2008 3:54AM

<< Sorry, but I think the child was being honest. I think the coins real beauty is in its rarity, cost, and collectability but certainly not in the "artistic" rendition of LIBERTY. If anything at all, the design and engraving is very crude.

>>

Brother, I suppose that the coin is crudely done but that's the beauty of it. The simplicity of it makes it beautiful. Some brother spent a lot of time carving the details with a mallet and a chisel.

I just know Mrs. curly would scoot over to make room for that beautiful old woman. Ol' curly would be in curly heaven by dawn.

Shamika · February 22, 2008 3:59AM

It's a great design when put in context to the times and circumstances it was created. However, if such a design were created today, I'm sure the Mint would have a lynch mob at their doorstep.

ahooka454 · February 22, 2008 4:02AM

I agree with Brother Curly. Crude but I love it. I still think its one of the most beautiful coin designs we have ever had. I love it!

poorguy · February 22, 2008 4:03AM

ahooka454 · February 22, 2008 4:06AM

Now thats a thing of beauty.

JRocco · February 22, 2008 5:14AM

She really is a beauty. I could look at her all day.

Post a pic of the 1793 next to todays cent and see how far downhill we have traveled.

In fact post a DBD next to an IKE, a CBH next to a Kennedy etc etc etc and see if we are getting better of worse with all our technology of today...

poorguy · February 22, 2008 5:30AM

<< She really is a beauty. I could look at her all day.

Post a pic of the 1793 next to todays cent and see how far downhill we have traveled.

In fact post a DBD next to an IKE, a CBH next to a Kennedy etc etc etc and see if we are getting better of worse with all our technology of today... >>

Bingo. It went from being a skilled art into a mechanical engineering project.

The mint should issue collector coins of each current series using hand-carved dies in limited mintages. Hell, I'd be buying moderns if they did this.

mcheath · February 22, 2008 5:36AM

Don't forget to tell the mint to add some relief to there designs as well

PerryHall · February 22, 2008 6:18AM

I love the history of this coin but the artwork is definately crude and primative.

19Lyds · February 22, 2008 7:57AM

<< 

<< Sorry, but I think the child was being honest. I think the coins real beauty is in its rarity, cost, and collectability but certainly not in the "artistic" rendition of LIBERTY. If anything at all, the design and engraving is very crude.

>>

Brother, I suppose that the coin is crudely done but that's the beauty of it. The simplicity of it makes it beautiful. Some brother spent a lot of time carving the details with a mallet and a chisel.

I just know Mrs. curly would scoot over to make room for that beautiful old woman. Ol' curly would be in curly heaven by dawn. >>

Curly, but if you truely believe that this was done with a mallet and chisel you really need to rethink it because fineline engraving was around a long time before the dies for this were ever thought about. Proof of that is in the followup coins for the very same year which had much better work and craftsmanship in both the Wreath reverse and the Liberty Cap designs. I suspect that those in charge were not to impressed with the coin as well.

BECOKA · February 22, 2008 8:23AM

<< 

<< She really is a beauty. I could look at her all day.

Post a pic of the 1793 next to todays cent and see how far downhill we have traveled.

In fact post a DBD next to an IKE, a CBH next to a Kennedy etc etc etc and see if we are getting better of worse with all our technology of today... >>

Bingo. It went from being a skilled art into a mechanical engineering project.

The mint should issue collector coins of each current series using hand-carved dies in limited mintages. Hell, I'd be buying moderns if they did this. >>

I guess when you put it this way I would be more inclined. They would have to exactly replicate the original dies for me to be interested though.

JRocco · February 22, 2008 8:28AM

[q

Curly, but if you truely believe that this was done with a mallet and chisel you really need to rethink it because fineline engraving was around a long time before the dies for this were ever thought about. Proof of that is in the followup coins for the very same year which had much better work and craftsmanship in both the Wreath reverse and the Liberty Cap designs. I suspect that those in charge were not to impressed with the coin as well. >>

Hey Lee,
Can you describe what you mean by fineline engraving, and more precisely-how it was done on these early coins?
Thanks in advance.

19Lyds · February 23, 2008 4:33AM

Engraving was the only method available to print pictures for hundreds of years prior to the mint and the craftsman were very, very good. I suspect that the original die was made by someone who had a good idea about how to do it but didn't have the skills necessary to do a good job unlike the follow up dies.

Zoins · February 23, 2008 4:39AM

<< I happen to think that the CHAIN CENT is one of the coolest looking pieces of Numismatic Art ever produced. Frightened Liberty? Sheesh. >>

Those two are not mutually exclusive

It is a cool and historic design. At the same time, she does have an unusual look to her.

Zoins · February 23, 2008 4:42AM

<< The Frightened Liberty cent is so-named because when the public saw the rendering of Lady Liberty on the coin, they thought she looked frightened. >>

Which public? If the article is referring to 18th Century Americans, then I think Frightened Liberty is a historic name. It would be similar to how the public nicknamed the Morgan Dollar as the Buzzard Dollar and the Winged Liberty Dime as the Mercury Dime. While individuals may disagree with the names, it is interesting to see what people of the time thought of their coins.

When was this term first used? 18th Century? Last week?

AuldFartte · February 23, 2008 4:48AM

I think I saw her on the back of a Harley the other day ...

Seriously, an odd design - rather crude - but one that I would love to have in my collection.

Frightened Liberty - Chain Cents

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