Numismatic Quiz: What coin was called a “Washington” when first issued?
denga
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No hints!
Denga
Denga
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denga
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I firmly believe in numismatics as the world's greatest hobby, but recognize that this is a luxury and without collectors, we can all spend/melt our collections/inventories.
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Denga
Please visit my website Millcitynumismatics.com
and denomination will be posted.
Denga
Just guessing here.
The name is LEE!
TD
"Everything is on its way to somewhere. Everything." - George Malley, Phenomenon
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It was the Booker T. Washington half dollar
Keeper of the VAM Catalog • Professional Coin Imaging • Prime Number Set • World Coins in Early America • British Trade Dollars • Variety Attribution
I am going to guess it was an early bust dollar. I seem to recall reading that it was claimed the lady on it was patterned after Martha Washington.
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 await the answer....
Didn't wanna get me no trade
Never want to be like papa
Working for the boss every night and day
--"Happy", by the Rolling Stones (1972)
Weekly Eagle (a Vermont newspaper) of March 18 is typical:
New gold $20 pieces, or double eagles, have recently been coined at the U.S. Mint.
They are called "Washingtons."
The name does not seem to make any particular sense. Perhaps a forum member can
think of why it was used.
Denga
I wonder if it was just somebody trying to start a nickname that never caught on.
TD
Didn't wanna get me no trade
Never want to be like papa
Working for the boss every night and day
--"Happy", by the Rolling Stones (1972)
Here is a guess: The newspaper is from Vermont. Is it possible that there was not much support in the Northeast for $20 gold coins, and the "Washingtons" name was a negative comment on the government's minting of such coins when there was no perceived use? It is just a guess and maybe I am being cynical and too political. I would be delighted to get Denga's comments on this theory, or perhaps board member DaveG can comment as well. [or maybe the idea is so kooky that it does not warrant a response.
I do not know the answer but the suggestion that this is a negative name is quite possible. In those
days, however, newspapers copied from one another for news items so it is not clear if the name was
regional or not.
Denga
I firmly believe in numismatics as the world's greatest hobby, but recognize that this is a luxury and without collectors, we can all spend/melt our collections/inventories.
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edited to add....
I guessed before I read the responses.
Thanks denga.
That's a pretty good guess, Longy!
Actually, I doubt that calling the double eagle a "Washington" was meant in any derogatory way. President Washington was still held in sufficient regard in 1850 that I'd suggest the nick-name for the coin was meant as an honorific. Also, gold was sufficiently uncommon in commerce that it was viewed respectfully.
I guess a modern comparison would be someone offering to pay for his lunch in cash instead of with a debit or charge card. What merchant would make a snide comment about that today?
In any event, to return to the Quiz - I hadn't heard the nick-name before either!
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In this case, along with countless other examples, there is no specific reference to anyone who has called the new double eagles anything, and the writer of the "article" apparently does not cite any sources.
The tag line, "They are called "Washington's" makes for interesting reading perhaps, but basically only mentions the new double eagles that have been coined. Therefore, in this brief context presented by Denga, the newspaper article is flawed, as evidenced by the fact that there is no other reference in numismatic literature to support the claim presented.
IMO, don't believe all that you read, especially concerning American numismatics, unless it is supported by facts and source documents.
bob
<< <i>Generally speaking, newspaper accounts of numismatic issues have been far removed from reality. >>
I guess some things never change.
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
p. 94 (article: Popular Quarter Outlives 20-Cent Coin) in a letter dated June 13, 1876 from Samuel Longfellow to James Pollock:
'It occurs to me that gold begins again to be coined, the "double eagle" might well have the head of Washington stamped upon it and be called his name......'
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The reference to words, "that gold begins again to be coined" most likely refers to the changeover on the reverse lettering that was being proposed for the following year; as there was never a break in the double eagle coinage. Longfellow closes with the paragraph, "It occurs to me that gold begins again to be coined, the "doulble eagle" might well have the head of Washington stamped upon it and be called his name...".
There was strong opposition to the designs of the new 20 cent pieces, as they were often mistaken for quarters.
Both of these "Washington" references to double eagles are wishful thinking by others who were not involved with the United States Mint or the federal government.
Nice find Savoyspecial!
p. 21 (in the 1940 reprint edition)
under the section of 1849 Unique Double Eagle:
At the time of the issue of the coin it was suggested that it be called "Washington." While this title was not officially given, nevertheless contemporary publications, such as Niles Register, referred to it as a "Washington."
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<< <i>There is no relation to the two Washington citations of 1850 and 1876. The Samuel Longfellow letter, from Cambridge, Massachusetts, was based on an idea that he had to name the new 20 cent coins "Franklin's" if the Mint struck coins with the head of Franklin. He figured the head of Franklin would help distinguish the coin from the quarter dollar (probably a correct assumption) and that if it were shortened to Frank, "would bring the coin into relation with the French franc which it so closely resembles in value".
The reference to words, "that gold begins again to be coined" most likely refers to the changeover on the reverse lettering that was being proposed for the following year; as there was never a break in the double eagle coinage. Longfellow closes with the paragraph, "It occurs to me that gold begins again to be coined, the "doulble eagle" might well have the head of Washington stamped upon it and be called his name...".
There was strong opposition to the designs of the new 20 cent pieces, as they were often mistaken for quarters.
Both of these "Washington" references to double eagles are wishful thinking by others who were not involved with the United States Mint or the federal government.
Nice find Savoyspecial! >>
I suspect that the "It occurs to me that gold begins again to be coined" reference might refer to the imminent resumption of specie payments, when gold would once again circulate at face value. It had indeed been coined all along, but had not circulated outside of the West.
TD
i was able to find this reference in another source, Adams & Woodin's United States Pattern, Trial and Experimental Pieces (1913) p. 21 (in the 1940 reprint edition) under the section of 1849 Unique Double Eagle:
At the time of the issue of the coin it was suggested that it be called "Washington." While this title was not officially given, nevertheless contemporary publications, such as Niles Register, referred to it as a "Washington."
greg
An interesting discovery. Thanks for posting this information.
Denga