Just wanted to let you know that the person who was on the dime before Roosevelt (the “Mercury” dime, that is) was famous (famous then, anyway) early-20th-century artists’ model and nude silent film star Audrey Munson. She also apparently modeled for the “walking liberty” half-dollar. Check out the book “American Venus” by Diane Rozas and Anita Bourne Gottehrer for more on her wild life. (For instance, she was put away in a NY state psychiatric facility for a “mental blight” at the age of 39. She remained there until her death at the age of 105.)
Here’s the link to the article in question.
http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mdime.html
Ouch! There are quite a few errors in that article.
First, the figure on the dime before Roosevelt was popularly known as “Mercury”, but it wasn’t; it was Liberty. The vast majority of U.S. coins until well into this century had either Liberty or an anonymous Amerind.
Second, the American Eagle is a bullion coin, like the Krugerrand. It did not replace the Susan B. Anthony. In fact, there was a 1999 issue of the latter, due to a shortage.
There was no dollar coin from 1936 to 1970 because of the depression and because the coin was felt to be inconveniently large. However, they continued popular as curios long after it was expected that they would disappear, and casinos liked them. Also, the rising relative cost of paper money made a new dollar attractive to the Treasury. But it became clear after a few years of the Eisenhower that the general public did think the coin too large for day-to-day use, which is the reason for the Susan B. Anthony.
John W. Kennedy
“Compact is becoming contract; man only earns and pays.”
– Charles Williams
I believe that rumors have circulated that a 1964 issue of the “Peace Dollar” were minted but never issued to the public. Like aluminum cents in the 1970s and the 1933 twenty-dollar gold pieces, possession of these coins will supposedly get you arrested by the feds.
Numismatic UL?
DHR
Why must I feel like that/Why must I chase the cat?/Nothin’ but the dog in me.–George Clinton
I’ve never heard of a 1964 version of the Peace Dollar, or aluminum cents–but, I have heard of the 1933 double-eagles which are “illegal” to own. I’ve also often wondered if it’s UL or not, also.
Well, this is all inferential, but I did a little snooping in the Smithsonian Institution’s website, one link of which has a passing mention to the 1933 double-eagle.
Apparently, since they were all ordered to be melted down, except for the two in the “National Coin Collection,” if you own one, you shouldn’t.
http://www.si.edu/organiza/museums/nmah/csr/nnc/doubleea/doubleea.htm
Borrowing freely from coinfacts.com and USCoinage.com , you are correct. The Denver Mint hammered out over 300,000 1964-D Peace Dollars, ostensibly all of which were destroyed, but rumors persist of a small handful that were ‘liberated’ by Mint employees. They remain rumors, because they’re quite illegal to own, so no one’s quite been willing to fess up to having one. There was a flurry of rumors in 1972 – not coincidentally, then end of the seven year statute of limitations on having lifted them in the first place – which was quickly quashed when the Mint announced that anyone who had one would have it promptly confiscated anyway.
No shocker there. The Treasury hasn’t got a much of a sense of humor, not counting the Susan B Anthony dollars.
Well, there’s one 1933 Double Eagle left, if anybody wants it:
The dates for Ranger Jeff’s article should have said, for the American Eagle 1986-still made. In incorrectly said 1982.
JWK I would disagree that the Silver Eagle is “a bullion coin, like the Krugerrand.” It says ONE DOLLAR on the Eagle. Theoretically, if silver were to ever be worth less than one dollar per ounce, the coin could be spent for more than its bullion value. It is true legal tender, though not likely to be spent.
The Krugerrand is not legal tender. If gold were to plummet to one dollar per ounce, the Krugerrand could not be spent. But an American gold eagle which is legal tender for fifty dollars could be exchanged for fifty dollars while its gold content was only one dollar.
But I’m sure you knew this. I have read many of your excellent posts concerning money and economics. You are seldom incorrect.
toadspittle Could you check the book for references that would indicate the source of the info about Audrey being the inspiration for the dime and half(both launched in 1916). Not saying that she wasn’t the model–just want to know what the sources were.