For the First Time, Lady Liberty Depicted as a Woman of Color on U.S. Currency

[Archae]

Source: NBC news

For the first time in American history, Lady Liberty will be portrayed as a woman of color on United States currency.

In celebration of the U.S. Mint and Treasury's 225th anniversary, the new $100 coin was unveiled on Thursday featuring Lady Liberty as an African-American woman.




Read more: http://www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-america/first-time-lady-liberty-will-be-depicted-woman-color-u-n706391

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I like it!

[niyad]

1. lovely

[Plucketeer]

2. Truly beautiful

Now - let the furor begin.

[Archae]

27. Funny part is...

I learned of this on a different message board, and the poster was bitching a blue streak about Liberty being non-white.

(Jews and blacks are regularly disparaged there)

I simply said "big deal" since the guy is making a mountain out of a molehill, especially since it's a coin very, very few of us will ever see.

I like it.

Now if only they'd take the religious crapola off the front...

[Moostache]

44. I am going to get one and frame it...

I encourage everyone to do the same.

It is a vitally important thing to include people of color and all races in the official documentation and currency of this nation, now more than ever before IMO. One of the things that was constantly discussed in the abortive Gulf War II discussions was the thoughts of people at being able to shake off the oppression of Saddam by changing the currency.

This is something we should all be proud of and support and promote.

[Maraya1969]

48. So is it actually worth $100 and can you get as many as you like? I'd like to give them as

Christmas gifts for a couple people. (Not really because of the expense but it would be cool to pay a bill to a racist with one of these)

[Action_Patrol]

62. They are released in April

Mostly commemorative meant for collectors. They are 24k gold

[central scrutinizer]

72. Probably gold plated

Given the price of gold, if they were all gold, they would be really tiny.

[Action_Patrol]

73. No, it's gold.

$100 is just on the face.

They cost $1500

[deek]

74. oh poopers n/t

.

[Fast Walker 52]

71. it is, isn't it?

[riversedge]

3. REC

[George II]

4. And the Dumpster can't veto it, either! Great coin, beautiful.

[LisaM]

5. I LOVE it! n/t

[bigtree]

6. chills

...a positively lovely gesture

[NWCorona]

7. Yes!

[GP6971]

8. I agree it's beautiful

but who carries around a $100 coin?

[johnp3907]

11. Rich white men?

That'd be my guess.

[GP6971]

13. But they would

never spend it.

[cstanleytech]

23. I wouldnt know I'm only bottom 20% white one. nt

[MicaelS]

16. It's for collectors.

The new 24-karat gold coin, which is set to be released in April and is meant primarily for collectors,.....

[GP6971]

17. I kind of figured

I've never even heard of a $100 coin in my lifetime.

[MicaelS]

19. Betcha never heard of

A two cent, three cent, half cent , half dime, Eagle or Half Eagle coin either. If you want to know more go to Wikipedia and read the article on US Currency, it is fascinating.

[GP6971]

20. I know of a couple of them

two cent, half cent and the Eagles. Never heard about the 3 cent and the half dime.

Thanks!!

[Mosby]

21. the mint makes a 1oz platinum coin with a face value of $100

The 1oz gold eagles are usually $50 face value.

The good news for people who don't want to spend the $1800 or whatever for this new gold American liberty coin can buy it in silver for less than 100 bucks (my guess). Depending on the circulation it might be a good bet because it's a brand new coin.

[Hekate]

32. I think it's a collector's item more than something you'll see in currency

[dionysus]

35. I don't know, but it looks hella cool, i wonder if my bank has any?

[KittyWampus]

40. They are (relatively) often used as jewelry. You can buy bezel frames for them

and wear them as a necklace.

[Calista241]

75. A $100 coin worth $1500 in gold?

I would say nobody.

[NWCorona]

9. I will be getting one for my daughter.

I think the coin looks great!

[Equinox Moon]

10. I think I will get one or two.

Very cool!

[forgotmylogin]

12. The depiction is stunning!

The very definition of Liberty.

[karynnj]

14. Beautiful!

In meaning as well as image.

[AgadorSparticus]

15. It is about time! Love love love!!

[JudyM]

18. It's gorgeous!!! What fabulous news!

Love, love, love that it's a $100 coin.

[GeoWilliam750]

22. Interesting bit of trivia.....

"The new design is significant in that it depicts an African-American figure as the representation of Liberty on the obverse. Hettie Anderson, an African-American woman, stood as the model for Augustus Saint-Gaudens double eagle gold coin design of 1907, but that fact is not widely known."

http://www.coinweek.com/us-coins/united-states-mint-unveils-historic-2017-high-relief-gold-coin-design/

Although prices have not been set, judging by the prices for 2016 products on the Mint website, this 24k gold coin should sell for about $1,540-1,700. The standard coins are 22k gold.

[Anonymous Bosh]

56. Fascinating!

That, IMO, is the most beautiful U.S. coin (St. Gaudens was amazing). Fuller background is that St. Gaudens based the design on his Tecumseh Memorial, which included a statue (based on Henrietta Anderson) as "Striding Victory." St. Gaudens later said that the double eagle was both Liberty and Victory (and based on Nike).

SoooOOooo: the new coin may very well be the first (clear) depiction of an African-American woman as (solely) Liberty (versus the Sacajawea dollar, which is not Liberty). Regardless, a beautiful coin.

BTW: Anyone else think Liberty looks a little like Sasha Obama?

https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/yQbDWT9FFsmhhUDYAF2P8Q--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjtzbT0xO3c9ODAw/

[progressoid]

24. Beautiful.

[ailsagirl]

25. Wow!!

Really beautiful

[iluvtennis]

26. Love it!

[ProudProgressiveNow]

28. K&R nt

[doc03]

29. Oh my I know some heads will explode over this nt

[pennylane100]

31. Those will be the heads of bigots and misogynists,

and we will not miss them.

[forgotmylogin]

64. Yep.

The arguments on Twitter are

A: Lady Liberty is White! (no she's not, she was copper, now she's green)
B: Libertas is a Roman goddess and therefore Italian and therefore white! (facepalm)

The alt-right trumpets are vowing not to buy this (even if they had the spare cash) and that it will be the worst selling coin in history. Some claim that they will refuse to "use" them in protest. (Like you'd throw this down to pay for your burrito at the gas station.)

[doc03]

67. They will sell for about $1600 1 ounce

pure gold.

[okasha]

30. Gorgeous!

[Buckeye_Democrat]

33. Beautiful!

[secondwind]

34. I want one! K&R

[madokie]

36. I love it

and I want one to carry in my pocket. Laminate it as often as I have too to keep it in pristine shape but carry it in my pocket so as to show it on occasion as that may arise

maybe even put it in my wallet where there wouldn't be any wear but where it would be readily available.
This is what I want my Country to look like, not the Racist, Bigoted, Misogynist one the 'CONs want us to live in.

[forgotmylogin]

65. I'd be *real* careful carrying a $1500 gold coin around daily!

[brooklynite]

37. Depends on your definition of "color"...

...the Sacajawea Dollar has been minted since 2000.

[7962]

38. Wondered why everyone seemed to forget her. nt

[MosheFeingold]

47. Because dollar coins suck no matter who is on them.

I hate coins, in general, though. I've been dumping them in coffee cans at the end of the day for 50 years now. Have a closet full of change.

[7962]

52. Dammit man, its time to tote them to the bank!

If its really a closet full, its likely a LOT!!

[MosheFeingold]

58. It really is

Random assortment of coins, filling a 3 X 7 foot closet about 4.5 feet high.

I'm sure it weighs in the tons.

The thing keeping me from just hauling it to the auto changer is the older cans are filled with actual silver coins that are worth far more than face value.

Either that, or I am a hoarder of the one specific thing I actually hate in this world.

[7962]

61. being the giving person that I am, i can help relieve you of that which you hate...

And NO CHARGE too!!

In all seriousness, maybe a friend who knows coins could help. Or maybe some charity you like. For starters you could get rid of all those cans that DONT hold any real silver ones.
If you have that much silver you've been saving for quite sometime!!

[lunatica]

54. You might be quite rich by now

Get a bunch of friends and have them haul coins with you somewhere where there's an automatic coin separator and counter.

You never know.

Or if you truly don't care donate them to a shelter. I'm sure once you tell them what it is they'll be glad to take them from you.

One man's irritatant could be another man's salvation.

[forgotmylogin]

66. I loved the dollar coins, but I had a reason.

At work, we had vending machines with food that could cost $2-$5. Our bill changers gave out Sacajaweas and even some SBAs and they were more convenient to use than feeding 20 quarters into a slot for a salad.

[RedWedge]

41. That's not a depiction of Lady Liberty.

[LanternWaste]

49. Much less dependent on that and more dependent on inferring the obvious...

Much less dependent on that and more dependent on inferring the obvious.

Though I realize it's more difficult to advertise the cleverness we assign to ourselves in doing the latter...

[lillypaddle]

39. Wow

Amazing news! It's beautiful.

[mopinko]

42. every woman should have a couple gold coins tucked away safely.

i gave my 2 older girls gold coins for xmas one year, and told them that.
get away money
money for an abortion
just an ace in the hole, so they never could feel totally trapped in a corner.

didnt give them to the youngest at the time, but was planning to do so soon.
so glad to see this!! this will be the coin.

[MosheFeingold]

59. My family fled Poland before WWII

I was a little kid. We were on a border town that spoke German. And unfortunately, Jewish. We fled with nothing. Getting into the Army as a translator/MP (I guarded/interrogated Germans) probably saved me from a life of poverty.

Anyway, my mom gave all of her grandchildren either 1oz gold coin or several silver coins every year for their birthdays until she died, with specific instructions to sew them into a belt or other article of clothing.

It was "flee the country" and "start over" money. They all still have them, most with plenty to start a new life.

In seriousness (despite my joking about how much I hate coins overall), I've kept the tradition alive. They all have ~$30-40K in a highly portable form for the next pogrom.

[mopinko]

60. i never thought of the get away money as get out of the country money.

more like get away from an asshole bf or husband.
but these days, i am thinking i should sew a few of my coins into my clothes.
frightening times.

[crosinski]

63. Thank you for sharing that.

Such an intimate piece of family history. Painful to hear, but so practical and instructive. You are kind to share it.

[forgotmylogin]

68. So, literal "liberty" coins.

How easy would something like that to be to cash in an emergency?

Would a bank only give you the face value or the exchange value of the gold?

You'd almost need time to see a reputable jeweler so you don't end up exchanging it in a pawn shop.

[stonecutter357]

43. K&R!

[Politicub]

45. Fantastic!

I need to start saving now for 1oz of 24 carat gold.

[sdfernando]

46. Beautiful! I want one! /NT

[lark]

50. Want to bet that drumpf cancels production of these?

He'll probably want Melania's absolutely hideous face instead, but of course he'd want to include her boobs.

[Quayblue]

51. This is beautiful!

[Anonymous Bosh]

53. Beautiful coin n/t

[ileus]

55. Probably run around 1400 bucks.

If I'm going to spend that kind of coin for my collection it'd be from the 1800's.

[Jeroen]

57. Love it!

[pokerfan]

69. Unveiling the Future of Liberty

Rhett Jeppson, Principal Deputy Director of the United States Mint:

Earlier today, I was honored to join Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew and Deputy Secretary Sarah Bloom Raskin to unveil designs for the 2017 American Liberty Gold Coin.

The unveiling not only marked a historic milestone for the allegorical Lady Liberty, who has been featured on American coinage since the late 1790s, but also served to kick-off the Mint’s 225th anniversary—a year-long public awareness campaign about its mission, facilities and employees.

I am very proud of the fact that the United States Mint is rooted in the Constitution. Our founding fathers realized the critical need for our fledgling nation to have a respected monetary system, and over the last 225 years, the Mint has never failed in its mission to enable America’s growth and stability by protecting assets entrusted to us and manufacturing coins and medals to facilitate national commerce.

We have chosen “Remembering our Past, Embracing the Future” as the Mint’s theme for our 225th Anniversary year. This beautiful coin truly embodies that theme. The coin demonstrates our roots in the past through such traditional elements as the inscriptions United States of America, Liberty, E Pluribus Unum and In God We Trust. We boldly look to the future by casting Liberty in a new light, as an African-American woman wearing a crown of stars, looking forward to ever brighter chapters in our Nation’s history book. The 2017 American Liberty Gold Coin is the first in a series of 24-karat gold coins the United States Mint will issue biennially. These coins will feature designs that depict an allegorical Liberty in a variety of contemporary forms including designs representing Asian-Americans, Hispanic-Americans, and Indian-Americans among others to reflect the cultural and ethnic diversity of the United States.​

https://www.treasury.gov/connect/blog/Pages/Unveiling-the-Future-of-Liberty-.aspx

[SteamAddict]

70. She's Beautiful!