What is wrong with this coin?

[underpants]

This was asked of me at my daughter's birthday party on Saturday.

One of these was given to her and the giver asked me if I could see anything wrong with this coin.


I really wish I had thought of it- I sort of did after he gave HIS answer but I really didn't feel like getting into it with him.

His answer
-There is a slave depicted on the coin. (Laughing) There were no slaves in Jamestown in 1607 in fact there were no black people here either! (laughing) see what that political correctness will get you?!?!?-

My brother and he then got into a discussion about indentured servants and blah blah blah.

A friend of mine started laughing but that was because he could see me having to just let it pass when he knew I wanted to rip into both of them (he told me this later) I didn't get my copy of "The People's History of the United States" and force him to read aloud actual truth about indentured servants. I just said that I thought it was a way for all of us to come together and rejoice in this great thing called America---I was told that there were no slaves in Jamestown in 1607.

Okay here is what is actually wrong with the coin
(from right to left)
The indian or the "enemy" is depicted as far too large for scale. This "ten foot warrior" crap implies a justification of what we did to them and an excuse for drastic overspending on defense (see the Cold War)
The "settler" is depicted as a clean well groomed gentleman when in fact they were mostly hired guns who were willing to go God knows where all for the all holy money. They were mostly dregs of society and later would be replaced by said indentured servants who themselves mostly died or went home after serving their time (usually in subhuman conditions)
The slave doesn't look appreciatively happy enough for the outstanding opportunity she has been afforded by being brought here :sarcasm:
The Spanish didn't have ONE black slave anywhere in the "new world"? Not one? Really?
(flip coin back to him and walk away)

[shain from kane]

1. From Wikipedia --- "there were no women on the first ships."

[rocktivity]

2. I thought it was because of the Nina, Pinta, and Santa Maria

Christopher Columbus' voyage to North American had nothing to do with Jamestown.

:headbang:
rocknation

[jenmito]

3. I LOVE your "bumper sticker"!!!!

It's my dream ticket! :hi:

[TygrBright]

4. Not only that, but there appear to be two separate winds blowing...

...on the obverse side of the coin. One ship is being blown away from the observer, the other two towards. Neat trick.

amusedly,
Bright

[wuushew]

5. The public endorsement of religion

the same as all the rest of the money.

[wyldwolf]

6. is that Indian wearing a Toga?

[shain from kane]

11. Looks like Miss Scarlet's curtains.

[sinkingfeeling]

7. I'm sorry but both sides look like engravings done by 12-14 year olds. And there were slaves

in Jamestown. In fact, the Guardian calls the birthplace of African slavery.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/monarchy/story/0,,2074507,00.html


The black panthers held a protest in May of this year.

http://content.hamptonroads.com/story.cfm?story=124585&ran=29072

[shain from kane]

8. Where's the Roanoke coin? Croatoan.

[trogdor]

9. These coins are designed by committee.

Seriously.

The United States Mint’s Artistic Infusion Program (AIP) began in 2003 with a nationwide call for artists to help invigorate American coin and medal design. Applications were accepted from a wide range of artists representing a broad spectrum of artistic mediums, including painting, sculpture, graphic design, drawing and illustration, as well as other visual art disciplines.

Several hundred talented artists applied for acceptance into the program, and following a comprehensive review of the work each of them submitted, a total of 24 artists were selected to participate in the initial AIP class. Included in the group were 18 Master Designers and 6 Associate Designers. Each signed a one-year contract and the AIP was under way.

The first project assigned to the Artistic Infusion Program artists in 2004 was the 2005-dated nickel, honoring President Thomas Jefferson, the role of the Native Americans in the Lewis and Clark expedition, and the culmination of the expedition. In addition, the AIP artists created designs for the 2006 50 State Quarters® Program.

For 2005, three new artists were added to the pool, two more Master Designers and one more Associate Designer. All were invited to submit designs for the 2006 nickel, the 2007 50 State Quarters® Program, the 2006-2008 American Eagle Platinum Coin Program, and the commemorative coins honoring the 400th anniversary of the founding of Jamestown.

The class of 2007 is comprised of seven Master Designers who have been invited to submit designs for the 2008 Presidential $1 Coin Program, the corresponding 2008 First Spouse Gold Coin Program just to name a few. The United States Mint has invited eleven additional artists to participate in the 2007 program, seven Associate Designers and four Student Designers.

http://www.usmint.gov/about_the_mint/artisticInfusion/

[HughBeaumont]

10. The Indian isn't dead from euro-plagues.

[Forkboy]

12. Walter Raleigh looks too much like Shakespeare.

[Jack Rabbit]

13. My answer would have something to do with looking a the past through rose-colored shades

A Black, a White and a Native American, all living in harmony and working together for each other's common welfare.

Right.