Poll Question: What historical era or event do you find most fascinating as reflected in coins? Why?
At first thought, I wanted to say the Civil War with the hoarding of gold, silver, and copper coins and the first time we see the motto in God We Trust on the 2-cent piece, but I have to say the Depression had more impact.
First, all banks were closed, and the FDIC was formed to prevent bank failure and protect depositors. Just look at how the mintages plunged. Some mints were not making any coins at all during the height of the depression.
Without FDR’s gold recall order, we might have hundreds of thousands of 1933 double eagles instead of the one legal type to own. No peace dollars were made between 1929 and 1933, as well as buffalo nickels, mercury dimes, Standing Liberty quarters, and Walker's missing years in many mints.
Of course, many times in American history have affected coinage, beginning in 1793 when only copper was produced, in 1794 for silver, and in 1795 for gold because of the $10,000 required for the surety bonds and the first beginnings of a U.S. Mint.
But overall, I have to say the Great Depression.
Roy Herbst, Address withheld
To me, the most fascinating era is the American Civil War because it was probably the most trying period in our history. Fortunately, we had Abraham Lincoln to pull our great country through those trying times.
Dave Burdis, Charleroi, Pa.
The Civil War Era.
Name and Address withheld
