DATE: June 1792 

TOWN:  

SOURCE: The American Museum

NOTES:  The character of nations is reflected in their choice of designs for their coinage.  The symbols are chosen carefully to ensure that they properly reflect the values of its people and leaders. 

The ancient Greeks adorned their coins with artistic renditions of Gods, Goddesses, and nature.  The Romans chose to place busts of their leaders on their coinage. 

Faced with the task of designing coinage for a new republic in 1792, the American Congress engaged in lively debate, dividing into what could be called Greek and Roman camps. 

The "Roman" contingent promoted the use of a portrait of George Washington, the nation's first President and military leader who defeated the British in war.  "Greek" opponents argued that having just defeated one king, the nation shouldn't crown another by honoring any individual, not even the exalted Washington on the coinage.  Washington himself humbly agreed. 

The anti-portrait forces won, and in a return to the Greek tradition, the new nation's coinage would bear a symbolic representation of the "goddess" Liberty.  No human would be portrayed on U.S. coinage until the introduction of the Lincoln cent over a century later (1909). 

This poem was written by a member of the pro-portrait faction. 

See also: 

Taxay, Don, The United States Mint and Coinage, 1966 (p59-62) 

Gibbs, William, Liberty Was Nearly Stillborn in 1792, COIN WORLD, July 5, 1993

CAN wits or serious sages say, 
Why congress should refuse that head 
A place upon their coin this day, 
O'er which the world hath laurels spread? 

Yes; Liberty, celestial maid, 
By whom its right to crown was given, 
The eager hands of congress said; 
And claim'd that place, as sent by heav'n. 

"Shall WASHINGTON, my fav'rite child, 
"Be rank'd 'mongst haughty kings?" she cry'd; 
"Of manners pure, affections mild, 
"For wild Ambition be decry'd? 

"Or shall each vile successor share 
"That honour which you think his due? 
"Or, granting this were right, who dare 
"This path of monarchies pursue? 

Because a sycophantic race 
"Worship'd in ev'ry form their kings; 
"And on their coins, to their disgrace, 
"Plac'd them is wise or silly things: 

"Because (For this you have been told) 
"Their lands, their lives were not their own, 
"Of course their silver and their gold 
"Were his who sat upon their throne-- 

"Shall sons of this enlighten'd land, 
"Neglecting thus their sacred right, 
"As if not yet they understand 
"Why heaven has favour'd them in fight, 

"Thus madly mimic thoughtless tools? 
"Let busts, let monuments arise 
"To Washington I not like those fools 
"On coins he'll slay; I'll bear him 'bove the skies, 

"My image place upon each piece; 
"His and his virtues in your breast: 
"There you'll excel e'en Rome and Greece; 
"By all my fav'rite sons carest." 

Philadelphia, March 26