Another recent development is the demonstrations targeting statues of potentially divisive historical figures. Of course, what may or may not make them controversial is in the eye of the protestor.
Statues of explorer Christopher Columbus have been toppled as have those of George Washington and Thomas Jefferson as well as anyone aligned with the Confederacy. It now even extends to the film adaptation of the Broadway hit “Hamilton.” Celebrated as the musical has been, a few critics are now claiming, “it is an overly optimistic view of history…idealizing the founders.”
Considered the most obvious targets of all – US coins and currency. Hamilton is front-and-center on our circulating $10 bill.
I suppose Abe Lincoln on the lowly one cent and popular five-dollar bill is safe. Of course, who’s to know what skeletons will eventually turn up in anyone’s closet?
George Washington is on our two most used currencies – the quarter and dollar bill. He’s being vilified for having owned slaves. So too for Thomas Jefferson on the nickel and two-dollar bill.
Kennedy probably would get a pass even though he was renowned for his adulterous affairs. Of course, we rarely see a 50-cent piece. You’d think Union Civil War General Ulysses Grant on the $50 bill would be celebrated. He was until this year. Now, it’s said Grant was given a slave in 1859. Though Grant quickly freed the man, protestors in San Francisco still tore down a statue of him.
Ben Franklin on our $100 bill was the leader of an anti-slavery society in colonial America. Not so fast. Some suggest the Franklins might have owned slaves at one point. Or did they?
Most divisive is Andrew Jackson on the $20 bill. He not only owned and abused slaves, he was integral in terrible mistreatment and relocation of American Indians. Jackson has already been targeted to be replaced on the $20 bill by abolitionist and former slave Harriet Tubman who was integral in the Underground Railroad. Due to production issues, that switch is still a few years away.
But, what of previous coins, specifically rare and valuable commemoratives? Those have been minted since before 1900 and make one of the most popular areas of collecting. Columbus appeared on one of the first in 1893 and again in 1992. That may be strike one.
A 1937 50-cent piece commemorating the Battle of Antietam features Civil War foes: Union General McClellan and Confederate General Robert E. Lee. The battle was considered a draw, and both generals made it onto the coin. Strike two?
In 1925, another half-dollar was issued to celebrate the images of Confederate troops carved into the side of a Stone Mountain Georgia mountain. The coin features Confederate generals Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson on horseback. Proceeds from the sale of the silver coin went to the carving of the Confederate monument on the mountain. On the coin are the words, “Memorial To The Valor Of The Soldiers Of The South.” Strike three?
There are loads more silver and gold commemorative coins that people can assert are politically incorrect. One for James Cook was issued in 1928. Cook is said to have brought and spread deadly diseases to Hawaiian natives. Another salutes the Battle of Gettysburg. The Union won that battle but the coin shows both Union and Confederate soldiers on the front. On the back is a shield including the Confederate “stars and bars” flag just banned by NASCAR.
There are coins celebrating the Pilgrims, who killed Native Indians; the White House, alleged to have been built by slaves; and even Sir Walter Raleigh, who popularized smoking.
Certainly, there is understandable sensitivity to some historic symbols and individuals. There are also questions about the current hyper sensitivity of others. Either way, given that many of these commemorative coins are worth upwards of $1,000 or more in top condition, I don’t see any of them being destroyed anytime soon.
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