Anyone able to go on vacation this summer, was lucky. Those going to the coasts or a seashore were very lucky. While there, if they saw a Coast Guard ship or helicopter, extremely lucky. And, not needing the services of the Coast Guard is the luckiest of all.
Unquestionably, there is something amazing about the sight of a Coast Guard ship or aircraft. The distinctive red and blue racing stripes on the side of the white vessels or the bright orange of the aircraft are iconic. Those colors are impressive, reassuring, impactful or all three.
It wasn’t always that way. When the Coast Guard was first established, 231 years ago, in 1790, it consisted of just ten small wooden sloops on the Eastern seaboard. They were responsible for stopping and inspecting ships coming to the US. Their mission was to make sure no goods were being smuggled thereby avoiding taxes. Those taxes were critical to repay France for all it had supplied in our Revolutionary War with England....
Because the whole idea of the early Coast Guard missions was to bolster US revenue instead of seeing it cut via smuggling, the intercepting boats garnered the name “Revenue Cutters.” The name “cutter” also referred to the shape of the hull and how it could “cut” through waves and water. To this day, the word “cutter” is associated with many Coast Guard vessels.
Playwright Lin Manuel Miranda may not have highlighted it in his celebrated musical Hamilton but it was actually Alexander Hamilton himself who conceived and created the Coast Guard. It was a bold move because he knew American citizens wouldn’t appreciate being stopped or searched while on the water. After all, the whole idea of America was for them to be free.
Consequently, Hamilton established rules for the Guard that those serving in it be, “prudent, moderate and good-tempered.” The officers were trained to never be arrogant, rude or insulting. (A wise concept for anyone in an authority position.)
Evidently, someone at the US Mint has a good handle on the impressive nature and importance of the Coast Guard. That eminence is being showcased on one of the most striking products the Mint has created in a long time. This month, a new silver medal is being issued honoring the legacy and service of the Guard.
The obverse of the medal features a dramatic image of a Coast Guard cutter slicing through rough seas. The attention to detail of the ship is striking as are the waves surrounding it. Even the small splashes of water in the air add to the powerful nautical image traveling at full-throttle.
The perspective shows the boat from in front of the bow. The intricate details feature much of the elements of the ship including the conning tower and ship’s radar. Sharp-eyed collectors will notice the ship’s hull number is “753.” That identifies it as the national security cutter “Hamilton,” named for the famous statesman and colonist.
At the top of the design are the words, “U.S. COAST GUARD SEMPER PARATUS” meaning “Always Ready.”
The new Coast Guard medal stands in stark contrast to many of the bland “American Innovation” golden dollar coins being struck and released by the Mint.
The latest showcases a cutaway view of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel. While the tunnel is an innovative marvel, the image on the coin is simplistic and dated. Yes, I guess it’s supposed to reflect cars as they looked when the tunnel opened in 1964, but it comes across as basic and one-dimensional. If you haven’t heard of these one-dollar coins, you aren’t alone. They aren’t circulating and are languishing as the Mint continues to produce them. They can be found on the Mint’s website.
The size and weight of the pure silver Coast Guard medal adds to its prominence. It contains two-and-one-half ounces of pure silver – 99.9 percent pure – and measures two-inches in diameter. A smaller one-ounce version will be struck next year but this one is especially impactful.
The medals are limited to a mintage of just 10,000 and are currently available from the US Mint for $160. It’s a nice keepsake for, “They that go down to the sea in ships.”
For more information, log onto: www.USMint.gov.
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