If you think that the present world is discombobulated with climate change, debates over transgenderism, gun violence and dire economic unknowns, some might wax nostalgic about life just over 100 years, around the late 19 teens. Not so fast. A closer look reveals some not-so-pretty facts about those “simpler” days....
The US was hip deep in World War I where over 300,000 Americans were killed, wounded or permanently maimed from artillery or the use of mustard gas. A provocation for US involvement in that war was a secret telegram sent by Germany to Mexico offering to help Mexico regain lost territory in Texas, New Mexico and Arizona. Word of that plot sent countless thousands US citizens to Texas to better establish and secure the southern border.
A 1918 flu epidemic infected an estimated 500 million people worldwide. Of those, 50 million died – 650,000 of them in the US. Flight had barely become a reality. Receiving an Air Mail letter was an event worthy of the attention of the entire neighborhood. Most of all, women were fighting for the right to vote.
With all that, the last place you’d think controversy might surface would be on a lowly silver coin. It was a new quarter with an image of allegorical Liberty standing on the front. To call it “lowly” isn’t fair. In 1916, a quarter could buy quite a lot. The equivalent of almost $5.00 today. To a youngster, it was a prized possession worthy of lofty purchases.
That new “Standing Liberty” quarter showed her in draped robing holding an upraised shield in readiness for armed conflict – appropriate given we were at war. Liberty was holding an olive branch as a symbol for peace. The coin also revealed something else – her right breast. On the coin it was uncovered and visible. Yikes.
Forget the fact there were ancient Roman and Greek coins which (I’m not making this up) depicted overt human sex acts vividly emblazoned on them. The promiscuity of ancient days was long over and the sexual revolution, as we would know it, wouldn’t evolve for another half century.
The era was so puritanical, kids got aroused just by looking through the underwear section of a Sears catalog. An exposed breast, even on an allegorical figure, was a major deal – even scandalous. It was controversial enough for the US Mint to hear the uproar and quickly redesign the coin. The modified 1917 version included an armored chain vest covering both breasts.
The exposed breast quarters are popular among today’s collectors – not because of the revealing nature but the low mintage. In 1916, a scant 52,000 of the coins were minted – a mere handful in the collecting community. In fair condition, those surviving coins now command a price tag of $3,000 to $6,000. In pristine, uncirculated condition, prices of $30,000 to $40,000 aren’t uncommon.
Because of older coin production methods, many of those early Standing Liberty quarters didn’t have the head of Liberty struck with much definition. Collectors began noticing that most were decidedly flat. Only a few had full heads with facial features. Those “full-head” examples began to sell for a premium. Today, in top-notch condition, the full-head quarters command prices in excess of $100,000.
As prudish as attitudes continued to be in the US, within mere years, countries such as Spain, Paraguay, Greece, Russia, Yugoslavia, Somalia and others went even farther by issuing collectible postage stamps with far more explicit nude images – usually in the form of fine art.
While sexual mores have become far more liberated, women have moved beyond simple allegorical status and – similar to such figures as Cleopatra and Joan of Arc – excelled beyond any level before. In light of performances such as at today’s World Cup soccer matches in New Zealand, women are increasingly recognized for their accomplishments. That’s particularly evident on the newest US quarters.
The current series is entitled the “American Women Quarters” and features a variety of women who have made their mark in the arts, politics, social justice or other endeavors. Next out of the chute will be a quarter celebrating the life and accomplishments of Eleanor Roosevelt – First Lady of the US and creator of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Five quarters are being issued each year and will continue for the next few years.
It’s a welcome and needed change in a world that still is having trouble finding its allegorical footing.
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