The coinage of the United States is an example of the lasting influence of Greco-Roman classicism. Examine current coins: the Lincoln penny, the Jefferson nickel, the Roosevelt dime, the Washington quarter, the Kennedy half-dollar, and the new one-dollar coin. The influence of late Roman portraiture and Greek architecture is evident. The influence of classical symbolism is evident: what, exactly, is on the back of a dime?
The classical influence in U.S. numismatics has, if anything, only gotten stronger in recent years. While the 19th century and early 20th century displayed some non-classical themes (the Indian penny and the Buffalo nickel), current designs are almost exclusively classical in style.
Look at the architectural designs on the back of a penny and a nickel. Can you identify them by style?
The question is open ... to you.
Numismatic iconography
We've discussed the influences on numismatic iconography. Look at the back of a penny and a nickel. Which type of architecture do you see? What are the symbols on the back of a dime, and in which style are they engraved? What about the back of the quarter and half-dollar? What is the “fasces” symbol?
The front side of the penny, nickel, dime, quarter, half-dollar all have portraits. Which style of portrait is this?
Within the last decade, we have two new coins featuring women: Susan B. Anthony and Sacagawea have been pictured on one-dollar coins. You might think that this represents progress for women, but women have been pictured on coins often in the past.
During the first one hundred years of our country's history, only women were pictured on coins: no men at all! The first coin to picture a male was a penny around the time of the Civil War. The first coin to picture a president was not until 1909!
So women were actually more favored than men on coins in the past.
The habit of placing presidents on coins comes from the Romans.
