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Franklin’s Numismatic Legacy

2021-07-01 07:00:00
Franklin’s Numismatic Legacy
Posted in: News, News

Franklin’s Numismatic Legacy

No person in the history of our country has had a more profound impact on the progress of our nation than our Founding Father, Benjamin Franklin. As the original American Renaissance man, Franklin set the foundation of the United States by writing the Declaration of Independence and signing the Treaty of Paris, which brought the Revolutionary War to an end. Franklin’s legacy, however, encompasses a variety of fields including, science, invention, printing, and even numismatics. Today, to celebrate the Fourth of July and Benjamin Franklin’s monumental impact on our country, I would like to share with you some of his greatest achievements regarding our glorious hobby.

While most of the coins and currency circulating our country during colonial times were from foreign countries, there were also currencies issued in the colonies as well. The most notable examples of currency to circulate in the 1700s were those printed at Benjamin Franklin’s printing shop. The most historic examples of these notes were produced using a method known as nature printing, which was employed as an innovative counterfeiting measured. By printing the intricate veinous structures of leaves onto the notes, it was all but guaranteed that they would be irreplicable by third parties.

Franklin’s most stunning creation came in 1781, when he commissioned the famous sculptor, Augustin Dupre, to bring his Libertas Americana design to life. Dated July 4, 1776, this remarkable medal celebrates the signing of the Declaration of Independence. On the obverse we see Lady Liberty with a Phrygian cap hanging just above her head, a striking resemblance to the first Liberty design displayed on the Half Cent and Large Cent in 1793.

The reverse of this medal displays a heavily symbolic image of Hercules as an infant strangling two snakes, as the goddess Minerva protects him from a panther. In this depiction, Hercules represents the burgeoning United States, while Minerva symbolizes our ally, France. Minerva holds up her shield to defend Hercules from a panther, which is symbolic of Britain. The snakes in Hercules’ hands are representative of Lord Cornwallis, defeated at the battle of Yorktown, and General Burgoyne, eliminated at the battle of Saratoga. Above this artwork we see an inscription of  “Non Sine Diis Animosus Infans,” or  “The brave infant is aided by the Gods.”  Beneath this remarkable portrait are the dates October 17, 1777, and October 19, 1781, to commemorate America’s victories in these battles.

Easily Franklin’s most recognizable numismatic endeavor was that of the Fugio Cent, which was the first coin issued under the authority of the United States. The obverse displays a sun radiating its light onto the face of a sundial. Below the sundial is an inscription of, “Mind Your Business.” This motto was influenced by Franklin’s status as a prominent businessman who believed in the virtue of hard work. Etched into the left-hand side of the obverse is the Latin word “Fugio,” which translates to, “I Fly,” in reference to time flying by. Together, “I Fly,” “Mind Your Business,” and the sundial imply that as time continues to pass, individuals must choose to spend it wisely. The coin’s reverse depicts the phrase, “We Are One,” surrounded by thirteen interlinking chains, meant to represent the unbreakable bond between the nation’s original thirteen colonies.

Today, only a small handful of Benjamin Franklin’s creations have survived in any condition, making the acquisition of such pieces a truly spectacular feat. Each of these items is so intrinsically linked with the origin of our country, that every example is an undeniable national treasure in its own right.   

Happy Fourth of July on behalf of the entire Rare Collectibles TV family

-Jack McNamara