RCC/Thoughts on the New Millenium

Thoughts on the New Millenium

by Alex Armstrong

I remember way back when I was young, sometime in 1970, that the year 2000 was a lifetime away. I also remember looking at a 1909-SVDB penny that same year. It was 61 years old in 1970! Now 31 years later, that penny looks relatively the same except for some more olive tone. I, on the other hand, have really changed. I am sure some of are thinking that we would never see the year 2000. Some of us are not here now, and we should remind ourselves of the things that we are blessed with but for only a short time, mainly friends, family, and our maker.

There are very few types of coinages that have remained relatively unchanged, or is there? The reason for the necessity of having a common recognizable coin in the first place was to establish the association of trust amongst a population. The coin was worth what it represented as being worth.

The early standards for the Persians from there great king Darius the Great (no less), had gold and silver 'Darics' that were a common standard for 300 years (600-300 B.C.). These were struck with King Darius' kneeling. The design changed very little during that period. After the Greek conquest of Alexander the Great, his plunders resulted in many colonial mints striking silver coins with the lion skinned head of Hercules and a seated figure. His dad Phillip II of Macedon was actually the original designer of this type. Due to the huge number of these Tetradrachms, and their widespread use, they became, by association, the most common coin around and were widely accepted. They were produced and copied for some 250 years.

It was a great idea to put a king's portrait or Deity on a coin, since that would further the guarantee or legitimacy of the coin. If it was good in the past, it is still good now.

In the early US coinage, the US mints experimented with several weights and styles. So, it was not until the Seated Liberty coinages 1837-1891 that the US broke the 50-year mark of little change. And in 1907 the Coronet series of gold broke 69 years. The Indian Head pennies ran for 50 years, 1859-1909. The industrial and capitalistic revolution also brought more changes to US designs.

I guess the Lincoln penny will be the US issue of longevity. It will be 91 years old, with a few changes, except for a major reverse change into the memorial reverse in 1959.1 guess, when I get to see a Lincoln penny dated 2000, I will feel lucky and very privileged. That coin will be a prize in my collection.

Now for the real story. ..The only true coin that has totally not changed in 200 years is the 1780 dated Austrian Maria Teresa Thaler, struck in Paris, Brussels, London, Rome, Gunzburg, Hong Kong, Geneva, and a few other official and unofficial mints.

Merry Christmas, Blessings to All, and Happy New Year. - Alex

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