William Penn Life, 2000 (35. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
2000-02-01 / 2. szám
Latest tail in long history of U.S. quarter has many heads turning T ragedy provides lesson in the value of life insurance How tragic it is when a sledding accident takes the life of a child. But just as tragic is learning from my husband this morning that the family of a young girl killed recently due to a sledding accident has requested contributions to cover the costs of their little girl’s funeral. We at the William Penn Association have a wonderful product in our juvenile policy. Over the year, I have observed that many a family can put the $25 [annual premium] to good use by purchasing something for their home. But, they made it a point to have this amount available annually for their child's life insurance policy. It’s a shame this family didn’t know about our organization. Let’s hope that others in the future do not need to resort to contributions for such happenings. Barbara Kapinus Pittsburgh, PA (Editor’s note: The writer is a parttime sales agent for the WPA.) Let’s hear from you If you have questions about insurance, investing, taxes or other money matters, or if you have an opinion to express on such topics, writer to us at: MoneyMail, William Penn Association, 709 Brighton Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15233. Several weeks ago, the U.S. Mint released the Massachusetts state quarter, the sixth in a series of quarters honoring all 50 states. Millions of people have taken a great interest in the nation's 25-cent piece, eagerly awaiting the release of the next quarter in the series. But, despite the increased interest in this coin, what do you know about it? Chances are, when handling a fistful of quarters, you don't stop to ponder the origins of the quarter or the many changes it has been through--from what material is used in producing it to the designs on each side. In 1793, the Philadelphia mint chose 20 denominations for the nation's coinage. At that time there was talk about what material-and how much of it—to use in making the quarter dollar. Silver was the material of choice when minting first began in 1796. Almost a century later, the Mint Act of 1873, declared that the coin was not heavy enough, and extra weight was added. The next modification came when the Mint Act of 1965 mandated the use of copper-nickel instead of silver. The Mint Act of 1792, was the first act to direct attention to the quarter's design. This act specified that certain design features and legends would appear on authorized coins. One side of the coin had to include the year in which it was minted, an impression that symbolized liberty, and the actual word "Liberty." For more than 115 years, liberty was symbolized on the front of the coin by allegorical female figures (Lady Liberty) in the form of a bust or a full-length figure. The back of the quarter featured an eagle and the words "United States of America." The representations of Lady Liberty and the eagle on the quarter during the late 18th and early 19th centuries were altered many times. Lady Liberty started out with flowing hair, then a draped bust, then a capped bust. Controversy arose in 1916 when Lady Liberty was shown standing with an exposed breast. This design was deemed to risqué and lasted only one year. In 1917, Lady Liberty's exposed breast was covered with a coat of mail. The eagle also underwent a few makeovers. It began as a small eagle that many thought looked too much like a pigeon. Over time, the eagle grew to become a grander and more patriotic heraldic eagle. In 1932, the bicentennial of George Washington's birthday, a silhouette of Washington's head replaced Lady Liberty. This marked the second, but certainly not the only, time a coin would change from an allegorical figure to a historical one. The next bicentennial event to affect the quarter's design came in 1976, with the 200th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, our nation's 200th birthday. To honor the event, a colonial drummer replaced the eagle on the back of the coin. Over the next decade, the quarter will undergo 50 changes, and just maybe, it will be a decade during which people will actually take note of the design and history of the quarters we use every day. [Wy] 4 Willi» Feu Lile, February 2000
