The history of Liberty on our coins in a nutshell and remembering the meaning of the Fourth of July.

The fourth of July is a perfect time to reflect on the freedom and liberty we enjoy in the United States. The themes of freedom and liberty are an integral part of the designs of our coinage since their first minting in 1793. Our nation founded on western ideals has its origins in ancient Greek and Roman philosophies and religious freedom. To understand our coinage, we need to understand its origins.

Libertas, Latin for Liberty, long being a Roman deity along with other personified virtues, became a goddess in 238 BC when Tiberius Gracchus ordered the construction of her first temple on Aventine Hill. Ever since then she has been appearing on coinage from around the world.

Symbols associated with the goddess Liberty is the pileus, Phrygian cap, and the rod. When a Roman slave became free, he shaved his head and wore a pileus, a conical felt cap much like the Phrygian cap associated with freedom and the pursuit of liberty. During the ceremony with which the former slave was declared free, the lictor of the magistrate laid a rod on the head of the slave and with certain formal words declared him free. This ceremony known as ?Manumissio vindicta? is Latin for ?freedom by the rod.?

As a fledgling Democratic Republic, our founding fathers wrestled with what designs our coins should have. Coins featuring reigning monarchs were prevalent at that time and there was a consensus that our coinage should not have images of living persons. Therefore, our first coins minted in 1793 featured Lady Liberty with a cap and pole. Since then the obverses of all our circulating silver coinage has featured an image of Liberty (except for the silver three-cent piece) until the Washington quarter in 1932. The reverse of our coins often featured a bald eagle, symbolic of strength and freedom in flight. Frequently, the eagle has arrows and an olive branch in its talons. The olive branch represents our desire and preference for peace while the arrows symbolize our willingness to go to war to defend liberty.

The picture collage below features four representations of Liberty. The first, a 1795 half-dollar, features a young and vivacious Liberty with the wind of freedom blowing through her hair. Therefore, this design is named ?flowing hair? and currently it is a favorite among collectors, including myself. The second coin, Jefferson?s Liberty, features a more mature image of liberty. After complaints to the mint about the ?flowing hair? design this ?draped bust? design was adopted. The third coin, Jackson?s Liberty, features Lady Liberty wearing a Phrygian cap and is called ?capped bust?. The fourth coin, Van Buren?s Liberty features a ?seated liberty? design. Liberty dressed in a Roman toga appears seated and at rest or at peace. In her left hand, she holds a pole with a Phrygian cap on the end and symbolizes the emancipation of a large group of slaves. Liberty?s right hand supports a shield with the word ?Liberty? brazen across it showing that while at peace, she is vigilant and ready to defend liberty at any time. Throughout the history of the United States, our coins have been endearing symbols to remind us of the virtues of freedom and liberty.

Over the course of human history, freedom has been the exception, rather than the rule. Political and religious freedom has often come with the shedding of blood on the battlefield and is never free. Many people living on the face of the earth today do not enjoy the freedom we do, and we should never take it for granted or we may lose it. Today take time to reflect on the brave men and women in our armed forces as many of them are spending their July 4 on foreign battlefields defending liberty. God bless the USA! Happy 4th of July to all!