and my latest dedication

Hello Friends,

The latest addition to My Heritage Set is a modern commemorative the 2006 Benjamin Franklin "The Scientist". In particular for the dedication, the reverse of the coin contains a representation of the famous political cartoon published by Benjamin Franklin featuring a dismembered snake with the motto "Join or Die". In 1775 he addressed the following letter to the Pennsylvania Gazette, signed "An American Guesser".

"The Rattlesnake as the Symbol of America"

I observed on one of the drums belonging to the marines now raising, there was painted a Rattle-Snake, with this modest motto under it, "Don't tread on me." As I know it is the custom to have some device on the arms of every country, I supposed this may have been intended for the arms of America; and as I have nothing to do with public affairs, and as my time is perfectly my own, in order to divert an idle hour, I sat down to guess what could have been intended by this uncommon device -- I took care, however, to consult on this occasion a person who is acquainted with heraldry, from whom I learned, that it is a rule among the learned of that science "That the worthy properties of the animal, in the crest-born, shall be considered," and, "That the base ones cannot have been intended;" he likewise informed me that the ancients considered the serpent as an emblem of wisdom, and in a certain attitude of endless duration -- both which circumstances I suppose may have been had in view. Having gained this intelligence, and recollecting that countries are sometimes represented by animals peculiar to them, it occurred to me that the Rattle-Snake is found in no other quarter of the world besides America, and may therefore have been chosen, on that account, to represent her.

But then "the worldly properties" of a Snake I judged would be hard to point out. This rather raised than suppressed my curiosity, and having frequently seen the Rattle-Snake, I ran over in my mind every property by which she was distinguished, not only from other animals, but from those of the same genus or class of animals, endeavoring to fix some meaning to each, not wholly inconsistent with common sense. I recollected that her eye excelled in brightness, that of any other animal, and that she has no eye-lids. She may therefore be esteemed an emblem of vigilance. She never begins an attack, nor, when once engaged, ever surrenders: She is therefore an emblem of magnanimity and true courage. As if anxious to prevent all pretensions of quarreling with her, the weapons with which nature has furnished her, she conceals in the roof of her mouth, so that, to those who are unacquainted with her, she appears to be a most defenseless animal; and even when those weapons are shown and extended for her defense, they appear weak and contemptible; but their wounds however small, are decisive and fatal. Conscious of this, she never wounds 'till she has generously given notice, even to her enemy, and cautioned him against the danger of treading on her.

Was I wrong, Sir, in thinking this a strong picture of the temper and conduct of America? The poison of her teeth is the necessary means of digesting her food, and at the same time is certain destruction to her enemies. This may be understood to intimate that those things which are destructive to our enemies, may be to us not only harmless, but absolutely necessary to our existence. I confess I was wholly at a loss what to make of the rattles, 'till I went back and counted them and found them just thirteen, exactly the number of the Colonies united in America; and I recollected too that this was the only part of the Snake which increased in numbers. Perhaps it might be only fancy, but, I conceited the painter had shown a half formed additional rattle, which, I suppose, may have been intended to represent the province of Canada.

'Tis curious and amazing to observe how distinct and independent of each other the rattles of this animal are, and yet how firmly they are united together, so as never to be separated but by breaking them to pieces. One of those rattles singly, is incapable of producing sound, but the ringing of thirteen together, is sufficient to alarm the boldest man living.

The Rattle-Snake is solitary, and associates with her kind only when it is necessary for their preservation. In winter, the warmth of a number together will preserve their lives, while singly, they would probably perish. The power of fascination attributed to her, by a generous construction, may be understood to mean, that those who consider the liberty and blessings which America affords, and once come over to her, never afterwards leave her, but spend their lives with her. She strongly resembles America in this, that she is beautiful in youth and her beauty increaseth with her age, "her tongue also is blue and forked as the lightning, and her abode is among impenetrable rocks."

"An American Guesser"

While researching a branch of my family tree I discovered a link to a famous revolutionary snake flag. Known as the Proctor Flag it was first carried by an ancestor, Lt. Samuel Craig then sometime in the early 19th century, according to custom, it was given to his son Lt. Alexander Craig, as the last surviving officer of the brigade. The following is correspondence I discovered while researching our connection to the Craig family and the Proctor flag.

Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography-1879

A Relic of the Revolution in Western Pennsylvania-We have received from Wm B. Negley, Esq., a painting of a Flag, of which the following letter is explanatory.

Pittsburgh, December 9th, 1879

Gentlemen: Herewith is sent the painting of the Proctor Revolutionary Flag, from the flag itself, by Mrs. Fannie B. Campbell, of this city, who, having heard of its existence, addressed a note, March 19th, 1879, to Mrs. Margaret Campbell Craig, the owner, requesting the privilege of making a painting thereof, and in reply received the following:

New Alexandria, March 12th, 1879

Mrs. F.B. Campbell-

Dear Madam: Your Favor of March 10th was received, and in reply I regret to have to say that I am not able to give you a very satisfactory history of the Revolutionary Flag. It was sent to my father by mail, but by whom I cannot say. It was, no doubt, accompanied by a letter, but the letter has not been preserved. My sister Maria was almost three years older than myself and I have heard her say that she could remember seeing father bring the flag home from the post-office.

The flag is made of heavy crimson watered silk; in one corner there is white and blue silk set in like patch-work in an old-fashioned bed quilt. In the centre there is a large rattlesnake coiled in the attitude of striking; the tail is adorned with thirteen rattles. Below the snake in large letters is the motto,

"Don't tread on me"

Above the snake are the letters J.P., then I.B.W.C.P. I have heard my father say the above letters signify, John Proctor, Independent Brigade Westmorland County Pennsylvania, and the thirteen rattles represent the thirteen States. The snake is in a state of dilapidation caused by the paint, so that I fear a painting could not be taken of it.

I had the flag with me at the Centennial in Greensburg, and it required the utmos