The ANA-Does It TRY To Look Foolish?

[TomB]

Foolish is definitely too strong a word for the current amusement I am getting from the ANA, however, the organization has certainly looked foolish in the not-too-distant past. Of course, I am writing about that $3,000 check from the Hagars of ACG fame that was given to the ANA and the subsequent picture of ANA officers smiling while accepting the money. No matter what happens, that is an image that will forever tarnish (different than toning) the organization.

 

Today's amusement comes from the back page of the organization's monthly journal, Numismatist. Has anyone noticed it yet? Each issue of Numismatist that I receive has a mailing cover on it and the back cover of this month's journal has a large title-

 

E Pluribus Unum The Money That Made America

 

The title is fair enough and the copy that follows it is also fine-

 

America's commitment to unity and liberty is embodied in the legend-E Pluribus Unum (Out of Many, One)-that appears on almost every US coin struck since the establishment of the United States Mint in 1792. See the development of a fledgling country and its coinage and currency in the American Numismatic Association Money Museum's newest exhibit.

 

The money of the United States tells a story of courage, bravery and innovation-spendable evidence of the country's strength and character. The exhibit E Pluribus Unum: The Money That Made America showcases the numismatic pride of a nation, highlighting the changes in this country's coins and paper currency produced for more than 200 years.

 

This all sounds fine, doesn't it. So, why would the ANA choose three coins to use as the backdrop of the copy and have all three coins devoid of the E Pluribus Unum motto? The backdrop consists of an 1854 one dollar gold piece, which happens to be one of only two regular issue gold denominations struck by this country that never had the motto appear on it. The other regular issue gold denomination with this distinction was the three dollar gold piece. The second and third may be of the same coin, but it is not entirely clear that they are. Regardless, neither image comes from a coin that had E Pluribus Unum on it! The obverse image appears to be an 1854 With Arrows Seated Liberty quarter. I believe it is a quarter because of the relationship of Ms Liberty's head to the stars and rim and also because of the size of the arrows compared to the adjacent date. The reverse image is of a Seated Liberty quarter dollar and none of the coins of this design and denomination combination ever had E Pluribus Unum on them.

 

This is a joke, right?!?! The ANA could not possibly have an entire back page devoted to an exhibit titled E Pluribus Unum and then use coins to promote the exhibit that never had it incorporated in their designs. Could they? That same organization that gleefully accepted money from ACG has now come out with a follow up hit, and here it is.

 

[braddick]

Good point Tom. I knew the ANA began to think sideways when they spent a ton of money on their new logo. A logo that is definitely inferior to their older one and certainly one that appears to have been quickly sketched by a third grader, in the dark, after eating a Snickers bar and drinking a can of Dr. Pepper.

[Hoot]

With Coin World and Coin Values, Beth Deisher always has me come up with the images or at least the ideas for them. I wonder if the text for the write-up was done with a complete disconnect with the artistic side of the publication. I admit, it still represents a huge blunder, and an editor who was paying attention to what is obvious would have caught it. Perhaps that one went to press without the usual editorial scrutiny. I'd encourage you, Tom, to write a letter to the editor about this.

 

And Pat, I could not agree more.

 

Hoot