The Top 5 Most Controversial Coins Ever Minted

When you think of topics that can cause a scandal, coins probably aren’t one of the first things that come to mind. Believe it or not, some coins caused a stir when they were minted. All five of these coins created a public controversy when they were first introduced. 

1. The Standing Liberty Quarter

First minted in late 1916, the Standing Liberty quarter was designed by sculptor Harmon McNeil. The quarter design features Lady Liberty standing proudly between two pedestals. With an olive branch in one hand and a shield in the other, the quarter design reflected a vision of an America that was prepared for either peace or war — the perfect coin to illustrate America’s sentiment regarding World War I, which raged in Europe. 

Where does the controversy come in? Although Lady Liberty was draped in flowing robes, her right breast remained exposed. This makes the Standing Liberty the first minted U.S. coin to depict female nudity. Almost immediately, the New York Society for the Suppression of Vice famously called for a redesign of the quarter. The coin was redesigned in early 1917, only a few months after it began production, and Lady Liberty was depicted wearing a chainmail undergarment. Despite this quick change, around 12 million Standing Liberty quarters with the original design were minted and circulated. 

2. Saint-Gaudens 1933 Gold Double Eagle

At the turn of the 20th Century, President Teddy Roosevelt was unimpressed with the lack of artistry in existing U.S. coins. He held so much disdain for American coins, in fact, that he famously described them as “atrociously hideous.” To remedy this, President Roosevelt hired sculptor Augustus St. Gaudens to design what would become known as the $20 Gold Double Eagle coin. 

The coin’s run was marked by controversy from the first minted coins in 1907. Its high-relief design was notoriously difficult to produce. Its production ran until only a few months into 1933, when President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued a gold coin recall. Of nearly 445,000 Double Eagles minted (none of which were ever circulated), all but 20 were melted down. Those 20 are considered stolen property of the US government. Over the next few decades, eight of the remaining 20 would be found and melted down, and 13 more would be seized and held by the US Mint.

Only one coin, bought by fashion designer and collector Stuart Weitzman in 2002, is legally owned by a US citizen. It was originally sold to Egyptian King Farouk in 1944, with a treaty and export details to prove its authenticity. Because of this transaction, it remains the only 1933 Double Eagle the US government cannot seize.

3. The Roosevelt Dime 

In 1946, the U.S. Treasury first minted the Roosevelt dime to commemorate the life and achievements of the recently deceased president. John Ray Sinnock, the designer of the Roosevelt dime, left his mark by engraving his initials “J.S.” at the bottom. 

However, these initials immediately caused public outcry. The American public, who had become increasingly anxious about the threat of communism due to the post-WWII Red Scare, speculated that the “J.S.” on the coin stood for “Joseph Stalin.” This fueled a larger rumor that the workers at the U.S. treasury were secret communists promoting an anti-American agenda. The public outcry became so widespread that the Treasury had to release a press release refuting the rumor!

4. Victor David Brenner’s Lincoln Cent

https://www.pexels.com/photo/cash-coins-money-pattern-259165/ 

The Roosevelt dime isn’t the only example of a designer’s initials creating widespread controversy over a coin. The initial releases of the long-lasting Lincoln cent in 1909 honored designer Victor David Brenner with his full name engraved on the back. The U.S. Treasury, however, objected to using Brenner’s full name, and the coins were quickly adjusted to contain only Brenner’s initials. 

This is not where the controversy over Brenner’s Lincoln cent ends, however. Members of the public were upset that Brenner’s initials were prominently featured on the coin, thinking it inappropriate that he should get to advertise his work on U.S. currency as a paid government employee. The V.D.B. was removed only days after the pennies entered circulation, and weren’t returned to the coin until 1918. 

5. Morgan Silver Dollars

Morgan Silver dollars are one of the most highly coveted coins among American collectors. They are also some of the most difficult coins to find on the market. The coin was designed by a newly appointed Assistant Engraver George T. Morgan in 1877, who had been assigned to the task by Mint Director Henry Linderman. Morgan’s design features the silhouette of Lady Liberty’s profile, while the back depicts an eagle with his wings raised.

The controversy around the Morgan silver dollar arose from the number of feathers on the eagle’s tail. Traditionally on coins, the number of feathers on the eagle’s tail was depicted as an uneven number. The eagle on the new silver dollar, however, had eight feathers in his tail. After only two weeks of production, the coin’s design was altered, and all Morgan dollars that followed had seven feathers.

Preserve a piece of history

Who knew a coin could be so controversial? Although these coins caused quite a stir in their day, the backlash only serves to make them more popular with coin collectors today. With coin collecting on the rise, collecting controversial coins is one way to set your coin collection apart.