Why? US Coins question - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

MS Fowler · #1 09-19-2012, 10:24 AM

Who or what determines which way the portrait faces on the US Coins?For coins currently in circulation, only Lincoln faces to the right. All other current ones face left. The Indian on the Buffalo nickel also faced to the right, and on the Barber designed 50 cent piece, Lady Liberty(?) faces to the right.
Jefferson (nickel), JFK ( quarter), Mercury (dime), Sacagawea ( dollar) Washington ( quarter) all face to the left.

Not looking for a "hidden agenda " of some sort of sunversion; just wondered "why?".

t walgamuth · #2 09-19-2012, 10:29 AM

Obviously the artists are left leaning or right.

MS Fowler · #3 09-19-2012, 10:30 AM

I was hoping to avoid that.

davidmash · #4 09-19-2012, 10:39 AM

Found this as one possible explanation. Sounds possible when reading it.

Why is lincolns head facing the opposite direction of other coins? - Yahoo! Answers

It talks about alternating directions to differentiate one monarch from his predecessor. Since we came from England and Europe some of the traditions from that area carried over.

Or there is this explanation by the US Mint.

Quote:

The likeness of President Lincoln on the penny is an adaption of a plaque executed by Victor David Brenner, an outstanding portraitist and sculptor. President Theodore Roosevelt was so impressed with Mr. Brenner's design of a Lincoln plaque that he recommended to the Secretary of the Treasury that the design be placed on a coin to be issued in the Lincoln Centennial Year, 1909.

The direction that Lincoln faces on the cent was not mandated—this was simply the choice of the designer.

t walgamuth · #5 09-19-2012, 11:19 AM

I'd say its more likely the artist chose the person's better side.

Air&Road · #6 09-19-2012, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MS Fowler

Who or what determines which way the portrait faces on the US Coins?For coins currently in circulation, only Lincoln faces to the right. All other current ones face left. The Indian on the Buffalo nickel also faced to the right, and on the Barber designed 50 cent piece, Lady Liberty(?) faces to the right.
Jefferson (nickel), JFK ( quarter), Mercury (dime), Sacagawea ( dollar) Washington ( quarter) all face to the left.

Not looking for a "hidden agenda " of some sort of sunversion; just wondered "why?".

Which direction will B.O. face? What demonination will it be?

Where on Mount Rushmore will Obama put HIS face?

retmil46 · #7 09-19-2012, 12:14 PM

On the subject of coins -

I'm wondering if anyone in Congress is ever going to have enough cojones to override the vending machine and business lobbyists - the U.S. Treasury has been trying for decades now to get Congress to legislate doing away with the dollar bill, and switching over completely to a dollar coin. I forget how many millions it would save the government each year if they weren't having to replace worn-out paper bills.

But every time this comes up in the news, the affected industries complain and carp about how much it would cost them to redesign and change their vending machines and cash register drawers - and nothing ever gets done.

At that, look how long it took them to get around to including anti-counterfeiting measures into the larger denomination bills.

tbomachines · #8 09-19-2012, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Air&Road

Which direction will B.O. face? What demonination will it be?

Where on Mount Rushmore will Obama put HIS face?

Ah, the reasoned and factually well-supported response I have grown to expect.

jplinville · #9 09-19-2012, 01:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by retmil46

On the subject of coins -

I'm wondering if anyone in Congress is ever going to have enough cojones to override the vending machine and business lobbyists - the U.S. Treasury has been trying for decades now to get Congress to legislate doing away with the dollar bill, and switching over completely to a dollar coin. I forget how many millions it would save the government each year if they weren't having to replace worn-out paper bills.

But every time this comes up in the news, the affected industries complain and carp about how much it would cost them to redesign and change their vending machines and cash register drawers - and nothing ever gets done.

At that, look how long it took them to get around to including anti-counterfeiting measures into the larger denomination bills.

If I went to a vending machine, and found it had carp instead of chips, I'd complain too!!

SwampYankee · #10 09-19-2012, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by retmil46

On the subject of coins -

I'm wondering if anyone in Congress is ever going to have enough cojones to override the vending machine and business lobbyists - the U.S. Treasury has been trying for decades now to get Congress to legislate doing away with the dollar bill, and switching over completely to a dollar coin. I forget how many millions it would save the government each year if they weren't having to replace worn-out paper bills.

But every time this comes up in the news, the affected industries complain and carp about how much it would cost them to redesign and change their vending machines and cash register drawers - and nothing ever gets done.

At that, look how long it took them to get around to including anti-counterfeiting measures into the larger denomination bills.

I've had the same thought. They talked about how poorly received the dollar coins were. Admittedly, they should be significantly larger than a quarter to avoid confusion. But if they just stopped printing dollar bills altogether, it wouldn't make a bit of difference whether they were well received or not.

Palangi · #11 09-19-2012, 09:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Air&Road

Which direction will B.O. face? What demonination will it be?

Where on Mount Rushmore will Obama put HIS face?

After the way he has destroyed the economy, I say put his butt on the new 2 cent coin, because that's all he's worth........

It won't make any difference which way his butt faces. Looks the same either way.........

daveuz · #12 09-19-2012, 09:33 PM

I recently noticed Barbara Bush was now on all the one dollar bills.

sassparilla_kid · #13 09-20-2012, 12:15 AM

Why stop at only $1 denomination for the coins? Why not have $2 too?

padrino · #14 09-20-2012, 01:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Air&Road

Which direction will B.O. face? What demonination will it be?

Where on Mount Rushmore will Obama put HIS face?

Matured response as usual....or not. It would help if you stick to the topic of the posting. Every one here knows your one sided view to everything.... as they say in Britain: "Horse with blinkers"