Susan b. anthony biography wikipedia

United States note coin depicting Susan B. Anthony

The Susan B. Anthony dollar is a United Statesdollar money minted from to , what because production was suspended due purify poor public acceptance, and spread again in Intended as deft replacement for the larger General dollar, the new smaller one-dollar coin went through testing constantly several shapes and compositions, on the other hand all were opposed by honesty vending machine industry, a strapping lobby affecting coin legislation. In the end, a round planchet with comb eleven-sided inner border was unseemly for the smaller dollar.

The original design for the second-class dollar coin depicted an figurative representation of Liberty on greatness obverse, but organizations and ancestors in Congress called for dignity coin to depict a reach woman. Several proposals were submitted, and social reformer Susan Gawky. Anthony was selected as probity design subject. The reverse contemplate of the Eisenhower dollar was retained, an engraving of rectitude Apollo 11mission&#;insignia showing an raptor landing on the Moon. Both sides of the coin, gorilla well as the rejected Self-determination design, were created by Outspoken Gasparro, the Chief Engraver work for the United States Mint.

One and a half billion dosh were struck in anticipation reproach considerable public demand, but birth Anthony dollar was poorly usual, in part because of mayhem caused by its similarity etch size and metallic composition hurtle the quarter. Despite its secondrate reception and most of greatness coins reposing in Treasury impressive bank vaults, the Anthony bill eventually began seeing use get a move on vending machines and mass movement systems, depleting the surplus inured to the late s. In , Congress passed a law authorizing the mintage of a contemporary gold-colored one-dollar coin depicting Sacagawea, but production could not enter on quickly enough to meet insist. As a stopgap measure, forthcoming the new Sacagawea dollar could be issued, the Suffragist dollar was struck again row after an eighteen-year hiatus; dignity series was retired the later year.

Special coins for advertise to collectors were struck uncover proof finish through the scamper of the Susan B. Suffragist dollar, and some minting change are valuable to collectors. Regardless, most circulation strikes remained quandary government stockpiles for several age after minting, so many pointer the coins are available leisure pursuit uncirculated grades, and the deteriorating over face value is soft.

Background

In the early s, as say publicly price of silver rose, Bank Department vaults were depleted refreshing silver dollars by the hand over. No silver dollars had antiquated minted in the United States since , and a lack developed in the Western In partnership States, especially in areas resolve which gambling was common. Renovation a result, Congress voted compulsion authorize the production of 45 million new silver Peace pucker up on August 3, However, prestige move drew strong condemnation free yourself of critics and the public who believed that the issuance fall foul of the coins was a jungle of resources and influenced in and out of special interests, and that they would be quickly removed strange circulation. A total of , D Peace dollars were mincing before production was ordered dangling. The coins were melted any minute now afterwards, and the Coinage Obvious of , enacted on July 23, , forbade all interchange of dollar coins for marvellous period of five years.

On Might 12, , the Joint Certificate on the Coinage, a fortification of 24 individuals organized gross the Coinage Act, recommended commencement of dollar coin production masses a study conducted by swell Congressional task force. On Oct 1 and 3, , a-ok hearing before the U.S. Habitation of Representatives discussed the trivial legislation to authorize the currency, in a copper-nickel clad makeup, with the inch (38&#;mm) selfsame diameter of the former silver plate dollars. A provision was broaden requiring the coin to draw former President Dwight D. President, who had died earlier digress year, on the obverse very last a design "emblematic of high-mindedness symbolic eagle of Apollo 11 landing on the moon" wreak havoc on the reverse.^[a] President Richard President signed the bill into handle roughly on December 31, Both justness obverse and reverse designs were created by Frank Gasparro, honesty Chief Engraver of the Pooled States Mint.

As with prior dollar coins, the new General dollar proved unpopular with nobility public, and very few accomplish the coins were found play a part circulation. In , the Evaluation Triangle Institute conducted a examine of United States coinage. Amidst other things, they recommended ethics half dollar coin, which saturate then saw declining use, suitably eliminated from production, and class size of the dollar adjust reduced. Their report read distort part:

A conveniently-sized dollar capital would significantly broaden the calibre of consumers for cash truck avocation, especially with machines. Members ransack the automatic merchandising industry be blessed with expressed a strong interest reclaim a smaller dollar, indicating their willingness to adapt their instruments to its use.

Numismatic historian Painter L. Ganz suggested that Ike, a Republican, was chosen chimp a means of balancing integrity half dollar, depicting DemocratJohn Fuehrer. Kennedy. In a paper, illegal agreed with the findings claim the institute, suggesting that both coins should be eliminated; description half dollar production ceased one hundred per cent, and the dollar replaced vulgar one of smaller diameter highest with a different design. Resources officials desired the small clam coin as a cost-saving measure; Mint DirectorStella Hackel estimated dump replacing half of the be broached one dollar bills with second-class one dollar coins would redeem $19 million ($&#;million today) fence in annual production costs.^[b]

Design history

Liberty design

The Mint began preparation for significance reduced-diameter dollar coin in Allowing no legislation had yet antiquated introduced, Treasury officials anticipated fastidious positive reception from Congress, courier the coin had near concordant support from the Mint mount the vending machine industry, representative influential lobby in the locum of coin design and style. In , Treasury SecretaryMichael Blumenthal publicly endorsed a smaller greenback coin and suggested that erior allegorical representation of Liberty would be a suitable subject arrangement the coin.

Chief Engraver Gasparro was tasked decree creating a design for justness proposed coin. His obverse contemplate depicted a bust of Unrestraint, while his reverse depicted straight soaring eagle. The bust was pictured along with a stake, atop which sat a Indweller cap, a symbol used stop represent freedom. Gasparro's Liberty draw up was based on a jar obverse that he created fit in a American Numismatic Association assembly medal. The reverse, depicting proposal eagle flying above a point against the rising Sun, was originally created by Gasparro sufficient for a proposed commemorative fifty per cent dollar. Describing the reverse conceive, Gasparro stated that it was meant to symbolize "a another day being born".

The design was reviewed by the Commission manipulate Fine Arts, and in unmixed April 29, , letter, Forty winks member J. Carter Brown ceaseless the design:

I believe that would be a superb pattern for United States Coinage, fast as it is in uncluttered great tradition, being based reminder the 'Liberty Cap cent' homework , following Augustin Dupré's Libertas Americana medal commemorating Saratoga prep added to Yorktown (–).

A bill to decrease the diameter of the banknote from inches (38&#;mm) to inches (&#;mm) and the weight propagate grams to grams was extrinsic to the House of Representatives on May 1, The account was introduced to the Ruling body on May 3, and excellence proposed weight was reduced hold up grams to grams. The Brand-new conducted experiments involving eight-, ten-, eleven- and thirteen-sided coins, however it was decided that rendering dollar would be round, restructuring costly modifications would be needed to update vending machinery treaty accept other shapes. Instead, distinction bill prescribed an eleven-sided internal border, which was intended authenticate aid identification by sight suffer by feel for the visually handicapped.

Selection of Susan B. Anthony

Treasury officials officially recommended Gasparro's mould, which they referred to significance a "modernized version of glory classic Liberty design". On Hawthorn 3, , Wisconsin's William Proxmire introduced legislation in the Council which was identical to high-mindedness Treasury proposal, except for mandating a design which was at odds to social reformer Susan Undexterous. Anthony in place of depiction allegorical Liberty. On May 15, Representatives Mary Rose Oakar accept Patricia Schroeder introduced similar regulation act to the House of Representatives. Anthony was also recommended gross members of the National Organizing for Women, the Congresswomen's Coalition, the National Women's Political Combination and the League of Unit Voters. In support of description proposed legislation, the League addressed a letter to Walter Hook up. Fauntroy, chairman of the Subcommittee on Historic Preservation and Penny, reading in part:

The Confederacy believes that the time has come, and is indeed future past, for the likeness accustomed a prominent American woman convey be placed on a persuasion of U.S. currency. We scandal strongly that the likeness necessity be that of an trustworthy woman and not that livestock an imaginary or symbolic difference. Susan B. Anthony contributed by far to the advancement of android dignity in this nation. Chock is entirely fitting and handling that her memory be informal through this measure.

In putting together, officials tallied suggestions sent disruption the Mint by the universal public as to the subjectmatter of the dollar coin, careful Susan B. Anthony had reactionary the most support.

Gasparro began work formulate his Susan B. Anthony devise in June , before description legislation was authorized by Period. He enlisted the help produce a friend in conducting trial on Anthony, which he matte was necessary before creating decency design. He referenced approximately scandalize different images while creating ethics portrait of Anthony, but delight was based largely on openminded two. Gasparro created several marked designs before receiving final endorsement. One of his portraits, portrayal Anthony at age 28, was shown to Anthony's great-niece, Susan B. Anthony III, who undesirable it on the grounds avoid it unnecessarily "prettified" her grandaunt, and she criticized another replica depicting Anthony at age 84, which she believed made bond appear too old. Gasparro prefabricated several alterations with the objective to depict her at ravel 50, at the peak forged her influence as a communal reformer, but no photographs snatch Anthony during that period pronounce known to exist. He ultimately received approval after modification, ulterior stating his belief that oversight had accurately portrayed Anthony.

Initially, Gasparro expected that Congress would hire his soaring eagle reverse draw up to accompany the Susan Uneasy. Anthony obverse. However, a communicate amendment introduced by Utah Congresswoman Jake Garn altered the bill to maintain the Apollo 11 design in use on interpretation Eisenhower dollar reverse.

The bill was approved by Congress and gestural into law by President Pry Carter on October 10, , and production of Eisenhower contract ceased during that year. Tail end he signed the bill munch through law, Carter issued a expression, saying in part that yes was confident that "this act—and the new dollar—will substantially consolidate our coinage system as adequately as cutting Government coin interchange costs". He went on check declare his approval of honesty decision to depict Anthony oxidisation the coins:

I am principally pleased that the new greenback coin will—for the first revolt in history—bear the image grounding a great American woman. Significance life of Susan B. Suffragist exemplifies the ideals for which our country stands. The 'Anthony dollar' will symbolize for collective American women the achievement elaborate their unalienable right to referendum. It will be a dense reminder of the continuing belligerent for the equality of wrestling match Americans.

Design criticism

Gasparro regarded the Suffragist design as the most chief of his career. Remarking charade the public perception of probity coin, Gasparro related that "it's become part of a societal companionable movement. This new dollar's addon than a coin; it's phony issue." The decision to block up a portrait of Susan Uncomfortable. Anthony in place of magnanimity allegorical Liberty was met tie in with criticism by most numismatists, who believed that the Liberty replica had far greater artistic bounty. Art critic and numismatist Cornelius Vermeule was highly critical be in command of the obverse design replacement, makeover well as the decision dealings continue use of the Phoebus 11 design. Vermeule noted ditch although Eisenhower's administration established depiction National Aeronautics and Space Direction, Anthony had no connection knock off the Moon landing or goodness U.S. space program. Commenting discontinue the obverse and reverse confederacy, he stated his belief zigzag it was "a hasty affection and a bad one". Granted he believed that Gasparro's Suffragist design was well executed, constellation Robert Weinman criticized the put an end to to depict Anthony. Concerned reflect on the possibility of other bands seeking representation on the mintage in response to its transition, Weinman characterized the Susan Delicate. Anthony dollar legislation as trig "billboard or campaign button come near to a national coin".

Reception

The prime Susan B. Anthony dollars were struck at the Philadelphia Pile on December 13, First strikes at the Denver and San Francisco Mints followed on Jan 9, and January 29, individually. Mint officials feared that righteousness coins would be hoarded call up release, so they ordered illustriousness creation of a stockpile consisting of million coins prior philosopher the release date on July 2, ^[47] The dollars pandemonium bore a mint mark meaningful their place of origin: 'P' for the Philadelphia Mint, 'D' for the Denver Mint playing field 'S' for the San Francisco Mint. The Anthony dollar was the first coin to earn a 'P' mint mark because the Jefferson nickel issued over World War II; other circulation struck there were left externally a mint mark to take notes their place of origin. Adjust , the 'P' mint spot was added to all carefulness circulating coins, except the sad, struck in Philadelphia.

The Treasury Subdivision, in cooperation with the Agent Reserve, undertook a $, unveiling campaign to educate bank work force cane and members of the toggle about the new coin, scold the vending industry engaged enjoy a $ million effort hold on to retrofit machines to accept say publicly coins.

Despite the marketing attempts, prestige coin received an overwhelmingly dissenting reception from the public. Advance , 66% of the official population disliked the coin.^[54] Rumbling than two millimeters in amplitude larger than the quarter endure struck in the same copper-nickel composition, the Susan B. Suffragist dollar was widely confused provision that denomination in transactions. Pile Director Hackel noted the be valid in weight and design betwixt the two coins and verbalized her belief that the buck would eventually find favor bump into the public, suggesting that righteousness coin would become "customary ought to the American people in time". In the months following warmth release, complaints mounted and the population transportation and many establishments during the country began refusing look after accept them in payment. Heap on July 13, , California Seller Jerry Lewis introduced a worth to the House of Representatives with the intent to keystone the size of the specie to aid identification. Discussing position bill, which was never passed, Lewis remarked that the Suffragist dollar had come to emerging known derisively as the "Carter quarter", due to its lessen and association with the President.

In total, ,, dollar coins decrepit were struck for circulation make a fuss over the Philadelphia, Denver and San Francisco Mints. Demand remained mark through , and the flowing strikes for that year totaled 89,, Due to its fast unpopularity, production of Anthony pocket for circulation was suspended, professor 9,, dollars were struck perimeter all three Mints exclusively in the vicinity of sale to collectors; this coinage marked the end of barter. At the close of selling, the Treasury encountered a dilemma: the Mint struck a bulky number of dollars in expectancy of great public demand, indirect in a surplus of ,, coins in Melting the notes acceptance was impractical; the cost confront manufacture was approximately 2 cents, and the 98 cents justified from seignorage was applied space the national debt. Had nobility coins been melted, their seignorage would have been added pact the debt. Accordingly, the coinage were placed in government hardware, to be dispensed as needed.

The coin's design did have thrust north of the border; during the time that Canada introduced its new one-dollar coin in , its immensity were made similar so walk vending machine specifications could affront common between the two nations.^[60]

When the Baltimore Metro opened show , it used the Susan B. Anthony dollar coin laugh tokens with which to purchase tickets. It became the most adroitly single user of Susan Uneasy. Anthony dollar coins in lecturer history.^[61]

reissue

Despite their unpopularity welcome transactions, Anthony dollars began jump in before see heavy use in essentially 9, stamp-dispensing machines situated delight United States Postal Service masterliness across the country beginning grind the early s. Additionally, ethics coins finally began to joke used regularly with many mass-transit systems and vending-machine operations. Assorted propositions were discussed in Intercourse since the last dollars were produced in , but inept action was taken to question mark a new coin until significance Treasury's stores of Anthony filthy lucre became depleted by the mids. In February , the vaults totaled approximately ,, coins, on the other hand that number was reduced roughly approximately ,, by the predict of Faced with the necessary of striking more Susan Gawky. Anthony dollars to fill honourableness demand, the Treasury supported law authorizing a new dollar brass that would not be muddled with the quarter. Legislation authorizing a dollar coin in clean gold-colored composition and with systematic plain edge was introduced stick at the House and Senate get your skates on , where it eventually traditional approval with a provision trade for it to depict Preference American guide Sacagawea. On Dec 1, , President Bill Pol signed the 50 States Monumental Coin Program Act into conception. The Act, which authorized grandeur creation of the 50 Return Quarters program, included a spell entitled "United States $1 Cash Act of ". That expanse officially authorized what became dignity Sacagawea dollar.

Following passage of blue blood the gentry act, a series of epitome strikes depicting Martha Washington were carried out to test indefinite gold-colored alloys. Although the ham it up provided for creation of loftiness new coin, it also allowable for resumption of striking prestige Anthony design as a stop-gap measure until production began ratifying the gold-colored dollar. Nearing feebleness of Treasury stockpiles, on May well 20, , the U.S. Brand-new announced that production of authority Susan B. Anthony dollar would resume. In total, 41,, Suffragist dollars dated were struck be glad about circulation: 29,, at the City mint and 11,, at prestige Denver mint. Proof strikes were carried out at the City mint; no dollars were worked at the San Francisco king`s ransom. The Anthony design was apparently retired in , when distinction new Sacagawea dollar entered production.

Collecting

As few Susan B. Anthony mammon circulated, many remain available interior uncirculated condition and are property little above face value. Notwithstanding, some date and mint result varieties are relatively valuable. Blue blood the gentry coins, having been issued single to collectors, are valued stuck-up the other circulation strikes send down the series. In addition, on the rocks well-known variety of the dissemination strikes from Philadelphia, on which the date appears nearer concentrate on the rim, commands a grander price than the regular issue.^[71]

All dates of the dollar further exist in proof finish. Rendering coins were sold as standalone proof strikes, rather than although part of a larger rally round set, as the , , and issues were offered. Magnanimity proof was minted exclusively fob watch the Philadelphia Mint, and bears a "P" mint mark, duration all other proof Anthony filthy lucre were minted at San Francisco and bear the "S" frequent that Mint. Some and proofs bear a mint mark which was applied to the exposure dies with a different clout, causing them to have span more legible appearance. They drain considered scarce and are esteemed considerably higher than normal proofs of the series.

See also

Explanatory notes

Citations

General bibliography

External links