Silver currency

Walking Liberty Half Dollar designed by Adolph A. Weinman

Remember when our money used to mean something; when it was real because it was silver. I often wish I lived in the time of silver currency. It’s always been a dream of mine to pay for something with a stack of silver dollars. Paying with a stack of copper-sandwich quarters just does not have the same charm as the heavy-clinking, bright-white shining cartwheels of times past.

Silver in any coinage is brilliant and beautiful, but I feel the dollar and half dollar (the two coinages we no longer used) were the finest examples. The faces are large enough to allow the silver coin bring real beauty into the everyday lives of American consumers, as it was a fine canvas for artists.

My favorite may be the Peace Dollar designed by Anthony de Francisci, and minted 1921-28, 1934-35. It was originally an expression of the joy following the end of WWI and the hope for continued peace. Unfortunately the peace following WWI was not lasting and mintage ceased. On the face is an elegant portrait of a radiant, crowned Lady Liberty with a breeze running through her hair (possibly the finest portrait put on a coin). The reverse shows the American Eagle holding an olive branch and guarding the rock of Peace.  The text is done in the art-deco style of the times.

The coin designs were more inspired in the age of silver. The silver held Liberty personified, glorious eagles, symbolism and national hopes and values. During the State Quarter program they removed the standing eagle to replace it with ten years of state mottoes, maps and commercial objects.

Another aspect of silver currency that fascinates me is that should all that silver become too heavy for daily carrying you were given silver certificates. Unlike today, these bills didn’t merely represent a monetary value, they held the place of that value in silver. Turn one into a bank and it was their responsibility to give that value in silver. The old silver certificates were also very beautiful and inspired, and sometimes controversial.



1896 $2 silver certificate

1896 $1 silver certificate

1896 $5 silver certificate

1899 $5 silver certificate

1923 $5: "five silver dollars payable to the bearer on demand"

Westerns

The Western is a movie genre that had its golden age decades ago, and today the genre holds an “old movie” image. Westerns are still made today (and we have some fine, recent Westerns), but they are made only occasionally. Generally, if you are watching a Western it is the product of an older generation—made to suit the styles and interests of that time.

Still from Stagecoach (1939)


The classic Western, once a prolific genre for film and television, has much to offer. Most of all, they’re exciting. Westerns are full of horse chases, gun fights, heroes, villains and thrilling stunts. They are filled with beautifully-filmed scenic wildernesses such as Monument Valley in John Ford’s films Stagecoach and The Searchers (a rarity: a truly beautiful color film).


Scenic still from The Searchers (1956) starring John Wayne

 Historically, the Western genre is also filled with exciting, epic musical scores and theme songs. High Noon; The Magnificent Seven (my favorite shoot-em up); Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid; and The Good, The Bad and The Ugly (my favorite spaghetti western) are all fine examples of excellent and unforgettable movie scores.



John Ford's The Searchers (1956): Every frame a masterpiece


But most importantly, Westerns are uniquely and characteristically American. They are set in the American West, they depict moments in American history and they deal with American themes and concerns. Even The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, a spaghetti Western made in Italy by Italians, is set in the American West during the Civil War.

I often prefer the classic Westerns because they are more likely instilled with the American brand of optimism. Dark themes, desperate times and violent acts all occur in the films, but the optimistic drive to create prosperity and security out of cruel lawlessness and order out of dangerous frontier is always present in the Old West.

In classic Westerns the liberty and security of town populations are often threatened and oppressed by cruelty and lawlessness as the film centers on its protagonist finding the courage and ability to defend against such enemies. And the good guy always wins. The modern movie watcher might call this cliché and unrealistic but during the golden age you hoped for, fought for and expected the good and righteous to win out. It’s a refreshing difference from today’s overly pessimistic frame of mind.



High Noon (1952) starring Gary Cooper and Grace Kelly occurs in real time, and the ever-present clock is used as a highly effective device to build suspense for the shootout 

 I would like to also mention The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance as yet another fine classic western.  This noirish Western stars John Wayne and Jimmy Stewart as two conflicting protagonists and Lee Marvin as a most vicious villian.