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"