New Nickels

March 4, 2004 12:02 PM

New Nickels On The Way!My metafilter loving friend Jeff says, "Why bother." I'm excited about it though. I've got lots of change from everywhere. Am I barely qualified to do laundry around the world, or is it pretty neat that foreign money looks fake? Is Jeff right? Is small change a waste of time? Can you judge a state by its quarter?
posted by ewkpates (46 comments total)

"Oh yes, what a great symbol, a reminder of how the U.S. Government is such good friends with the American Indian. Good friend, like that kid down the street who was a couple of years younger than me, who had all of those cool Hot Wheels cars that I used to steal...

"What an appropriate symbol to show the great American disrespect for other cultures. Perhaps, instead of a handclasp, they could have used a bitchslap."

(Via FistsOfRage.)
posted by Hankins at 12:17 PM on March 4, 2004

American disrespect for other cultures? I thought it was just rubbing the Lousiana Purchase into the noses of the French as a sort of collective "haw ha!" for the great deal we scored.

Could you imagine what this country would be like if the entire midwest was one big Quebec?
posted by mathowie at 12:25 PM on March 4, 2004

Can someone please explain to me why there's an image of American Indians on the new nickel? Did someone forget to teach these imbeciles that we bought the Louisiana Territory from the French, not the Indians?
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 12:28 PM on March 4, 2004

There is an image of hands clasped in friendship — one with a military cuff to symbolize the U.S. government, and the other with an ornate bracelet to represent American Indians.

Why are the Indians depicted on something commemorating a transaction between the US and the French? What did they have to do with it?

(other than, y'know, living there, and stuff)
posted by ook at 12:30 PM on March 4, 2004

Next up: replace the back of the $20 with an image of the Trail of Tears, what with Jackson being on the front and everything.
posted by George_Spiggott at 12:33 PM on March 4, 2004

Could you imagine what this country would be like if the entire midwest was one big Quebec?

As a resident of Quebec, Mathowie, I will say it is big enough already and leave it at that.
posted by jon_kill at 12:43 PM on March 4, 2004

Could you imagine what this country would be like if the entire midwest was one big Quebec?

If it was filled with toxic waste, we'd sort of be in Infinite Jest.
posted by COBRA! at 12:46 PM on March 4, 2004

Holy crap our government is stupid.
posted by urlnotfound at 12:48 PM on March 4, 2004

Yeah, but what better time to commemorate the Louisiana Purchase (or some variation thereon) than on the 201st anniversary of it.

I guess everyone was busy last year.
posted by chicobangs at 12:57 PM on March 4, 2004

The new nickels are actually part of the "Westward Journey" series, which commemorate the exploration of the Louisiana Purchase by Lewis and Clark, not it's purchase from the French. The reverse of the first nickels show a replica of the Jefferson Peace Medals given to Native American leaders by Lewis and Clark on their journey.
posted by monju_bosatsu at 1:04 PM on March 4, 2004

Could you imagine what this country would be like if the entire midwest was one big Quebec?

Better?

I think it's quite fun, though, to celebrate the Louisiana Purchase with a coin worth 2.5p, since isn't that basically how much the Americans paid for it?
posted by riviera at 1:11 PM on March 4, 2004

Please leave the nickel alone. The "State Quarters" program has been a complete disaster. Almost every state quarter's design seems to consist of a big picture of the state, with some sort of out-of-scale astronaut/racecar/airplane/tenuous local claim to fame superimposed on it. The only ones that are halfway decent are Connecticut, with its big, interestingly detailed tree.
posted by profwhat at 1:20 PM on March 4, 2004

By 1855 at the battle of Blue Water Creek in Nebraska the Plains Indian Wars had begun and The Jefferson Peace Medals were worth the metal they were made out of, at least when it came to making bullets.
posted by stbalbach at 1:24 PM on March 4, 2004

The native americans where instrumental in helping these explorers through the journey, most likely why the depiction was picked.

great cynicism abounds i see.

"Oh yes, what a great symbol, a reminder of how the U.S. Government is such good friends with the American Indian

no doubt we committed genocide upon the native americans. But i have a hard time with the criticism here about this. I had an ancestor in the COD. Here he is.

After the expedition, Nathaniel Pryor lived and traded among the Osage Indians, especially the Clermont band, in present-day northeast Oklahoma. He married one of them and began a family. He represented the tribe in negotiations with nearby military Forts Smith and Gibson. In 1830, Clark appointed Pryor sub-agent for the Clermont band, but Pryor died the following year on June 10, 1831.
posted by clavdivs at 1:30 PM on March 4, 2004

Mo' Nickels?
posted by mkultra at 1:31 PM on March 4, 2004

monju: The new nickels are actually part of the "Westward Journey" series, which commemorate the exploration of the Louisiana Purchase by Lewis and Clark

No, these nickels commemorate the Louisiana Purchase itself; says so three times in the article, and once right on the nickel (including the year of the purchase, 1803.) Lewis and Clark are up next:

Another nickel honoring the 1804-1806 Lewis and Clark expedition will be released in the late summer or early fall

It will, no doubt, depict Sacajawea shaking hands with La Salle.
posted by ook at 1:40 PM on March 4, 2004

The images are similar to those on Jefferson Peace Medals, which were presented ceremonially to Indian chiefs and other important leaders.

Well if the coins are as sound as the deals and treaties our government made with the Indians how could anyone refuse?

History of the Jefferson nickel. Actually, they have lots of American coin information at that site.
posted by tyro urge at 1:40 PM on March 4, 2004

Could you imagine what this country would be like if the entire midwest was one big Quebec?

Ever been to Wisconsin? Cheese curds and gravy, everywhere. (I kid.)
posted by me3dia at 1:47 PM on March 4, 2004

Agree with mkultra, waiting for Mo Nickels to weigh in....;)
posted by Lynsey at 1:55 PM on March 4, 2004

The "State Quarters" program has been a complete disaster.

On the contrary. They have proven very popular and have been scarfed up by collectors in great numbers. And this is good because each quarter hoarded increases the value of the ones in your pocket.
posted by kindall at 1:56 PM on March 4, 2004

Ok, I admit it, I actually like the state quarters. I even collected them for a while and then traded them all in for laundry money when hit by a blast of reality. ("Why am I saving all these damn quarters?!!!") But it's still kinda fun to see what different states have come up with (and think "what? they couldn't do better than that? what were the other options?!").

I hate nickles. They're heavy, almost worthless, and take up too much space in my changepurse. A design change might be nice, but I'll still be flinging them into the giant change jar until my next run for laundry money.

And I rarely look at my currency and think political thoughts.
Ok, with the exception of the Susan B coin, the Sacajawea coin, and that freaky two dollar bill I still have.
posted by batgrlHG at 2:22 PM on March 4, 2004

ook says: No, these nickels commemorate the Louisiana Purchase itself; says so three times in the article, and once right on the nickel (including the year of the purchase, 1803.)

The U.S. Mint says: The new nickel features a rendition of the Jefferson Peace Medal on the reverse (tails side). It should begin appearing in circulation during the next several weeks. John Reich designed the original Jefferson Peace Medal in 1801, and Lewis and Clark gave Peace Medals as tokens of goodwill to Native American Indians they met along the trail.

...

In commemoration of the bicentennials of the Louisiana Purchase and Lewis and Clark's expedition, the President signed legislation (Public Law 108-15) to authorize the Secretary of the Treasury to change the design of the nickel through 2005 to reflect images evocative of the Louisiana Purchase and Lewis and Clark’s historic expedition. The Westward Journey Nickel Series will end in 2006 with a return to a depiction of Monticello on the reverse.

My understanding is that while the nickels do commemorate the Louisiana Purchase, the focus is on the exploration of said Purchase by Lewis and Clark. Hence the use of the Jefferson Peace Medal, which the Mint specifically points out was given by Lewis and Clark to Native Americans. I don't mean to belabor this point, put I simply wanted to point out that the Mint is not so stupid that it doesn't know the difference between the Native Americans and the French.
posted by monju_bosatsu at 2:25 PM on March 4, 2004

Here's a view of the back of the coin. In case we need to discuss whose hand belongs to....whoever...
(American and French? Expeditionfolk and Native American? Have I missed the link where this is explained?)
posted by batgrlHG at 2:30 PM on March 4, 2004

Monju, I understand perfectly well that this is more about the reporter's ignorance than the Mint's. But you have to admit the Mint sure managed to muddle the message; the image and the caption on the coin simply don't match.
posted by ook at 2:33 PM on March 4, 2004

OK,so what is this about again? This Louisiana Purchase is a famous golf club or something and the hands are the welcoming of the new member?
posted by mss at 2:49 PM on March 4, 2004

I just hope they leave the dime alone. I love the dime because, if you don't know what it's worth, there's no way to tell by looking at it - it doesn't say "ten cents" or anything like that, just "ONE DIME". It's like, "fuck you, foreign tourists"!
posted by nicwolff at 4:10 PM on March 4, 2004

Any idea how much the design and retooling of this new nickel is costing us taxpayers?
posted by milnak at 4:14 PM on March 4, 2004

I say screw commemorization of historical events. The backs of coins are prime advertising space! Let companies put their logo on a million coins for $1 million.

Think about how many people see the backs of these coins and how long they last in circulation - what an advertising opportunity! People would start collecting them much like they collect the U.S. state quarters now.

Think of the logos that could grace the backsides of our nickels: Target, Nike, Apple, Ford, Disney, and Philip Morris. They'd be better than the hodge podge artwork that most states choose for their coins.

/dark cynicism
posted by stevis at 4:19 PM on March 4, 2004

2004 Fall Design: "Keelboat" scroll down
posted by thomcatspike at 4:35 PM on March 4, 2004

I've been waiting 12 years for this thread to come up on the Internet. Now I can unplug from the Internet forever.
posted by Mo Nickels at 6:10 PM on March 4, 2004

"But i have a hard time with the criticism here about this. I had an ancestor in the COD. Here he is."

clavdivs: Small world. I'm also a Pryor, although I'm descended from the slaves of Virginia's Pryor family, and not the family itself (Like Richard Pryor).
posted by Jairus at 6:45 PM on March 4, 2004

It is just one more way to keep the charade going. A pretty picture will perhaps make us forget for a moment that the value of a nickle is 1/20th of a debt of a debt. How long can the federal reserve keep this crap up with the Treasury department its willing accomplices. Can somebody please put us back on the gold standard. I am all for minting coins that have a picture of John Wilkes Booth on the front and the Ford theatre on the obverse with the motto, 'sic semper tyrannis'. Also, these coins will be made of gold instead of copper, nickle or zinc with a dash of silver. I am definitely with Mel Gibson's father on this issue.
posted by mokujin at 7:43 PM on March 4, 2004

Don't rail too hard on the state quarters. At least with 50 states, you're bound to get at least a couple that hire decent artists and have some sort of vision for what people in the future, when reaching into their pockets, will think. Connecticut is a fine example. Mississippi is beautiful. Virginia's decent.

Then you've got those freaky ones, like Vermont's. What in the hell is that? Some kid goes wandering off into the woods of Vermont, in search of maple syrup. Sounds like the lede for an abduction story. Now they're turning beloved Monticello into another excuse to feel good about our wonderful history with the Indians. As Tony would say... Gurrrreat! Come to think of it, didn't we already have an Indian-themed nickel?

I just hope Texas has some balls and does something appropriate, like a gun. Nothing else. Just a gun. Alabama could have a noose. We could start a trend. Maybe Florida could have Old Sparky...
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 8:03 PM on March 4, 2004

Civil_Disobedient - Florida's quarter design was finalized last year, although it hasn't been minted yet. Maybe there's time to change it to Old Sparky...
posted by stevis at 8:57 PM on March 4, 2004

Any idea how much the design and retooling of this new nickel is costing us taxpayers?

If the new nickels are hoarded by collectors in any sort of quantity, nothing. The seigniorage should make the program pay for itself.
posted by youhas at 8:58 PM on March 4, 2004

I just hope Texas has some balls and does something appropriate, like a gun

Dare I suggest that the Texas quarter feature a Texas quarter horse?

Thanks. I'm here all week. And thanks for the tomatoes!
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 10:09 PM on March 4, 2004

It's worth remembering that the ownership of Louisiana by the French was so brief -- most of it had been given over as a side result of continental Napoleonic conquest -- that the transfer to the United States, witnessed by Lewis (and perh. Clark) personally, took place simultaneously with the transfer from Spain in what was termed The Three Flags Ceremony. The ceremonies were officiated by the exiting Spanish governor.

Also, the mission of the Corps of Discovery was not precisely about exploring the new possession of the United States, because when it was conceived by Jefferson, the territory was still Spain's -- and a military no-man's-land. Jefferson was eager for intelligence about trade opportunities and Spanish moves to secure its claim. As such, the expedition was to seek peaceful encounters with the natives, which they almost universally succeeded in doing. (On the return journey, they even sold their boat's cannon to Indians.) Certainly later points of history were less salutory, but it was an auspicious beginning.
posted by dhartung at 10:54 PM on March 4, 2004

Please swap the nickle and the dime (sizewise). Till then *meh*.
posted by rudyfink at 11:34 PM on March 4, 2004

"Could you imagine what this country would be like if the entire midwest was one big Quebec?"

Tolerant? Cultured? Smarter? A nation of wealthy traders who would, by and large, mind their own business, perhaps? Oh, yeah... and most of the Indians would still have a pulse.

The idea of having a federal soldier shaking hands with a Native American seems a bit contrived. How about a soldier handing over a bottle of alcohol or smallpox-infested blankets instead.

I can't wait to see Germany's currency commemorating the 100th anniversary of the invasion of Poland...
posted by insomnia_lj at 12:05 AM on March 5, 2004

I've long maintained that the Washington State Seal should be on the back of the Washington quarter.
posted by emmling at 12:22 AM on March 5, 2004

The "State Quarters" program has been a complete disaster.

Actually, there is some good news. So far only one of the state quarter icons has collapsed.

p.s. dhartung, thanks for that great link about the Three Flags Day Ceremony. I've spent a lot of time reading (and even writing) about the Corps of Discovery — which really was a major success, despite all later native/white disastrous encounters — but I was not aware that France only held the Louisiana Territory overnight
posted by LeLiLo at 4:13 AM on March 5, 2004

Blankets and smallpox? Last time I read about that, it was considered myth. One instance of one person writing to someone and suggesting the idea (one of the correspondents was, IIRC, in Detroit), and no other evidence.
posted by Goofyy at 6:28 AM on March 5, 2004

Well, they got smallpox somehow...
posted by agregoli at 7:02 AM on March 5, 2004

So far only one of the state quarter icons has collapsed.

Well, two, if you count Connecticut's Charter Oak tree.
posted by aine42 at 9:24 AM on March 5, 2004

¥?«T two, if you count Connecticut's Charter Oak tree.

I guess I meant since the quarters were issued.

The people in CT must have loved their tree: The Connecticut quarter was the fifth and last state quarter to be released in 1999. It was introduced on October 12, 1999. Governor John G. Rowland held a design competition for the citizens of Connecticut. Over 100 citizens submitted designs, and 19 drawings were of the historic "Charter Oak Tree."

Also: The tree fell during a horrible storm on August 21, 1856. At that time, acorns, twigs, leaves, and branches from the tree were collected by people who wanted to save a small piece of it for themselves.
posted by LeLiLo at 9:59 AM on March 5, 2004

Living in the UK, I've thought that our money has looked foreign since we went decimal. Our two-tone £2 coins are pretty nice though, and I like £1 coins, even if they do look like you can take the gold foil off and eat the chocolate inside!
Your state quarters are pretty cool. When I visited the US, I was confused by all of the banknotes being the same size and colour, and also that you could put paper money into vending machines.
posted by tabbycat at 10:44 AM on March 5, 2004