Washington Money

When the topic of Washington Money comes up,What about Washington on the dollar bill? Hasn't
especially these days, it's likely to be one of thosehe always been there?
wry discussions of campaign financing, the latestNo, but the Washington image we know so well
Congressional scandal, or the eye-rollinghas existed since it was first created by the
monologue of a cable news anchor.American artist, Gilbert Stuart in 1796, three
Well, not this time. Sorry.years before Washington's death. Known as the
While the subjects mentioned above areAthenaeum Portrait, it was recently displayed at
fascinating in the extreme, you have to know,the National Gallery of Art in, where else,
right up front, that I am a life long coin collector -Washington, DC.
on a good day, a "numismatist."Washington first appeared on the dollar bill in 1869,
So for me, Washington Money means coins orand his wife, Martha Washington appeared on the
bills that are in some way related to theone dollar silver certificate of 1886.
penultimate American Founding Father, GeorgeGeorge Washington's earliest appearance on a
Washington.coin-like object was on 18th century copper
Most people, when they think of money andtokens struck after the successful conclusion of
George Washington, think of the dollar bill or thethe American Revolution.
quarter.One of the earliest, dated 1783, bears a
The portrait which first appeared on the quarterWashington portrait encircled by the words
in 1932 was designed by John Flanagan, inspired"Georgius Triumpho" (George Triumphant). The
by the well known bust of Washington by Jeanportrait on this piece, struck by an English private
Antoine Houdon. The Washington Quarter'smint, looks suspiciously like that of King George III.
introduction coincided with the two hundredthTo be fair (and balanced) the reverse shows an
anniversary of the first president's birth.image of Lady Liberty, protected by a screen
And let's be clear... that coin was made of solidsupported by... the fleur-des-lis of France. (Was
silver, .900 fine, with no little coppery stripethis an overture for a lucrative coining contract
around the edge like on the quarter coins ofwith the now independent USA?
today.