Lady Liberty’s face has appeared on American coins for centuries. Many people may not realize that her place in American folklore came before the statue dedicated by the French in 1886. This national symbol drew inspiration from Libertas, the ancient Roman goddess of freedom. While the image has changed through the years, its message has remained consistent. This article reviews the different faces that represented Lady Liberty on American coins.
Flowing Hair Cent (1793)
The first large cent minted by the United States showed Lady Liberty with windblown hair streaming behind her. That flowing hair was intended as a symbol of freedom. Critics at the time, however, felt that this version made her appear frightened and poorly kept.
Draped Bust Dollar (1795-1807)
In this design, Lady Liberty’s hair appears more orderly, and a drape is placed over her shoulders. It has been speculated that the Draped Bust design responded to the unfavorable reaction received by the earlier Flowing Hair design.
Gobrecht Dollar (1836-1839) and Seated Liberty Dollar (1840-1873)
Following the Draped Bust Dollar, the Gobrecht Dollar introduced a notably different image of Lady Liberty. She sits on a rock, with an American emblem beside her and a trident held in her hand. A long, flowing robe covers her figure. The obverse of the later Seated Liberty Dollar uses this same image, and that coin was produced after the Gobrecht Dollar.
Trade Dollar (1873-1878)
Produced for a comparatively brief time, the Trade Dollar presented another seated portrayal of Lady Liberty. On this left-facing design, she looks across the sea while extending an arm that holds an olive branch. These coins circulated widely around the world. Many carry Chinese chop marks, markings used to confirm the coins’ authenticity.
Morgan Dollar (1878-1904, 1921)
A further major shift in Lady Liberty’s face on American coinage arrived with the Morgan Dollar in 1878. The portrait recalls the Flowing Hair coins, but differs most clearly through its Ancient Greek-influenced styling and the crown placed on her head.
Peace Dollar (1921-1928, 1934-1935)
Anthony de Francisci modeled this portrayal, which drew considerable controversy over a broken sword included in its original design. Even so, the tied hair and rays extending from Lady Liberty’s head give the image a timeless appearance.
American Liberty 225th Anniversary Gold Coin (2017)
At the time this article was published, the most recent and one of the most important portrayals of Lady Liberty was this Commemorative Coin. For the first time, Lady Liberty was shown as a Black woman, representing ideals of freedom and equality central to American culture. She wears a crown of stars and a robe falling across her shoulders.
When this article was originally published, readers were invited to learn about iconic and commemorative coins through Atlanta Gold & Coin Buyers. The business stated that its memberships in several professional coin grading and exchanging associations gave it resources to value and purchase your coins, and to guide customers through the buying process to start a collection. Readers were also invited at that time to call (404) 907-1919 for information on our inventory of rare and iconic coins.
Image credited to S.s.jin of Wikimedia Commons.
