Coin Fun Facts

This museum was made from gold. The donation of $508,316 in gold, from the estate of English scientist James Smithson, was examined in the Philadelphia Mint before being used to create the Smithsonian Institution. Today, the Smithsonian Institution is the largest museum complex in the world, and includes many world renowned museums in the nation’s capital, Washington, DC—all free
of charge to visit!

How much is an eagle worth? The Act that created the Mint called for an “eagle” in gold, worth $10. The coin showed an eagle, of course, on the back. The Act also called for a half eagle worth $5 and even a quarter eagle worth $2.50…but the whole bird still appeared on the coins. With 1849’s gold rush in California came a $20 gold coin, which quickly became known as a double eagle…with one bird on it. (The United States Mint still makes gold coins, but people usually buy them as an investment rather than for spending.)

Lady Liberty was on her feet for 42 years… The imaginary woman who stood for liberty on our coins was always shown standing (unless only her head was shown) since she first appeared in 1794. But she took a seat in 1836 when the “Seated Liberty” silver dollars came out and showed her sitting on a rock. She probably needed the rest!

Lady Liberty saved a Civil War sea captain! Lt. George Dixon’s sweetheart gave him a $20 gold coin for luck before he left to fight in the Civil War. It seems that the coin saved his life when a bullet hit the image of Lady Liberty in his pants
pocket instead of wounding his leg. He carried the coin with him until he died years later in a submarine battle. The bent coin, found recently in the sunken sub, helped to identify Lt. Dixon’s nearby body.