LIVING AMERICANS ON US COINS

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V28 2025 INDEX E-SYLUM ARCHIVE

The E-Sylum: Volume 28, Number 41, 2025, Article 24

Paul Horner submitted this expanded list of living, The first one is an example of an unofficial coin from long before the 1866 act banning living persons from currency; others are mint products for the Philippines, one had four legs and one had no body - but it's a good list with some interesting comments and qualifications. Thanks! Great coin club conversation starter. -Editor

I read with interest the piece in The E-Sylum on living Americans on US coins. I would submit this list:

1-2. The Peter Getz pattern cent and half dollar of 1792 with President George Washington.

3. 1921 Alabama Half dollar: Governor of Alabama Thomas Erby Kilby (1865-1943). Kilby Prison was named for him.

4. 1926 Sesquicentennial of American Independence Half dollar: President Calvin Coolidge (1872-1933). This coin should show John Hancock as he was the President of the Continental Congress in 1776.

5. 1936 Lynchburg, VA Half dollar: Carter Glass, VA Senator (1858-1946). Carter Glass signed large size, blue seal, Federal Reserve notes series of 1914 as Secretary of the Treasury.

6. 1936 Arkansas / Robinson half dollar: Senator Joseph Taylor Robinson (1872-1937)

7. 1936 M Commonwealth of the Philippines 1 peso President Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882-1945) and President Quezon. 2nd Sitting US President on a US coin.

9. 1936 M Philippines 50 centavos Frank Murphy & Quezon Frank Murphy (1890-1949), American, was the United States Governor General to the Philippines. These coins were struck as US coins at the US Mint in Manila for the Commonwealth of the Philippines. The Philippines gained independence in 1946. See the Red Book.

It was a three-coin commemorative set. These coins have "United States of America" on the reverse, as do the earlier circulation coins.

10. 1992 Olympics $1, Nolan Ryan (1947-) was a pitcher for the Texas Rangers. His pose exactly matches the Fleer #302 baseball card. Only the hat logo is different. John R. Deecken was the designer of the obverse. When quizzed about his design Deecken replied: "…the image is a composite of a number of players including Ryan." The coin was an immediate embarrassment to the Mint. Mr. Deecken has not been selected to design another US coin so far as I know.

12. 2000 New Hampshire quarter The Old Man of the Mountain. Prehistory - May 3rd, 2003 when he sloughed off during a storm. (Honorable mention)

13. 2002 Ohio Quarter Buzz Aldrin Mint Altered photo of Buzz Aldrin (B. 1930) on the moon. Intended to honor John Glenn (1921-2016) & / or Neil Armstrong (1930-2012).

14. 2016 First Spouse 1/2 oz gold Nancy Reagan (1921-2016) was living when striking began but passed away before release.

15-18. 2019 Apollo 11 50th Anniversary coins: It is hard to make out Buzz Aldrin's face through his visor, but that is Buzz Aldrin's shadow visible.

19. Black Diamond (1893-1915) is the American Bison on the old buffalo nickels of 1913-1938. His Mounted head was displayed at the 1985 ANA Convention. Hey, nobody said all of the living Americans on US coins were people!