No more politicians

When it comes to boring and ugly currency, the United States tops the world. Every day, we are allowed the privilege of trading dead presidents for our day to day needs. While the idea that we are honoring past greats is a good one, one would be hard pressed to find a single person to look at a quarter and think to themselves “Gosh, Washington really was a great guy. Boy I sure am glad that he was our president.” I feel that we need to break away from the trend of presidential coinage, and return to more elaborate and attractive designs.
Before 1946, when the Roosevelt bust was put onto the dime, a beautiful portrait of Liberty with a winged hat (commonly referred to as Mercury dime, although the Greek god Mercury isn’t the one shown). Previous to the Jefferson nickel 1938; an Indian chief graced the front of the 5 cent piece, with a side view of a buffalo on the reverse. Replaced in 1932 by the Washington quarter, a standing view of Liberty, and an eagle in flight was depicted on our quarters. In 1909, the Lincoln penny debuted, replacing the Indian Head penny. Each design prior to the current dead president trend contained elaborate views of Liberty, eagles, and Native Americans.
In 2009, the Lincoln Penny will be one hundred years old. By previous redesign standards, this is close to fifty years late for an overhaul. I feel that the penny should move completely away from the presidential theme, and return to a more traditional design. The silver dollar of 1921-1928, and 1934-5, is largely considered the single most attractive U.S. coin ever minted. I feel we need to return to the style of this coin. The silver dollar features a very gentle crowned lady liberty bust on the obverse, and a perched eagle basking in the suns rays. I do not feel that any single person deserves the honor of being put on our penny, or any of our currency. I feel that our currency should be symbolic of what the U.S. stands for, and where it evolved from.
The Lincoln penny is long overdue for retirement. The obverse is the longest running unchanged coin design the United States has ever minted, and it is time for change. Its retirement will open the door for a more traditional, and far more attractive and symbolic design. The old Liberties, Eagles, olive branches, and Native depictions on our coins gave off a message of appreciation of where we have come from, and what we stand for. With times the way they are, I feel coins should depict something other than politicians. They need to convey a message of peace and appreciation, and idolizing a person on our coins does not accomplish this.