Set Category: Thematic & Topical Coins

Set Name: The Use of Seated Imagery in Numismatics

Set Description:
Mythological gods and goddesses as representative images first appeared on coinage dating from near the dawn of the numismatic age. Beginning with the Greek goddess Athena around the 5th Century BC, coinage using this type of imagery steadily grew throughout the Hellenistic provinces. When the Romans adapted this imagery to their coinage, the use of deified personifications on coins quickly expanded throughout the Roman Empire. While the Greeks used their coinage as an artistic expression of their love for the gods, the objective of the Romans was to use coins as a propaganda tool to keep people subjugated under their authority. Thus, the positioning of the images on the coin, the governmental entity issuing the coin, and the historical context of the coin are all keys to understanding the purpose of the coin. Within this set, “The Use of Seated Imagery in Numismatics”, I hope to investigate the allegorical use of the “seated images” illustrated on my coins, tokens, and medals. Additionally, I want to trace the effect those coins had in spreading western philosophy throughout the world. Particularly interesting to me is the manner in which the design features of some coins blend western culture with that of the indigenous cultures where they circulated. For this reason, I have grouped this set into continents, beginning with Europe where the use of seated imagery on coins originated. The seated position is primarily a position of rest. A sitting person may be relaxing on a beach or in a park. They may be sitting as they reflect on various topics or read a book. Persons in a sitting position may be taking a break from their labors or they may (with a certain degree of satisfaction) be surveying a difficult task they just completed. Likewise, there are certain jobs and tasks that one can only do from a sitting position. In other instances, seats represent power. Legislators and those in authority sometimes have their governmental office referred to as a “seat”. A courtroom judge “sits” in judgment of the plaintiff and defendant. Kings and queens sit on thrones, while those petitioning them stand. Often national personifications and deities appear seated on coins as benevolent protectors of the people and nations they represent. Seated images on coins can take many forms, each with their own significance. They are either male or female and can be sitting upright or reclining. They may appear sitting on globes, plinths, rocks, thrones, horses, mountains, and ottomans; this set even includes a coin with a deity reclining in the clouds. They can appear with an outstretched arm or holding a pole surmounted by a Phrygian cap. They may be illustrated holding weapons like swords, shields, spears, and tridents. Other items held in their hands can include scepters, laurel wreaths, olive branches, cornucopias, scales, and torches. Inside this collection, you will find examples of all these types of coins and more. Yet even with all the aforementioned examples there are still any number of combinations in which a seated personification or image may appear on a coin. The “Seated Liberty” motif dominated 19th Century United States coinage. Practically every denomination of silver coin in use then featured “Lady Liberty” seated on a rock. In Liberty’s left hand is a pole surmounted by a Phrygian cap and in her right hand, a union shield. Thus, within this set I am including a United States “Seated Liberty” type set. Most of the Seated Liberty pieces in this set are in extra fine condition. This is because I like the fact that at some point they circulated in day-to-day commerce. As such, they served as ever-present reminders to the people using them of the high cost of both securing and keeping liberty. In summary, many of the coins I have chosen for this set fit a narrative that I wanted to pursue in each coin’s “owner comments”. Accordingly, the set description for “The Use of Seated Imagery in Numismatics” is fashioned around the coins in it. Thus, you will find coins in this set that correspond to the previous paragraphs in the set description. That said, I hope you enjoy perusing this set in which you will find a wide variety of numismatic items. Gary

Set Goals: To identify and populate this set with coins featuring seated imagery and then to identify and document the 5 W's of those coins. The 5 W's are Who, What, Where, When, and Why. To put it into concise terms, I have a desire to know "who" designed or commissioned the minting of my coins. I want to know "what" my coins mean, or the message they are conveying other than that of a medium of exchange. The "where" of my coins centers on the nations issuing the coins and their people. The "when" of my coins brings into focus the historical context of the coins, and the "why" is my desire to know for what purpose the coins were minted.

Owner:     gherrmann44


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Signature Set Details:
Slot NameCoin InfoGraded ByCountry
Europe TALER 1871 BAVARIA - VICTORY NGCGERMANY - STATES - 2
Europe TALER 1871A PRUSSIA - VICTORY NGCGERMANY - STATES - 2
Europe 2K 1903 P GJ 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF REIGN NGCDENMARK 1873 TO DATE
Europe 20K 1890 HC CS NGCDENMARK 1873 TO DATE
Europe S50F 1984 KM-S22 OBERHASLI FESTIVAL NGCSWITZERLAND CONFEDERATION
Europe 2FL 1879 KM-XM5 WEDDING ANNIV. NGCAUSTRIA - EMPIRE PART 2
Europe 100C 1908 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF REIGN NGCAUSTRIA - EMPIRE PART 2
Europe 20D 1973 KINGDOM KM-111.1 NGCGREECE
Europe 2E 2002 NGCGREECE
Europe LIRA 1922R NGCITALY
Europe S500L 1961R UNIFICATION CENTENNIAL NGCITALY
Europe S500K 1986 ICELANDIC BANKNOTES NGCICELAND
Europe 1/2P 1794 G.BRIT D&H-3C BEDFORDSHIRE - LEIGHTON NGC 
Europe 1/2P 1795 G.BRIT. D&H-23 HAMPSHIRE - EMSWORTH E: EMSWORTH HALFPENNY NGC 
Europe 1/2P 1796 SCOT D&H-58 LOTHIAN - LEITH E: PLAIN NGC 
Europe 1/2P 1858/6 NGCGREAT BRITAIN 1816-1901
Europe S2PND 2007 SEATED BRITANNIA NGCGREAT BRITAIN - DECIMAL
Europe 10C 1870 OM NGCSPAIN 1848 TO DATE
Europe 2P 1870(74) DEM NGCSPAIN 1848 TO DATE
Europe 20E 1953 FINANCIAL REFORM NGCPORTUGAL 1836 TO DATE
Europe 10C 1898 MARIANNE NGCFRANCE - PART 5
Europe FRANC 1925 NGCFRANCE - PART 5
Africa S1PND AH1400//1980 KM-511 DOCTOR'S DAY PCGSEGYPT - 1914 TO DATE
Asia 1/2C 1903 USA-PHIL NGCUNITED STATES
Asia 1C 1939A NGCFRENCH INDO-CHINA
Asia 20C 1937 PCGSFRENCH INDO-CHINA
Oceania 5F 1952 NGCNEW CALEDONIA
Central America PESO 1910 NGCMEXICO - 1905 TO DATE
Central America PESO 1896/5 NGCGUATEMALA - REPUBLIC
South America 1/5S 1916 FG NGCPERU - DECIMAL
North America G$200 1994 ANNE OF GREEN GABLES NGCCANADA - 1968 TO DATE
North America S$10 2010 FIRST CANADIAN BANKNOTE 75TH ANNIVERSARY NGCCANADA - 1968 TO DATE
North America S$20 2010 FIRST CANADIAN BANKNOTE 75TH ANNIVERSARY NGCCANADA - 1968 TO DATE
North America $3 2013 BRONZE MISS CANADA NGCCANADA - 1968 TO DATE
North America MA 1833 ATTLEBORO HT-153 NGCUNITED STATES
North America NY 1863 NEW YORK F-630AM-1a CHRISTOPH KARL NGCUNITED STATES
North America SC$1 1933 CA HK-682 SANTA MONICA BREAKWATER NGCUNITED STATES
North America 50C 1935 S SAN DIEGO NGCUNITED STATES
North America G$10 2008 W VAN BUREN'S LIBERTY NGCUNITED STATES
North America H10C 1870 PCGSUNITED STATES
North America 10C 1853 ARROWS NGCUNITED STATES
North America 20C 1876 NGCUNITED STATES
North America 25C 1853 ARROWS & RAYS PCGSUNITED STATES
North America 50C 1853 ARROWS & RAYS NGCUNITED STATES
North America S$1 1842 PCGSUNITED STATES
North America T$1 1877 S NGCUNITED STATES

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