Today is Presidents Day, and a few of America’s leaders have been featured on coins and bills. Some of the reasons behind those figures gracing our money are very interesting.
Abraham Lincoln
The 16th President of the United States is on the five dollar bill and the penny. Abraham Lincoln’s profile was selected for the penny by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1909. The Treasury Department stated that portraits weren’t originally going to be used on coinage, but since it was the 100th anniversary of Lincoln’s birth, they believed it was more than appropriate.
Franklin D. Roosevelt
In 1946, a year after FDR’s death, he replaced Lady Liberty on the dime. There were people who didn’t support the choice of Roosevelt on the dime because they felt he hadn’t earned it. However, many others thought that he was the perfect choice for the ten cent piece. FDR helped found the March of Dimes charity organization, which raised money for polio research, and currently supports improving the health of mothers and infants.
John F. Kennedy
The idea to put JFK on a coin came the day he was assassinated, November 22, 1963. The director of the US Mint, Eva Adams made the suggestion and eventually Former First Lady Jackie Kennedy chose the fifty cent piece. There was an issue, however, because the law stated that coins couldn’t be changed until the current design was at least 25 years old. The half-dollar design was only 15 years old when Kennedy was assassinated. The change had to be authorized by Congress, which happened a little a month after the tragedy. Kennedy’s half-dollar was first minted in 1964.
Have you heard the saying, “A penny saved is a penny earned”? A penny may not seem like much money, but in fact, pennies add up. Collect your spare change every day in a special container. Once it’s full, bring it to SeaComm, cash in your extra coins at the coin counting machine, and put it in your account. The most important thing is to save something (even a penny) every day. By saving your money now, you can spend it later. Instead of buying something you don’t really need, save the money instead. Then, it will be there when you want to buy something you really want.