the annual quarterly report
Apr. 17th, 2005 11:55 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
calimacI've been collecting the state quarters since the game started six years ago. I play fair: I wait for them to show up in my change, and keep one copy of each in a little coin folder.
In the years 2002-04, coin collectors could follow the negotiations as the U.S. kept a delicate balance in the number of free and slave states in the years before the Compromise of 1850. In the earliest years of the Republic, slavery wasn't much of a political issue (and some of the later "free" states still permitted slavery). But by the end of the War of 1812, it had come to be a prominent political issue, and since the North had the greater population and thus dominated the House (despite the South's leg up thanks to the 3/5ths clause), the South was determined to keep the numbers equal in the Senate, as things happened to stand at the time. So for the next 35 years, every time a state from one half of the country was admitted, an appropriate partner would need to be found from the other half within a year or two. This is why Maine was separated from Massachusetts in 1820: they were looking for a free state to balance the impending admission of slave-holding Missouri, and no free territories were ready for admission at the time.
As part of the Compromise of 1850, California was admitted as a free state even though there were no appropriate slave territories to match it (New Mexico?). To balance its loss of the Senate, the South was given such jollies as the Fugitive Slave Act, which just made things worse, and we all know what happened after that.
Meanwhile, in 2004 coins covering the years 1837-48 we have Michigan balancing Arkansas (a 2003 coin), and Iowa and Wisconsin balancing Florida and Texas. And we can contemplate the coin designs. Most states' designs fall into three categories: the map, the single (usually hokey) image, and the incongruous catch-all.
Michigan: a map showing the state's relationship with all five Great Lakes. That's at least something Michigan has special: it borders four of them, Wisconsin and New York each border two, and five other states border one each. Fodder for a good trivia question there.
Florida: a catch-all of a sailing ship, a space shuttle, and some palm trees. Not as classy a combo as Missouri's Lewis & Clark rowing under the Jefferson Arch. I'm reminded that Florida has had Challenger on its license plates for a while. Interesting choice, to represent on your cars the most famous motor vehicle accident to occur within your borders.
Texas: a map. Of course. In Texas, they use the state's shape for jello molds. And a big star centered right on the location of Mr. Bush's ranch. Way to suck up, guys.
Iowa: one hokey image, local art engraved in metal. A Grant Wood portrait of, I guess, a little red schoolhouse. Determinedly old-fashioned.
Wisconsin: a truly corny catch-all of agricultural products. I know Wisconsin is proud of its agriculture, but putting the fat o'the land on a coin like that is just cheesy. I know, I shouldn't be having a cow over it.
In the years 2002-04, coin collectors could follow the negotiations as the U.S. kept a delicate balance in the number of free and slave states in the years before the Compromise of 1850. In the earliest years of the Republic, slavery wasn't much of a political issue (and some of the later "free" states still permitted slavery). But by the end of the War of 1812, it had come to be a prominent political issue, and since the North had the greater population and thus dominated the House (despite the South's leg up thanks to the 3/5ths clause), the South was determined to keep the numbers equal in the Senate, as things happened to stand at the time. So for the next 35 years, every time a state from one half of the country was admitted, an appropriate partner would need to be found from the other half within a year or two. This is why Maine was separated from Massachusetts in 1820: they were looking for a free state to balance the impending admission of slave-holding Missouri, and no free territories were ready for admission at the time.
As part of the Compromise of 1850, California was admitted as a free state even though there were no appropriate slave territories to match it (New Mexico?). To balance its loss of the Senate, the South was given such jollies as the Fugitive Slave Act, which just made things worse, and we all know what happened after that.
Meanwhile, in 2004 coins covering the years 1837-48 we have Michigan balancing Arkansas (a 2003 coin), and Iowa and Wisconsin balancing Florida and Texas. And we can contemplate the coin designs. Most states' designs fall into three categories: the map, the single (usually hokey) image, and the incongruous catch-all.
Michigan: a map showing the state's relationship with all five Great Lakes. That's at least something Michigan has special: it borders four of them, Wisconsin and New York each border two, and five other states border one each. Fodder for a good trivia question there.
Florida: a catch-all of a sailing ship, a space shuttle, and some palm trees. Not as classy a combo as Missouri's Lewis & Clark rowing under the Jefferson Arch. I'm reminded that Florida has had Challenger on its license plates for a while. Interesting choice, to represent on your cars the most famous motor vehicle accident to occur within your borders.
Texas: a map. Of course. In Texas, they use the state's shape for jello molds. And a big star centered right on the location of Mr. Bush's ranch. Way to suck up, guys.
Iowa: one hokey image, local art engraved in metal. A Grant Wood portrait of, I guess, a little red schoolhouse. Determinedly old-fashioned.
Wisconsin: a truly corny catch-all of agricultural products. I know Wisconsin is proud of its agriculture, but putting the fat o'the land on a coin like that is just cheesy. I know, I shouldn't be having a cow over it.
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Date: 2005-04-17 07:18 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-04-17 07:27 pm (UTC)-the pesky oboe player (http://www.oboeinsight.com)
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Date: 2005-04-17 10:36 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-04-18 03:21 pm (UTC)BTW, the Wisconsin link is taking one to Iowa. Try this.
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Date: 2005-04-18 04:05 pm (UTC)Trying to fit everything that a state is "about" onto the quarter is a mistake, and the states that have tried it have produced kitchy messes. Look at South Carolina's.
The Muir/Yosemite theme symbolizes California as well as any other single theme would. Unfortunately the design looks like a catch-all. A large bold single image is best, and the designs I like best so far are those used by all states beginning with M.
no subject
Date: 2005-04-18 04:54 pm (UTC)