Name the 8th President of the United States of America?
If you had a One Dollar American ‘Gold’ coin in your pocket you would know. The President Dollars started two years ago and they issue four (4) a year. And this year is going to be a good one, although the previous haven’t been too bad (no comment on Jefferson or Jackson) but the others did a good job.
Washington, Adams, Jefferson and Madison were issued in 2007. Monroe, John Quincey Adams (the first president inaugurated in trousers, before they wore knee breeches), Jackson and ? Do you have the answer yet? Of course it was Martin Van Buren, I am surprised he got elected as it was a dirty campaign, he was accused of being a Catholic, wearing silk shirts and riding in carriages, a lot of early mud slinging. Yet he got a nasty job from Jackson who had decimated the Native Americans and the economy of the country. But I won’t get into politics.
I like these coins, nothing like ‘hard coin’, especially if you don’t take that paper or card money from the States. And they are ‘Gold’ coins! Well, alright (after 1837 you can use the word OK as that was Van Buren’s nickname ‘Old Kinderhook’), it is gold plated. But they look and feel good.
Some (like my sister) don’t like the fact that ‘In God We Trust’ is not on the face of the coin and she doesn’t accept them. But that slogan appeared in 1866, prior to the American Civil War that Motto did not appear.
So go to the bank and get some hard coin and a history lesson at the same time. The coins have the names, which Number they were and what years they served. Now while we have our 44th President, only 43 people have been President. Do you know why?
Stephen
Grover Cleveland was elected twice, nonconsecutively. So he’s number 22 and 24. Of course, he was big enough to make two presidents. :@)
What do I win?
:@)
Comment by Wilbur — February 2, 2009 @ 2:09 pm
By law, all US currency has to have “In God We Trust” on it. With the Presidential dollars, there wasn’t room in the design for the phrase, so it is inscribed on the edge. Besides, if your sister refuses to accept them because of the lack of the phrase on the front, she must also reject pennies, which also don’t have the phrase on the front.
Personally, I consider it to be a violation of the Establishment Clause of the Constitution, but the courts have held the phrase to be meaningless, and not religious.
The coins are not gold, or even gold plated. The alloy is gold-colored, but has no gold in it. The alloy was specifically designed so the coins could have the same size, weight, and magnetic properties as the old Susan B. Anthony dollars, but be gold in color.
Comment by Blaise Pascal — February 2, 2009 @ 2:18 pm
Quite right and did you notice that President Obama said in his inauguration speech that he was the 44th person to sweaar the oath – even this hick from Australia knew about the Grover Cleveland double-up.
Comment by Jeremy Kriewaldt — February 2, 2009 @ 3:48 pm
I wonder if Bush’s coin would be made of pot-metal?
Comment by Gary Roberts — February 2, 2009 @ 3:56 pm
wilbur,
You win one of the new two Grover Cleveland Presidential Dollars, when they come out and you have to come out here to get it, congratulations.
Blaise,
My sisters objection was that the motto was on the edge, she accepts pennies but not presidential dollars (she is strange, I can say that because she is my strange sister, but then she thinks she has a strange brother).
But I am glad that we are back on the Gold-colored Standard.
Jeremy,
While the oath has been given 44 times, you are right and I did pick that up in what Obama said, he was the 43 person to take the oath.
Gary,
What are the laws on defacing money. I am waiting for the James Buchanan Dollar to come out, that one I may not accept. But then I have issues with the $10.00 and 20.00 bills, the $2.00 bill and the nickle. (Prior to the Civil War they were called ‘half-dimes’).
Stephen
Comment by Stephen Shepherd — February 5, 2009 @ 5:57 am
Because Cleveland was two, independant terms, so he got two numbers.
Comment by Terry Karney — February 20, 2009 @ 12:16 am
I think (if I did the math correctly, we’ve had the oath administered 54 times. I know it’s more than 44, because it get administered every four years. If a president is re-elected, the oath is rea-administered.
Comment by Terry Karney — February 20, 2009 @ 12:22 am
Terry,
Thanks for the comments. You probably got the math right (although I can not be the one to judge, I don’t understand that New math). And I am not sure if the 8 or 9 people that served as the president before Washington, were given an oath.
Stephen
Comment by Stephen Shepherd — February 20, 2009 @ 6:39 am