Labels: Eternal Vigilance, Free Market, Liberty, Privacy
On 21 April 1787, the Continental Congress of the United States authorized a design for an official penny, later referred to as the Fugio cent because of its image of the sun shining down on a sundial with the caption, "Fugio" (Latin: I flee). The image and the word combine to mean "Time Flees". This coin was reportedly designed by Benjamin Franklin, and as a reminder to its holders, he put at its bottom the message, "Mind Your Business". This design had also been used on the "Continental dollar" (issued as coins of unknown real denomination, and in paper notes of different fractional denominations) in February of 1776.
I'm reminded of another motto: "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."
Some historians believe that the word "business" was intended literally here, as Franklin was an influential and successful businessman. However, considering the full saying of "mind your own business," which would not have fit on the coin, it can just as easily be interpreted as a statement of privacy.
The reverse side of both the 1776 coins and paper notes, and the 1787 coins, bore the third motto "We Are One" (in English).
Following the reform of the central government with the 1789 ratification of the 1787 Constitution, gold and silver coins bore the motto "E pluribus unum" from the Great Seal of the United States.
In 1864, during the Civil War, the Union (North) introduced a two-cent coin with the motto "In God We Trust". In 1956, Congress declared "In God We Trust" the official national motto and mandated its appearance on all U.S. currency, but more recently there have been calls to restore the original mottoes.
11/11/2007 |
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home