I found this blog post about Rosa Parks receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom Award from President Clinton. Click here to read the article on Rosa Parks
Also, if you have not picked up your Rosa Parks Medal you can by clicking this Ebay link.
Have you ever looked at a coin or a medal and reflect on the life of the person who is one the coin? Well I have provided some quotes from Rosa Parks for you to reflect upon while looking at the Rosa Parks Bronze Medal. The source for more information is at the About Page on Women’s Hall of Fame.
•” The only tired I was, was tired of giving in.” (on refusing to give up her seat on the bus to a white male)
• “I knew someone had to take the first step and I made up my mind not to move.”
• “Our mistreatment was just not right, and I was tired of it.”
•” I have learned over the years that when one’s mind is made up, this diminishes fear; knowing what must be done does away with fear.”
• “Memories of our lives, of our works and our deeds will continue in others.”
• “I do the very best I can to look upon life with optimism and hope and looking forward to a better day, but I don’t think there is anything such as complete happiness. It pains me that there is still a lot of Klan activity and racism. I think when you say you’re happy, you have everything that you need and everything that you want, and nothing more to wish for. I haven’t reached that stage yet.”(source)
PGCS-The Professional Coin Grading Service wrote an article about the approval of the Rosa Parks Congressional Gold Medal and the resulting bronze medal duplicates. Read the article, written in 1999 by the PGCS.
Public Law 106-26,authorized that a this medal be struck in recognition of Rosa Parks for her “contributions to the Nation as the first lady of civil rights.” This medal is a bronze replica of the Congressional Gold Medal awarded to Rosa Parks at a ceremony at the United States Capitol building on June 15, 1999.
The obverse of the medal features her portrait with the following inscriptions centered along the top “ROSA PARKS” and centered along the bottom and sides “MOTHER OF THE MODERN DAY CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT.”
The reverse features the motto “QUIET STRENGTH” centered along the top above a globe, which is beneath the scales of justice, framed by a swag of oak leaves on the left and right sides. The quotes, “PRIDE, DIGNITY, COURAGE,” and “BY ACT OF CONGRESS 1999” are inscribed on the center bottom of the reverse.
There are many medals that have an African American represented on them. But what is the difference between a medal and a coin? I thought it would be helpful to discuss this before I begin introducing some medals that have African Americans on them. So here are some facts:
There are many people that collect medals like they collect coins. BOTH have their own value and when it comes to African Americans it will help us to remember and share with others the achievements of the person(s) they represent.
After reading more and more about African Americans on coins or African American designers I have wondered about the process of choosing someone to be on a coin. I am also in total admiration for Daniel Carr for minting his own coin with the prototype he submitted for consideration to become a “legal tender coin.”
So I began to think about who, besides my mother, Sarah Calhoun, would I want on a coin. I want my mom because she was a tireless advocate of helping other people and bringing children to Sunday School. You will not, however, ever read about her in the history books like others who you might select.
I did decide that ,like the Duke Ellington on the quarter, I would want to put someone on a circulating coin rather than a Commemorative.
So dream a little and and tell me African American would you choose to be on a coin and why?
Daniel Carr minted the prototypes of the coins he designed of Bessie Coleman. The coins are not legal tender and say “non-dollar.
There were several prototypes each is different and strikingly beautiful. You can see the creative genius on the obverse and reverse of the coins.
Listed below are the mintages and description of each coin.
I found out that a prototype coin was created for Bessie Coleman. This coin was done by Daniel Carr and submitted to the Dollar Coin Advisory Committee consideration. This gifted designer choose Bessie Coleman to be on a proposed coin.”But who is Bessie Coleman?” I asked myself.
Well before the song came out called, “I believe I can fly” Bessie Coleman not only dreamed about becoming a woman pilot but she did it! She was the first African American Pilot.
So take a few minutes to read a short account Bessie Coleman’s life.
Expect to see a couple of posts about the coin and designer.
Bronze and Silver Little Rock Commemorative Coin Set-Source USMint.gov
The Little Rock Commemorative Bronze and Silver Coin Set had a limited mintage. Actually only 25,000 bronze and silver coin sets were created. Read more about the coin set on the USMint.gov.
Duke Ellington was not the only consideration for the reverse of the District of Columbia’s quarter reverse. Actually, Fredrick Douglas and Benjamin Banneker were options. A s you know, you never satisfy everyone. I personally am estatic about the choice of Duke Ellington but would have been equally excited if Douglas or Banneker were chosen.
Read one of the commentaries in a blog post. Also, take time to read the comments. Click this link to read the author’s choice for the reverse of District of Columbia’s reverse.
Who would you choose if asked?
