A Penny for Your Thoughts…

When I decided to use a penny in the novel, I am Mrs. Jesse James, I had to do some research. What did a penny from Zee and Jesse’s time look like? This resulted in chasing down several rabbit holes, because the information I found fascinated me. Here’s a  much condensed version of what I learned about the American penny’s history.

Turns out in 1787, the humble penny became the first official currency authorized by the newly created United States. Called “Fugio” cents, the coins were one hundred percent copper, and created in a design suggested by Benjamin Franklin. Paul Revere, patriot and renowned blacksmith, supplied some of the copper for those first coins. The penny was large (roughly the size of a Susan B. Anthony dollar), and heavy.

The Fugio cent. Isn’t it nice our founding fathers warned us to “Mind Your Business?” (Wikipedia)

Starting in 1793, Lady Liberty was featured on one side of the coin, hand-engraved with her hair blowing wild in the wind (“Flowing Hair” Liberty). Critics disliked the design, so she had several makeovers in that same year before people were satisfied. Then the “Liberty Cap” cent version also underwent several revisions between 1793 and 1796, and the coin’s weight was slightly reduced.

Lady Liberty continued to reside on the penny in the “Draped Bust” cent, morphing to the “Classic Head” cent in 1808. But no coins were minted in 1815 due to a copper shortage following another teeny-tiny disagreement between the United States and Britain, otherwise known as the War of 1812.

This brought us to Ms. Liberty as the “Coronet Head” cent from 1816-1839, and then to “Braided Hair” cent. But despite the revision, critics were not kind, nicknaming the image “fat mistress” and even “obese ward boss”. All this public shaming worked. Once again, the penny got a makeover – but for more reasons than Lady Liberty’s appearance.

By 1857, citizens had grown weary of pockets weighed down by large clunky pennies. So the coin was redesigned to shrink in size – closer to what we see today. Lady Liberty also vanished (perhaps the engravers at the U.S. Mint got sick and tired of updating her look). The coin’s composition transformed to a mixture of copper and nickel; and the woman’s head was replaced with a flying eagle.

Yet the engravers did not rest. Soon the eagle transformed to an Indian’s head. This design lasted until 1909, when Lincoln’s profile was featured, as a way to commemorate the 100th birthday of the martyred president. Lincoln became the first historical figure to appear on a U.S. coin. This penny was also the first coin to include the words, “In God We Trust”. Lincoln continues to grace today’s penny, as the longest running design in United States Mint history. After all, who would suggest a makeover for Abraham Lincoln?

I had a lot of fun making the penny a part of I am Mrs. Jesse James. I even located a coin with the date stamp I wanted during a tedious on line search. Coincidence that I found it? Maybe. I purchased the coin along with one from 1863 for comparison, and added both to my collection. Holding the large coin in my own hand, I could feel its weight, and observe how the copper absorbed body warmth – just as people who handled them years ago would have noticed.

A penny for a promise. I used the 1828 “large penny” coin as a plot device in I am Mrs. Jesse James.  The 1863 Indian head coin is pictured for size comparison.

This is one of the things I love most about writing historical fiction –  finding fun facts you didn’t expect when the research process begins. The real problem though is, sometimes you get so carried away with research, it slows down writing time. To this charge I can only respond with a single word.

Guilty.

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Pat Wahler is the author of I am Mrs. Jesse James, available at your favorite local bookstore and on line retailers.

14 Responses

  1. Hi Pat,

    Your story has me curious . I’ll have to look at some of by old coins from my grandmother a lot closer. i can remember her giving me a 1910 penny.
    Now where I put the box they are in is a mystery, we moved last year and I still have boxes unpacked.

    Linda

    1. Linda, coins are fascinating. Be sure to check-you may have a treasure hidden away somewhere! I love holding old coins, knowing they were in the hands of people from so long ago.

  2. I’m with you in finding fun facts when researching historical fiction, but this is the other reason why I think writing historical fiction is so hard. I remember taking my manuscript to my critique group when I was writing my middle grade novel, and always getting comments back like: Are you sure this was how someone would have spoken during this time period? Did they really have ________ back then?

    Back to the research I would go. I think it’s cool you bought the coin. Do you plan to take it to book events?

    1. Margo, I’m in total agreement. Every little detail has to be checked out. I do plan to bring both coins to events, just need to figure out some nice way to display them. 🙂

  3. Hi Pat – I’m reading the book and so understand the significance of the coin as you imagined it for Jesse and Zee. It was great to see all the history of it here. And I’m loving the book!

  4. Pat, what an interesting post! I had no idea our penny went through so many renditions. Can’t wait to see how it all fits into the plot of your book! I am confused, though (my normal state, it seems!). I thought I read that your launch is in October — is the book already out or just on pre-order? I was hoping to come to a signing and get it then. So sorry I’ve had such trouble keeping up. Congratulations again! xo

    1. Hi Teri! Yes, the book is available now, but the official launch is on October 6 at Main Street Books. We wanted to be sure the book store had time to get them in stock.

      Hope you’re feeling well, and things are settling down a bit for you. 🙂

      1. Oh good, I was worried I’d missed it. I’ll try my best to make the signing. Looking forward to some good fall reading!

  5. Fascinating! Who knew? I’m researching the year 1968 for a middle-grade-novel in progress. It’s a lot of fun. The harder part is integrating the time period into the novel so it doesn’t feel “historical” or forced.

    1. Evelyn, as I’m sure you know, there are many fascinating historical tidbits. Most of them go straight to the cutting room floor, while still informing the story.

      Your novel sounds interesting. I’m curious to learn more about it!

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