Theresa D. writes: I am just curious. What are the pictures on the back of coins? Thank you.
Most coin designs are allegorical. That means that the image that you see on coins or paper money represents some thought or feeling and not necessarily the literal design. For example, many U.S. coin designs have a portrait, usually of a female, wearing a band or hat. She is an allegorical representation of “Liberty”, her cap represents “freedom of thought”, which is what “Liberty” represents. Often you will see a wreath of wheat or cotton on some coin reverses; this represents the work of agriculture.
Money itself is allegorical in that it represents frozen energy. When you earn money you have to expend energy to get it. Your expended energy is stored in the money. Images of cotton, wheat and other agricultural or “work” themes confirm money’s role as stored energy. See: What’s on the back of an ordinary dime?
