Source: Fortune.com
Summary
The U.S. Mint has unveiled new designs for the country’s 250th anniversary, including a revised dime that omits the olive branch, a symbol of peace. The new design features a bald eagle in flight with arrows in its left talons and an open talon in its right, with the inscription “Liberty over Tyranny.” The change has raised eyebrows, as the olive branch was a key element of the Great Seal of the United States, representing the balance between peace and war.
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The U.S. Mint’s redesign of the dime, quarter, half dollar, penny, and dollar coin for the country’s 250th anniversary has sparked controversy with the omission of the olive branch. The new design features a bald eagle with arrows in its left talons and an open talon in its right, with the inscription “Liberty over Tyranny.” The change has been interpreted as a cultural signal, with some seeing it as a shift away from the country’s founding values of balance between peace and war. Acting Mint Director Kristie McNally said the goal was to offer each American the opportunity to hold 250 years of history in their hands. The omission of the olive branch says something about which half of the equation the country currently feels like.
It’s a design choice that speaks louder than words.
Author: Evan Null
