Peter Gutmann <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: > >>For some reason the mention of a "Susan B Anthony" dollar stuck in my brain as > >Not being from the US I have no idea who either of those two are, but that does >raise an interesting point: Maybe the reason no-one wants the coin is because >of who's on it.
Susan B Anthony is the George Washington of US Feminism (d 1906.) Supposedly, part of the reason the SBA dollar didn't catch on was that the profile of Ms Anthony was deliberately uglified on the orders of meanies at the US Mint. This being the 1970's, they presumably felt that a feminist artifact was being forced (as it were) down their throats. Someone certainly uglified it. I remember the coin clearly. The change was admitted at the time, and explained as making her appear "more stern" (or dignified, or somesuch.) A pity, since Ms Anthony in her younger days was a fair looker. Unfortunately, one could be forgiven for thinking the coin commemorated The Wicked Witch of the West. Combine that with the fact that almost no vending machines or payphones in the US accepted the coin (and folks complained that it wore holes in their pockets) and it spelled doom. No disrespect to Ms Anthony, but the coin was a typical statist fiasco -- push a technical artifact onto a market that's not prepared for it / doesn't want it. >Solution: Mint a coin with La Cicciolina (or whoever the US equivalent would >be) on it. They'd be able to get rid of at least 140M of them. ...or for that matter, M Ciccone (tip of the hat to Bob H.) I've had a sneaking admiration for her for some time. Speaking of Feminism and empowered females, an article in the 13 April Economist may be of interest. Entitled "The Appeal of Guns -- Pinkos and Pistols" it describes the growing interest among US left-leaning types in guns as a tool of empowerment against oppression. The accompanying picture shows a protest sign reading "Rapists Love Unarmed Women" A number of women I know have agreed with this sentiment for ages. It's good to see the idea (finally!) getting official recognition from the group that would benefit most from it. For me, the kicker was that this was reported in The Economist, of all places, and non-snidely to boot. Malcolm
