1957 Roosevelt Dime NGC MS-66 (Toned)

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1957 Roosevelt Dime NGC MS-66 (Toned) Coin is graded by NGC as a MS 66 What is known for certain is that the American public in 1945 was clamoring for some memorial to their fallen leader, whose passing had come just as he was about to enjoy a sweet victory after years of struggle and worry. As World War II was nearing its end in April of that year, Franklin Delano Roosevelt breathed his last, and the free world mourned. The nation’s only four-term president died at 63, aged beyond his years by twin burdens of the greatest economic depression in the nation’s history and the most devastating war of all time. Within the Treasury Department, plans were quickly laid for the introduction of a new coin to honor Roosevelt. Since the late president had been afflicted with polio, or infantile paralysis as it was then commonly known, it seemed only natural to place his portrait on the dime. This humble coin was symbolic of the struggle to end polio through the “March of Dimes” fundraising campaign, a project begun during Roosevelt’s first term. In a break with its 40-year tradition of enlisting outside artists in the design of new coins, the Mint assigned this task to Chief Engraver Sinnock. His initial models were submitted to the federal Commission of Fine Arts by Acting Mint Director Leland Howard on October 12, 1945. The Commission rejected them on very specific grounds and recommended an invitational competition for the design of the new dime, naming five accomplished sculptors as candidates. Given the allowable time frame (the coins had to be ready for issue when the 1946 March of Dimes campaign kicked off on the late president’s birthday, January 30), this suggestion was quickly rejected by Mint Director Nellie Tayloe Ross. Instead, Sinnock went back to his workshop to make the desired improvements. His small head of Roosevelt with large mottos was replaced by the now familiar, larger portrait with a miniscule IN GOD WE TRUST. As it fit the available space, LIBERTY remained in large letters but was moved to the left from its former position directly above the portrait. The date, and Sinnock’s initials JS, were quite small and appeared below the truncation of Roosevelt’s neck. The reverse featured an upright torch, symbolizing freedom, flanked by branches of olive and oak, respectively denoting peace and victory. The motto E PLURIBUS UNUM was awkwardly spaced between these elements in a single line. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and ONE DIME were arranged in arcs around the periphery, separated from one another by ornamental dots. At the eleventh hour, these revised models were approved on January 8, 1946 by the Commission of Fine Arts and Treasury Secretary Fred Vinson. Accompanying this announcement was an order from Director Ross to commence the production of hubs and dies immediately and to begin coinage as soon as possible. As they would decades later with the claims raised by Selma Burke, John Sinnock’s initials JS on the dime provided controversy from the outset. Americans, newly awakened to the post-war threat posed by the Soviet Union, were beginning to imagine Communists behind every tree. A persistent rumor spread that the initials JS were those of Soviet leader Joseph Stalin. As absurd as this may seem today, enough Americans were alarmed by the possibility of Communist influence that the Mint was forced to issue a statement identifying the coin’s creator and refuting the claims of “Reds” being harbored within its venerable walls. Please view our other aution as we offer discount on shipping If you have any questions please ask prior purchasing the item... No returns on this item due to market fluctuations Shipping will be shipped USPS Priority Mail. This provides both of us tracking and protection Under No Circumstances will I ship Internationally California Residents will have a 8% Tax Terms and Conditions Contact us: eBay’s message system is the best way to contact us SHIPPING , HANDLING: All orders will be shipped by the... read more

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