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Hands on coins
Hands on Coins Thomas J. Palmieri
H A N D S ON COINS
T H O M A S J. P A L M I E R I , New York The hand, in ancient times, was a symbol of fortitude and fidelity. The Egyptians believed the hand represented strength, the Romans trust. Two hands symbolised concord, the closed hand thought or reason, and, the open hand eloquence. The word " h a n d " comes from the same root as the Gothic word " h i n t h a n " , meaning to grasp or seize. Offering a hand in salutation dates back to the Middle Ages when, upon meeting a stranger, a m a n firmly grasped the stranger's right hand to immobilize the weapon hand and, to show he himself was carrying no weapons. From this custom, our friendly handshake has evolved. Within the past 300 years, Great Britain has twice minted " H a n d s on Coins". In 1973, a British 50 pence piece was issued to c o m m e m o r a t e England's accession into the European Economic Community ( " C o m m o n Market"). The nine hands clasped together (Figure 1) represent the nine member nations, namely, Belgium, Denmark; France, West Germany, Great Britain, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, and The Netherlands. The smaller hand on the upper right of the coin is said to represent the hand of the Queen. The opposite side of the coin (Figure 2) shows a likeness of Queen Elizabeth II. During a coin shortage between 1787 and 1811, Britain minted an Anti-Slavery token, a copper half pence. Two hands are shown clasped in friendship (Figure 3) expressing goodwill between people of all nations and creeds. The words " M a y Slavery and Oppression Cease Throughout the W o r l d " appear. The opposite side of the coin (Figure 4) shows a black slave kneeling and in chains with the inscription " A m I Not A Man and A Brother". The edges of the token have the lettering " P a y a b l e in Dublin or L o n d o n " . Another piece was struck in about 48 B.C. by the Roman, Decimus Junius Brutus (Figure 5). Brutus was later to become one of the assassins of Julius Caesar. However, he was not the famous Brutus to w h o m Caesar said, " E t T u " . Decimus Junius Brutus was adopted by A. Postumus Albinus and he joined to his own name that of his adopted father, becoming Albinus Bruti. He served under Caesar in Gaul and received m a n y marks of favour from Caesar. The coin's denomination is a denarius, equal to 1/25 of a gold aureus. It is a silver coin, roughly the size of an American dime. The reverse side of the coin (Figure 6) shows two clasped hands over a winged caduceus. It was issued to show trust and concord between Julius Caesar and P o m p e y who was a powerful General trying to gain control of Rome. Although the coin intended to show peace, it was nothing more than a smoke screen, as Caesar finally overtook P o m p e y and unified Rome under his command.
Thomas Palmieri, M.D., 444 Lakeville Road, New Hyde Park, New York 11042 U.S.A. 9 1982 British Society for Surgery of the Hand
The H a n d - - Volume 14
No. 3
1982
0072-968X-82-00650341
$02.00
341
Hands on Coins Thomas J. Palmieri
342
The H a n d - - Volume 14
No. 3
1982
H A N D S ON COINS
T H O M A S J. P A L M I E R I , New York The hand, in ancient times, was a symbol of fortitude and fidelity. The Egyptians believed the hand represented strength, the Romans trust. Two hands symbolised concord, the closed hand thought or reason, and, the open hand eloquence. The word " h a n d " comes from the same root as the Gothic word " h i n t h a n " , meaning to grasp or seize. Offering a hand in salutation dates back to the Middle Ages when, upon meeting a stranger, a m a n firmly grasped the stranger's right hand to immobilize the weapon hand and, to show he himself was carrying no weapons. From this custom, our friendly handshake has evolved. Within the past 300 years, Great Britain has twice minted " H a n d s on Coins". In 1973, a British 50 pence piece was issued to c o m m e m o r a t e England's accession into the European Economic Community ( " C o m m o n Market"). The nine hands clasped together (Figure 1) represent the nine member nations, namely, Belgium, Denmark; France, West Germany, Great Britain, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, and The Netherlands. The smaller hand on the upper right of the coin is said to represent the hand of the Queen. The opposite side of the coin (Figure 2) shows a likeness of Queen Elizabeth II. During a coin shortage between 1787 and 1811, Britain minted an Anti-Slavery token, a copper half pence. Two hands are shown clasped in friendship (Figure 3) expressing goodwill between people of all nations and creeds. The words " M a y Slavery and Oppression Cease Throughout the W o r l d " appear. The opposite side of the coin (Figure 4) shows a black slave kneeling and in chains with the inscription " A m I Not A Man and A Brother". The edges of the token have the lettering " P a y a b l e in Dublin or L o n d o n " . Another piece was struck in about 48 B.C. by the Roman, Decimus Junius Brutus (Figure 5). Brutus was later to become one of the assassins of Julius Caesar. However, he was not the famous Brutus to w h o m Caesar said, " E t T u " . Decimus Junius Brutus was adopted by A. Postumus Albinus and he joined to his own name that of his adopted father, becoming Albinus Bruti. He served under Caesar in Gaul and received m a n y marks of favour from Caesar. The coin's denomination is a denarius, equal to 1/25 of a gold aureus. It is a silver coin, roughly the size of an American dime. The reverse side of the coin (Figure 6) shows two clasped hands over a winged caduceus. It was issued to show trust and concord between Julius Caesar and P o m p e y who was a powerful General trying to gain control of Rome. Although the coin intended to show peace, it was nothing more than a smoke screen, as Caesar finally overtook P o m p e y and unified Rome under his command.
Thomas Palmieri, M.D., 444 Lakeville Road, New Hyde Park, New York 11042 U.S.A. 9 1982 British Society for Surgery of the Hand
The H a n d - - Volume 14
No. 3
1982
0072-968X-82-00650341
$02.00
341
Hands on Coins Thomas J. Palmieri
342
The H a n d - - Volume 14
No. 3
1982