distinctive mark of this reverse is the arc of diverging rays of the sun
above the head of the eagle. This arc is found with peculiar
appropriateness upon a gold coin, since it is a symbol of the old
sun-worship, or of Apollo, under whose auspices gold coins were
originally issued. Its occurrence here, moreover, emphasizes that total
disregard for the fitness of things which appears on the reverse of the
half-eagle of 1796, where clouds are seen above the eagle's head.

The silver coins of our currency have much in common with the gold. Such
parts of the designs upon these as are like what has been found upon the
gold coins will call for no further remark. The reverse of the dollar of
1798 is noticeable for this; that the eagle grasps in his right talon a
bundle of four arrows instead of three, as on later coins. From 1836 a
pretty nearly uniform pattern has prevailed for the dollar and its
subdivisions. The obverse shows a female figure seated. The face is of a
pronounced Greek type. The drapery is Greek, with one trifling
variation,--the fastening of the dress is shown upon the right shoulder.
The ancient fashion of this garment put the fastening only upon the left
shoulder. Upon these coins the cap of Liberty is not worn upon the head,
but it is displayed upon a wand held in the left hand. The right hand of
the figure rests on shield and scroll. The reverse shows an eagle with
wings expanded as if about to fly. The shield covers its breast. Unlike
the eagle of the earlier coins, it is with the right talon now that it
grasps the olive-branch, and the left holds three arrows. The
quarter-dollar of 1853 has the space above the eagle on the reverse
filled with diverging rays. Apollo might not, perhaps, take it as a
compliment to be asked to sanction much of our later silver coinage.

The five-cent nickel coin of 1866 introduced some novel features upon
its reverse. The shield is most prominent, and it is overhung by
branches of olive. Above the shield appears for the first time on our
national coinage the cross. Soon after this coin was first issued, a
query was made in the "American Historical Magazine" as to the
significance of this symbol in the place it occupied. The query elicited
from some official connected with the mint a reply to the effect that
the cross had not the slightest significance. The reply carried with it
a confession rather humiliating to make or to admit. Something better
than that ought to be said