U.S. Mint uses its heads for history
Most folks can correctly name George Washington as the nation’s first president. After that, things get tricky.
The U.S. Mint is hoping its new dollar coin series will help refresh some hazy memories about the names of Adams, Jefferson and the rest. That could be a tall order, however, given the results of a poll the Mint commissioned.
According to the survey conducted by Gallup Organization, nearly all those questioned knew that Washington was the first president. But only 30% could name Thomas Jefferson as the nation’s third president, and memories of the other presidents and where they ranked were even more limited.
Mint Director Edmund Moy believes the new dollar coin series will be an antidote for that.
Moy released the survey results at the Jefferson Memorial on Wednesday at an event staged to publicize the release of the new $1 Jefferson coin. That coin will go into circulation nationwide today.
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