Vanderbilt Is Coin Worthy

Giovanni Flores
Per 1
Vanderbilt is Coin Worthy
Dear U.S. Mint and American Public, The silver Vanderbilt coin that I wish to present to you all today is one made exclusively to represent the masterful businessman and industrialist of the Gilded Age, Cornelius Vanderbilt. With one side representing how Vanderbilt was a hero to society as a “captain of industry,” and the other illustrating the opposite in which he was an unforgiving and immoral “robber baron,” you are all in for a treat as I wish to elaborate on why this exquisitely crafted coin was designed the way it was, what each side and image has to offer, and what I believe is the true representation of Vanderbilt; enjoy.
Though only a prototype, this coin has a quite traditional
The train titled “Vanderbilt” was included to represent how Vanderbilt was a master in increasing efficiency of railroad transportation and shipping by connecting and developing railroad lines such as the New York and Harlem as well as several other lines found in New York, and would develop the first rail service that extended from New York to Chicago. As his railroad industry expanded, the burden of difficult and tedious transportation and shipping was lifted. Vanderbilt was the definition of “rags to riches,” during the time, and this is why the image of trash bags to money bags was included, and this would be inspirational to the public who looked up the Vanderbilt as a “captain of industry,” which also why, “You can, too!” was added below; to express that if he could do it, so can anyone else. We wished to raise the sense of inspiration with this side of the coin, much like how “captains of industry,” are seen as inspirations. Last but certainly not least, the highlight of Vanderbilt's accomplishments is the Grand Central Station in New York, and was thus added to the front side of the coin to demonstrate that Vanderbilt worked to serve his nation and improve
He appears larger than usual to express that with the bountiful amount of money comes a bountiful amount of individualism in which he seems to feed himself quite well. We can also see that Vanderbilt’s faced was attached to the front of a rushing train in order to represent how his control over the newly connected and consolidated railroad lines was only used to build up his own monopoly and rid all competition. This can tie into the “#1” trophy that is also found on our coin, as it is used to represent Vanderbilt’s aggressiveness and competitiveness where he often spoke of how he’ll ruin competitors: “Gentlemen: You have undertaken to cheat me. I won't sue you, for the law is too slow. I'll ruin you. Yours truly, Cornelius