On September 19, 1796, in a world still ruled by kings, President George Washington’s decision to not seek a third term clearly signaled that the United States would be governed by the people, not any ruler-for-life. Washington’s Farewell Address - really an open letter to the American people - appeared in newspapers on September 19, 1796. The president reminded his fellow citizens that national strength rests on the pillars of private morality, especially religion. The word he used to describe those pillars of American democracy is not “optional” or “desirable” or “helpful”; it is “indispensable.”

Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of patriotism who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the duties of men and citizens. The mere politician, equally with the pious man, out to respect and to cherish them. A volume could not trace all their connections with private and public felicity.

Let it simply be asked: Where is security for property, for reputation, for life, if the sense of religious obligation desert the oaths which are the instruments of investigation in courts of justice? And let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion. Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education on minds of peculiar structure, reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle.

‘Tis substantially true that virtue or morality is a necessary spring of popular government. The rule indeed extends with more or less force to every species of free government. Who that is a sincere friend to it can look with indifference upon attempts to shake the foundation of the fabric?

There is a curious truth about George Washington and his influence on our nation’s currency – and ultimately his portrait being on our dollar bills and our quarter-dollar coins. The George Washington dollar bill first appeared in 1869. It featured a portrait from an unfinished painting by Gilbert Stuart, which was done in 1796. The dollar bill continues to be reprinted through to today, through it has seem some changes in design along the way.

The first Washington Quarter dollar was minted in 1932 and it commemorated the 200th anniversary of George Washington’s birth. Quarters minted prior to 1965 contain 90% silver and are acquired by investors as a low-cost way to hold silver bullion. They are also popular with economic survivalists, who believe that the U.S. economy (and therefore the government-backed dollar) could fail, and that silver coins could once again become the de facto currency of preference across the country.

The irony is that in George Washington's time, coins minted by the Spanish monarchy were the most common coins to circulate through the American colonies and even in the early United States. In fact, the Spanish "Escudo" and "Real" coins circulated across the American landscape until 1857, with the signing of the "American Coinage Act," which declared that all U.S. legal tender must be minted in the United States.

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