The American flag is the greatest symbol of our nation and all its glory. A symbol of freedom and democracy to friends and foe in times of war and in times of peace, nothing captures the essence of the United States of America quite like the stars and stripes. All of that incredible history has been attributed to a young seamstress that became a patriotic icon in the 19th century.
With author Ron Guth, we will continue exploring Whitman Publishing’s 100 Greatest Women on Coins publication that recognizes women from all cultural, economic, and social backgrounds throughout history with a young American icon who has been given credit for the design of the American flag. Landing in the top ten, this young lady has been credited with the design but also questioned as historians and doubters believe the story does not add up.
#7 - Betsy Ross
Born Elizabeth Phoebe Griscom in 1752 in Philadelphia, Betsy Ross got her nickname “Betsy” as a child while “Ross” was a surname gathered from her first husband. Growing up in a Quaker home, she learned to sew at a young age from her great aunt and she eventually became an apprentice under upholsterer William Webster. That is also where she would meet her husband, John Ross, at age 21. They eloped and started their own business doing upholstery. Not long after, her husband died in a munitions accident as a result of the American Revolutionary War. Betsy would end up marrying twice more, outliving both of her latter husbands as well.
The story laid out as to how the flag came about and Betsy’s hand in its creation follows a quick visit to the seamstress by three men from the Continental Congress: George Washington, Robert Morris, and George Ross (no relation). They were said to have visited Betsy in 1776 to talk about the creation of the flag for which during the conversation, she was said to have suggested that the design encompass a five-pointed star instead of a six-pointed one followed by a demonstration of how to fold and cut one from cloth. Her final flag design became the chosen emblem of the new nation for which it depicted a circle of 13 five-pointed stars on a blue background and 13 horizontal stripes of both red and white symbolizing the original 13 colonies.
Now that the story is laid out, there is said to be absolutely no proof of it happening that way. Naysayers believe it's a timing of events issue while others say the actual creator of our very first nation’s flag was Francis Hopkinson. Some also note that the story did not come about until her grandson, William J. Canby, made the claim in 1870. Despite believers and non-believers of Betsy’s involvement in creating our first flag, the story remains to be told.
While the story of Betsy Ross and the American flag has been depicted and featured on stamps, art, books, and coins, there is no coin from the United States Mint or the United States in general that recognizes the legend. She does appear on a 100-cordoba piece in 1975 from Nicaragua. The coin features Ross opposite the planting of the flag on the moon by an astronaut.
Collecting difficulty remains easy according to Guth, but limited as the Nicaraguan option is the least expensive with Uncirculated coins venture around $40-$50 while Proofs selling for a tad bit more.