Page 29 - Frittenden Parish Mag - November 2021

Village Stories I Didn’t Know That!

The Dragon Rapide Etymology for the next 65 years until 1857, US coinage consisted of a
mixture of dollars, Spanish Reals, Thalers and a few British
Pounds among others. The second Coinage Act of 1857
corner enough coins to stockpile enough of a reserve and to catch up
it took the tiny mint in Philadelphia that long to produce
Margaret Knight declared all coins, except the US dollar, illegal tender. Yes,

group of eight were directed to the control tower where with the demand, an amazing fact!
The most popular thought as to just where the dollar sign
we were weighed before climbing up two small steps Colin Bullock came from is that it started off as a monogram of “US” on
onto a black patch of the wing and then clambouring money bags issued by our friends at the Philadelphia Mint,
into our canvas seats identical to those Paul had sat in With the American holiday of Thanksgiving just around the letters U and S were superimposed to resemble the
eighty years before. We fastened our seat belts and the the corner, (25th November) now is as good as anytime to historical double-stroke sign.
engines roared as we hurtled down the runway and took investigate where and how the dollar sign came from, so here There is, however another hypotheses as to its true origins. As
to the air. We flew over the local area enjoying the sights we go! we have seen, the Spanish Real coin, commonly referred to
of farms and villages, but not quite as far as Cambridge as a piece of eight, (so called because it was valued at 8 reals)
which we would have really enjoyed. A photo of us There are several schools of thought as to where the dollar was the most prevalent coin in circulation before the Coinage
as passengers was taken before the flight and a copy, sign originated. But before we explore these origins, we need Act of 1857. These silver coins were minted by the Spanish in
already mounted, was given to us when we landed! We to know where the word ‘dollar’ came from. Peru for circulation in the New World. The obverse showed
were so fortunate to have such an amazing experience The title ‘Dollar’ is much older than the American currency; a likeness of the current Spanish monarch (most commonly
at our age and for Paul to be flying in a Dragon Rapide it is an Anglicised form of ‘THALER’, the name given to silver King Phillip) however the reverse side of the coin depicted
On a cold damp morning in February, Paul and I were again. Long Live Dragon Rapides!! coins minted in Bohemia since 1591, it is a shortened version the columns of Hercules, which in Greek mythology held
looking through the daily papers when suddenly Paul of the original ‘JOACHIMSTHALER’. Later the English up the world and a ribbon furled between the two columns
exclaimed ‘That’s a Dragon Rapide’. I wondered what version of the name ‘DOLLAR’ was applied to the Spanish representing the union between the old and new worlds.
he meant. He was looking at a photo of a twin-engined ‘EIGHT REAL PIECES’ which became commonly known as Modern thinking now believes this is the true inspiration for
bi-plane that was advertising “Those Magnificent men ‘PIECES OF EIGHT’ and were widely circulated in England’s the dollar sign
in their Flying Machines”. Reading more closely we North America because of a shortage of official British coins. as we know it
discovered that on offer was a weekend in August at the of After America gained independence from Britain, the new today.
Smarden
PHIPPS MOTORS
PHIPPS MOTORS
Marriot Hotel in Huntingdon, which included visits PHIPPS MOTORS nation decided to call its currency the dollar rather than the This may or
to Duxford Air Museum and Old Warden for an Air est.1984 pound for two main reasons; there were many, many more may not be the
Tel: 01233 770171
Pageant. This we booked, as a flight on the Dragon www.phippsmotors.co.uk thalers, dollars and pieces of eight than there were pounds in actual origins,
Rapide was part of the weekend. circulation and it was also a symbolic and contemptuous slap but I would like
in the face of the British Crown.
Why did we want to fly in this plane? Because Paul to think it’s true,
in 1942, when he was only 5 years old, had flown in a In 1792, just 16 years after American Independence, the so much more
Dragon Rapide from Nairobi to Ndola. The reason for first Coinage Act was passed by the United States Congress romantic than an
old money bag
creating the US dollar, defined in law as having the same
this was that it was wartime and Paul’s parents, who • MOTs value as the Spanish milled dollar (your piece of eight.) So, theory!
were missionaries in Kenya, could not take their leave in • Servicing and repairs
England so decided to go to South Africa instead. Paul
and his brother were very excited by this event so it is • Diagnostics The WI
no wonder that nearly 80 years later he recognised the
photo in the paper. • Tyres and batteries
We set off to Huntingdon by train for what was set • Air conditioning We had our monthly meeting on Tuesday 12th think it still goes on today). It made me feel glad to
to be an interesting weekend. Our train journey October in the village hall and enjoyed a talk be a Maid of Kent.
from Kent was very straightforward as we changed • Welding by Sue Duckworth entitled Folklore in East If you are thinking of joining you are welcome
trains at London Bridge and took ‘The Thames Link’ Kent. She told us about all sorts of local customs to come to our Watercolour painting on 9th
to Huntingdon. We were a group of 40, all with • Digital 4 wheel alignment and traditional stories- smuggling and Dr November..
connections to the aircraft, of which only 10 were Syn, hopping and wassailing, Morris men and
women. On the Saturday morning we were taken by wassailing. Did you know that Invicta means
coach to Duxford where we were shown around some Kenfield Coachworks, Mill Lane, Smarden TN27 8NW unconquered or that Goudhurst was the last Liz Tapper
of the hangars before being divided into groups. Our Your local family run garage outpost of smuggling in Kent? (I’d question that- I

28 Frittenden Parish Magazine November 2021 Frittenden Parish Magazine November 2021 29