Hats Off to the Phrygian Cap

By GovMint:

The Phrygian cap, commonly referred to as the Liberty cap, has had an important role throughout history worldwide and is a significant symbol on coinage. What’s the story behind the Phrygian cap, and what does the cap symbolize? 

Let’s talk about the history of the famous Liberty cap and what it means when you find it on coins!

What Is a Phrygian Cap?

Many classic U.S. coin designs reveal a mysterious-looking hat, including the Walking Liberty, Mercury Dime, Barber Dime, the Seated Liberty Dollar, and America’s beloved Morgan Silver Dollar.

Most never give it a second thought, but it’s a Phrygian cap, a fabric cone-like hat with a rounded top that gracefully falls to one side. In each of the above-mentioned classic coins, a figure (often representing freedom) is wearing a small rounded hat, the Phrygian cap. And the Liberty cap isn’t just featured on coins—it’s also an important part of the artwork in the U.S. capitol and artwork commemorating the French Revolution in France!

History of the Phrygian Cap

The Phrygian cap was originally worn by many people living in Phrygia (now part of Turkey) and all of Anatolia. 

Later, a similar cap called the pileus was worn by liberated Romans who were enslaved. Enslaved people were not allowed to cover their heads, so wearing a pileus was seen as a sign of freedom or liberation. For this reason, they became known as “liberty caps.” As time passed, Europeans assumed the pileus and the Phrygian cap were the same hat. Other cultures began to adopt the Phrygian cap as a symbol of their own freedom and pursuit of liberty. 

American patriots, such as the Sons of Liberty, wore them years before the American Revolution. Revolutionary soldiers wore red Phrygian caps embroidered with freedom-themed quotes, like “Liberty or Death.”

During the French Revolution, women sat near the guillotine, knitting Phrygian caps to hand out as a sign of liberty. The cap eventually made its way into the permanent French identity. For centuries, the French version of our Lady Liberty has been depicted wearing the “red cap of liberty” on stamps, paintings, official seals, coins, and more to symbolize the “Triumph of the Republic.”

Now, you won’t see the Phrygian cap very often unless it’s on classic coins, classic art, or the heads of the Smurfs!

What Does a Phrygian Cap Symbolize?

For centuries, the Phrygian cap has symbolized freedom and liberty. From liberated Romans to revolutionaries in the United States and France, the Phrygian cap has become a meaningful symbol of the value of self-governance. 

In more modern times, Latin American coins, such as the Pillar Dollar from the Mexico Mint, reveal the same meaningful symbolism of the Phrygian cap. Even today, it's seen gracing several U.S. State flags and official government seals.

Liberty Caps on U.S. Coins 

Here are some classic U.S. coins that feature the Phrygian cap. 

• Walking Liberty: The obverse of the Walking Liberty coin features Lady Liberty walking wrapped in an American flag with a Phrygian cap on her head. The reverse features an American Bald Eagle. 
• Morgan Silver Dollar: The Morgan Dollar features a closer image of Lady Liberty wearing a Phrygian cap on the obverse and also has an American Bald Eagle on the reverse. 
• Mercury Dime: The Mercury Dime features an image of the Roman God Mercury and Lady Liberty with a winged Phrygian cap, while a branch and a hatchet are featured on the reverse.
• Barber Dime: The Barber Dime has a classic Liberty Head wearing a Phrygian cap design on the obverse with an American Bald Eagle on the reverse. 
• Seated Liberty Dollar: On the obverse, the Seated Liberty Dollar has an image of Lady Liberty seated and holding a Liberty Pole with a Phrygian cap on top of it. The reverse has an American Bald Eagle. 

If you’re looking for historical U.S. coins featuring the Phrygian cap, such as those mentioned above, be sure to make GovMint your preferred source for a variety of notable U.S. coins.