January 7 is known by many as Old Rock Day, when the beauty and importance of rocks, minerals, and fossils is recognized by observant geophiles across this place known by many as the third rock from the Sun. As numismatists, we can find plenty of coins that contain depictions of rocks, minerals, fossils, canyons, mountains, and other relevant topics. But let’s draw our attention to one of the most beloved collections of old rocks anywhere – an arrangement of five granite cliff ledges once situated on the side of Cannon Mountain. The formation was known as The Old Man of the Mountain, and given the past-tense frame of reference to this famous landmark, you would correctly surmise that it is sadly no more.
The first written recording of the Old Man of the Mountain dates back to 1805, though geologists theorize it may have formed as long ago as about 10,000 B.C., around the time of the previous ice age. The rugged cliff outcropping eroded away to create a formation that, from a side view, resembled the profile of an older man’s face. It sparked many legends among the indigenous peoples who first resided in the region around what is now known as Franconia, New Hampshire. Over the last two centuries, it became a familiar landmark to the many who traveled from all over to see the 40-foot-tall, 25-foot-wide rock formation that stood sentinel some 1,200 feet above Profile Lake.
The Old Man of the Mountain became a geological mascot for the state of New Hampshire, so it was little surprise that the natural landmark became the literal face of the state on the 2000 New Hampshire Quarter. Sadly, just a few years later, on May 3, 2003, the Old Man of the Mountain collapsed due to natural forces. More than 20 years after the five fated ledges crumbled to the ground below, the Old Man of the Mountain remains one of the most beloved cultural touchstones of New Hampshire. Surely, the Old Man of the Mountain will forever remain steadfast on the 2000 New Hampshire Quarter.