Lew: Your essay on FDR reminded me that, when his mug was put on the dime (in 1946) a change also took place on the reverse side of the coin. The Roman “fasces” — which had been there for many years — was replaced by the torch of liberty (stylistically quite similar, but with 180 degree different messages). I guess that, after the World War II defeat of Mussolini, the political establishment thought it might be good PR to remove this symbol of fascism. For any who still miss this reminder of the violence that is the state, you can see the fasces on the House of Representatives chamber on either side of the front wall.
