Presidents' Day: 7 myths about George Washington
Throwing a silver coin across the Potomac
One legend meant to convey the superhuman strength of George Washington has claimed that the general and statesman once took a silver dollar threw it across the Potomac River.
However, in a list of myths about Washington, Mount Vernon labeled the story false, noting that the tale would have been implausible, though was likely based on a more feasible story.
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“The Potomac River is over a mile wide at Mount Vernon, and even George Washington did not have the arm to fling a silver dollar that far,” noted the historic site, adding that “there were no silver dollars when Washington was a young man! The first silver dollar coin was minted in 1794.”
“His step-grandson, George Washington Parke Custis, recounts a story in which the General hurls a piece of slate across the Rappahannock River in Fredericksburg, Virginia. This would have been a more plausible feat, as the Rappahannock is much narrower than the Potomac.”
