Honoring Emma M. Nutt Day with the Massachusetts Telephone Dollar

If you’re of a certain age, you might remember being able to dial “0” to speak to an operator. Today, dialing “0” on a modern cell phone or digital homeline will usually route you to a recorded message telling you to dial “911” for emergencies or offering a connection to customer service. However, back in the 20th century and into the early 21st century, dialing “0” would put you in touch with a human operator. They could provide you with telephone numbers, connect you with the person you wished to call, and even summon emergency services (before the days of 911).

One of the earliest telephone operators in the world was also the first female to hold the role. Her name was Emma M. Nutt, and she was hired by the Boston Telephone Dispatch Company on September 1, 1878. And just as appropriately, Massachusetts – the state where Boston is located – received the honor of being featured on a 2020 American Innovation Dollar that recalls the invention of, yes, the telephone. It’s an apt fit, given that Bostonian Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone in 1876 and received the patent for his world-changing creation.

The reverse of the 2020 Massachusetts American Innovation Dollar depicts the rotary dial of an old telephone, a sight familiar to so many who placed calls back in the day. The obverse showcases the Statue of Liberty, a common device across all coins in this ongoing dollar coin series. American Innovation Dollars can be collected in several different PCGS Registry Sets that accommodate the U.S. Mint coin program, which is slated to continue until 2032. The popular commemorative dollar coin program honors inventions, inventors, or groups of inventors from each of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the five United States territories.