Did You Know?
- The first United States Mint was erected in Philadelphia and the first issues were struck in late 1792, consisting of dismes and half dismes made from Washington's own silver plate.
- Cents and Half Cents were the only denominations struck in 1793.
- Small denomination coins of Foreign Countries continued in use in the U.S. after 1800.
- Coinage of the Silver Dollar and the Eagle Ten Dollar Gold Piece was suspended in 1803.
- During the early part of the Nineteenth Century the Half Dollar served as the principal silver coin for large transactions moving from bank to bank.
- The Postage rate of three cents in the middle 1800's brought about the coinage of the silver Three Cent Piece in 1851.
- In 1853 the Three Dollar Gold Piece was authorized.
- Also in 1853 the weights of all silver pieces except the Dollar were reduced. Arrowheads were placed on each side of the dates to indicate the change during this and the following two years.
- The first regular issue Small Cents were made in 1857.
- The issues of Cents of 1857 to 1864 were known as "White Cents".
- The Law of 1857 abolished the Half Cent.
- The Two Cent Piece was introduced in 1864. This was the first U.S. Coin to bear the motto "In God We Trust".
- The nickel Five Cent Piece was first struck in 1866.
- The Morgan Dollar was issued in 1878.
- An Act of February 19,1887 provided for redemption of U.S. Trade Dollars for a period of six months, after which they were to be worth their metal value only. This is the only piece of United States money ever to be demonetized!
- The coinage of the Twenty Cent Piece from 1875 to 1878 was an experiment. The public complained about the similarity to the quarter. Reminds one of the Susan B. Anthony Dollar....
- The Act of September 26, 1890 governs the changes of designs in all denominations and forbids such changes unless the designs were in existence for 25 years, except by special Congressional action.
- A Presidential order in 1933 prohibited the hoarding of gold coins.
- In 1965 Dimes and Quarters were changed from .900 fine silver to a clad copper-nickel composition. The Half Dollar became a .400 fine silver coin at the same time.
- The Dallas Federal Reserve Bank is designated by the letter "K".
"Federal Reserve Notes Are Not Dollars".....Russell Munk, Assistant General Counsel, Department of the Treasury. 1977.
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