A history of the silver and minor coins of the United States / by Robert H. Yeatman.

A HISTORY OF THE SILVER AND MINOR
COINS OF THE UNITED STATES

BY

ROBERT H YEATMAN

SUMMARY

A short history of the minting
of silver and minor coins in
the United States for the period
from the colonial era to 1942
is presented.

A HISTORY OF THE SILVER AND MINOR
COINS OF THE UNITED STATES

COLONIAL BEGINNINGS :

During the early colonial period nearly all of the colonies issued
their own minor coins instead of using the coinage of the mother country
England. Since the facilities available were rather inadequate, some of the
coins were crudely struck, but others were as fine in every detail as the
coins in circulation to-day. Notable among these early coins were the Oak and
Fine Tree shillings issued in 1652 by the Massachusetts Bay Colony. In 1722
small coins were so scarce that it was necessary to import certain coins such
as the "Wood's Cent" from Britain.

The Latin motto "E Pluribus Unum", which is found on many present day
coins, was inscribed on several of the early coins.

FIEST COINAGE IN THE UNITED STATES :

The first coin struck by an authority of the United States (this occured
while the Articles of Confederation was in effect) was the "Fugio" cent in 1787.
This coin was designed by Benjamin Franklin.

With the adaption of the Constitution in 1788 the right of coinage was
removed from the states and placed solely in the hands of the federal government.
However, this power was not exercised until several years later when the new
government organized a mint which was establisnediin 1792 at Philadelphia. The
following year this mint began operating. The only coins struck by this mint
in its initial year of operation were the one-half cent and large one cent
pieces. The nmct year the mint began the striking of half-dimes, half dollars,
and silver dollars. In 17 9S the first dimes and quarter-dollars were minted.

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A HISTORY OF THE SILVER AND MHOR
COINS OF THE UNITED STATES

EXPANSION OF THE COINAGE :

The Philadelphia mint continued striking ail coins until 1838 when
because of the expansion of the United States it was found necessary fo
establish a new mint at New Orleans, Louisiana.

The ten years before the Civil War saw many changes in the United States
coinage. In 1851 the coining of silver three cent pieces was started. Another
mint was established in 1854 at San Francisco, California. In 1857, In order
to conserve metal "and to provide coins which were easier to handle the coinage
of large cents was suspended, end the minting of small cents (such as are in
circulation now) was started. The minting of one-half cent pieces ceased
during the same year.

THE T3ETECT OF THE CIVIL VJAR ON THE COINAGE :

The outbreak of the Civil War and the secession of Louisiana brought
about the closing of the New Orleans mint. During the war and post-war periods
there was an extreme scarcity of small coins. throughout the country. Various
attempts were made to relieve this situation. .The government issued paper
fractional currency in values of $0.03, $0.05, $0.10, $0.15, $0.25, and $0.50.
Also, the people started using postage stamps in place of jcoins, this led to
the placing of postage stamps in small metal frames to protect them from wear.
This type of currency became known as "encased postage stamps?

This period was also marked by the appearance of hundreds of varieties
of tokens issued by private merchants. Although these tokens had no face value,
they were accepted by the people as legal tender.

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A HISTORY OF THE SILVER AND MINOR
COINS OF THE UNITED STATES

New coins were also minted by the government to aid in relieving the
shortage of small coins. In 1864 two cent pieces appeared and two years later
the nickel five cent pieces were first coined. In 1870 a mint was placed in
operation in Carson City, Nevada.

THE "REVOLUTION" IN UNITED STATES COINAGE :

Following the Post -Civil War period drastic changes took place in the
United States coinage. The minting of two cent pieces, silver three cent pieces,
and half -dimes ceased in 1873. In 1875 silver twenty cent pieces appeared,
however, they were only minted until 1878. The New Orleans mint was reopened
in 1879. Three years later the first of a long series of commemorative half-
dollars, the Columbian appeared.

THE COINAGE SINCE Jj?00 :

In 1906 a mint was established at Denver, Colorado. Three years later
the mint at New Orleans was discontinued. In the same year, the appearance of
the Lincoln cent marked the first time in the history of the United States
that a president was honored by the appearance of his likeness on a regular
issue coin.

The following thirty-odd years were uneventful 1 However, the Second
7,'orld War has brought about several changes in the United States coinage.
In 1942, in order to release copper for strategic war industries the com-
position of the five cent pieces was changed from a copper-nickel alloy to one
of silver, ii 1 ": rioa/fese^nn^ nickel. Also, the composition of the one cent piece
was changed from bronze to steel plated with a 1 heavy coat of zinc.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Coin Collector's Annual Catalog. .Published by the Tatham

(14th Edition) Coin Co. Springfield, Mass.