Minor Coins.
Five cent piece. (Nickle.)
Authorized to be coined, Act of May 16, 1866. Weight, 77.16 grains; composed of 75 per cent. copper, and 25 per cent. nickle.
1866. Obverse: A United States shield surmounted by a cross, an olive branch pendent at each side, back of the base of the shield are two arrows, the heads and feathers are only visible; beneath, “1866;” above, in the field, “IN GOD WE TRUST.”
Reverse: “5” within a circle of thirteen stars, and rays, “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.” Size, 13.
1867. Same. No. 2. Same, without the rays.
1868. Same as No. 2 of 1867.
1869 to 1882. Same as No. 2 of 1867.
1883. No. 1. Same. No. 2. Obverse: Liberty head wearing a coronet which is inscribed “LIBERTY,” thirteen stars, and date, “1883.”
Reverse: A “V” within a wreath of corn and cotton. Legend, “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.” Exergue, “E PLURIBUS UNUM.” No. 3, Obverse: Same as No. 2.
Reverse: Same, with “CENTS” as the exergue, and “E PLURIBUS UNUM” above the wreath.
1884. Same as No. 3 of the preceding.
Three cent piece. (Nickle.)
Authorized to be coined, Act of April 3, 1865. Weight, 30 grains; composed of 75 per cent. copper, and 25 per cent. nickle.
1865. Obverse: Liberty head, facing left, hair bound by a ribbon, on the forehead a coronet inscribed “LIBERTY;” beneath, the date, “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.”
Reverse: “III” within a laurel wreath.
Two Cent Piece (bronze).
Authorized to be coined, Act of April 22, 1864. Weight, 96 grains, composed of ninety-five per cent. copper and five per cent. of tin and zinc. Coinage discontinued, Act of February 12, 1873.
1864 to 1873, inclusive. Obverse: The United States shield, behind which are two arrows, crossed, on each side a branch of laurel; above, a scroll inscribed “IN GOD WE TRUST”; beneath, the date.
Reverse: “2 CENTS” within a wreath of wheat. “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.” Size, 14.
Cent (copper).
Authorized to be coined, Act of April 22, 1792. Weight, 264 grains. Weight changed, Act of January 14, 1793, to 208 grains. Weight changed by proclamation of the President, January 26, 1796, in conformity with an Act of March 3, 1795, to 168 grains. Coinage discontinued, Act of February 21, 1857.
1793. No. 1. Obverse: Liberty head, facing right, flowing hair. Above, “LIBERTY”: beneath, “1793.”
Reverse: A chain of fifteen links, within which is inscribed “ONE CENT” and the fraction “⅟₁₀₀.” United States of America; reeded edge; size, 17.
No. 2. Same, with the abbreviation “AMERI.” in the Legend.
No. 3. Obverse: Same as No. 1, with a sprig beneath.
Reverse: “ONE CENT” within a wreath of laurel. “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.” Reeded edge.
No. 4. Obverse: A bust of Liberty, facing right, with pole and liberty cap. Above, “LIBERTY”; beneath, “1793.”
Reverse: Same as No. 3; on the edge, “ONE HUNDRED FOR A DOLLAR.” Size, 18.
1794 and 1795. Same as No. 4 of 1793.
1796. No. 1. Same. No. 2. Same, with hair bound by a ribbon, and without pole and liberty cap on the obverse. Plain edge.
1797 to 1807 inclusive. Same as No. 2 of 1796.
1808 to 1814, inclusive. Obverse: Liberty head, facing left, hair confined by a band, inscribed “LIBERTY.” Thirteen stars and date.
Reverse: “ONE CENT,” within a laurel wreath. “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.” The fraction “⅟₁₀₀” is omitted.
1815. None issued.
1816. Obverse: Liberty head, facing left, the hair is confined by a roll, and tied by a cord, while the forehead is bedecked with a tiara, inscribed “LIBERTY.”
Reverse: Same as 1808.
1817. No. 1. Same. No. 2. Same, with fifteen stars.
1818 to 1836. Same as No. 1 of 1817.
1837. No. 1. Same. No. 2. Same, with the hair tied by a string of beads instead of a cord.
1838 to 1857, inclusive. Same as No. 2 of 1837.
Cent (Nickle).
Authorized to be coined, Act of February 21, 1857. Weight 72 grains; composed of 88 per cent. copper and 12 per cent. nickle. Coinage discontinued, Act of April 22, 1864.
1857 and 1858, Obverse: An eagle flying to the left. “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.”
Reverse: “ONE CENT,” within a wreath of corn, wheat, cotton, and tobacco. Size, 11.
1859. Obverse: An Indian-head, facing left, bedecked with eagle plumes, confined. “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.” Beneath, the date.
Reverse: “ONE CENT.” within a wreath of laurel.
1860 to 1864, inclusive. Obverse: Same.
Reverse: “ONE CENT,” within an oak wreath and shield.
Cent (Bronze).
Coinage authorized, Act of April 22, 1857. Weight, 48 grains; composed of 95 per cent. copper and 5 per cent. of tin and zinc.
1864. Same type as nickle cent of 1860. Size, 12.
Half Cent (Copper).
Authorized to be coined, Act of April 2, 1792. Weight, 132 grains. Weight changed, Act of January 14, 1793, to 104 grains. Weight changed by proclamation of the President, January 26, 1796, in conformity with Act of March 3, 1795, to 84 grains. Coinage discontinued, Act of February 21, 1857.
1793. Same type as cent No. 4, 1793, with head facing left. On the edge, “TWO HUNDRED FOR A DOLLAR.” Size, 14.
1794. Same type as the cent of 1794.
1795 to 1797, inclusive. Same, with plain edge.
1798 and 1799. None issued.
1800. Same type as No. 2 cent of 1796, with the fraction “⅟₂₀₀” on the base of the reverse.
1801. None issued.
1802 to 1808, inclusive. Same as 1800. From 1808, the fraction “⅟₂₀₀” omitted.
1809 to 1811, inclusive. Same type as cent of 1808.
1812 to 1824, inclusive. None issued.
1825 and 1826. Same type as cent of 1808.
1827. None issued.
1828. No. 1. Same type as cent 1808, with thirteen stars. No. 2. Same, with twelve stars.
1829. Same, with thirteen stars.
1830. None issued.
1831 to 1836, inclusive. Same type as cent of 1808.
1837 to 1839, inclusive. None issued.
1840 to 1857, inclusive. Same type as No. 2 cent of 1837; size, 14.