Illustrated history of the United States mint / with a complete description of American coinage, from the earliest period to the present time

by Unknown

Silver.

Dollar.

Authorized to be coined, Act of April 2, 1792. Weight, 416 grains; fineness, 892.4. Weight changed, Act of January 18, 1837, to 412½ grains. Fineness changed, Act of January 18, 1837, to 900. Coinage discontinued, Act of February 12, 1873. Coinage reauthorized, Act of February 28, 1878.

1794. Obverse: Liberty head, facing right, flowing hair, fifteen stars; above, “LIBERTY;” beneath, “1794.”

Reverse: An eagle with raised wings, encircled by branches of laurel crossed; “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.” On the edge, “HUNDRED CENTS, ONE DOLLAR OR UNIT.” Size, 24.

1795. No. 1. Same.

1795. No. 2. Bust of Liberty, facing right, hair bound by a ribbon, shoulders draped, fifteen stars.

Reverse: An eagle with expanded wings, standing upon clouds, within a wreath of palm and laurel, which is crossed and tied. “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.”

1796. Same as No. 2, of 1795.

1797. No. 1. Same as No. 2 of 1795, with sixteen stars, six of which are facing.

1797. No. 2. Same, with seven stars facing.

1798. No. 1. Same as No. 2 of 1795, with fifteen stars.

1798. No. 2. Same, with thirteen stars.

1798. No. 3. Obverse: Same, with thirteen stars.

Reverse: An eagle with raised wings, bearing the United States shield upon its breast, in beak, a scroll inscribed “E PLURIBUS UNUM.” A bundle of thirteen arrows in the right talon, and an olive branch in the left. Above, are clouds, and thirteen stars. “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.” Size, 25.

1799 to 1804, inclusive. Same as No. 3, of 1798.

1805 to 1839, inclusive. None issued.

1840 to 1865, inclusive. Obverse: Liberty seated upon a rock, supporting with her right hand the United States shield, across which floats a scroll inscribed “LIBERTY,” and with her left the staff and liberty cap; beneath, the date.

Reverse: An eagle with expanded wings, bearing the United States shield upon its breast, and an olive branch and three arrows in its talons. “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.” “ONE DOLL.” Reeded edge; size, 24.

1866 to 1873, inclusive. Same, with a scroll above the eagle, inscribed, “IN GOD WE TRUST.”

1874 to 1877, inclusive. None issued.

1878. Obverse: Liberty head facing left, upon which is a cap, a wheat and cotton wreath, and a band inscribed “LIBERTY;” above, “E PLURIBUS UNUM;” beneath, the date. Thirteen stars.

Reverse: An eagle with expanded wings pointing upwards; in right talon an olive branch with nine leaves; in the left, three arrows. In the field above, “IN GOD WE TRUST;” beneath, a semi-wreath, tied and crossed, reaching upwards to the wings; “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.” Some pieces of the above date (1878) were coined with eight feathers in the tail during the year, but seven have been adopted.

Trade Dollar.

Authorized to be coined, Act of February 12, 1873. Weight, 420 grains; fineness, 900.

1873. Obverse: Liberty seated upon a cotton bale, facing left; in her extended right hand an olive branch; in her left a scroll inscribed “LIBERTY;” behind her a sheaf of wheat; beneath, a scroll inscribed “IN GOD WE TRUST;” thirteen stars; “1873.”

Reverse: An eagle with expanded wings; in talons three arrows and an olive branch; above, a scroll inscribed “E PLURIBUS UNUM;” beneath, on field, “420 grains;” “900 fine.” “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.” Size, 24.

Half Dollar.

Authorized to be coined, Act of April 2, 1792. Weight, 208 grains; fineness, 892.4. Weight changed, Act of January 18, 1837, to 206¼ grains. Fineness changed, Act of January 18, 1837, to 900. Weight changed, Act of February 21, 1853, to 192 grains. Weight changed, Act of February 12, 1873, to 12½ grammes, or 192.9 grains.

1794 and 1795. Same type as the dollar of 1794. On the edge, “Fifty cents or half a dollar.” Size, 21.

1796. No. 1. Same type as No. 2, dollar of 1795, with the denomination, “½,” inscribed on the base of the reverse. No. 2. Same, with sixteen stars on the obverse.

1797. Same as No. 2, of 1796.

1798 to 1800, inclusive. None issued.

1801 to 1803, inclusive. Same type as No. 3, dollar of 1798.

1804. None issued.

1805 and 1806. Same as No. 3, dollar of 1798.

1807. No. 1. Same.

No. 2. Obverse: Liberty head facing left, wearing a kind of turban, with “LIBERTY” inscribed upon the band. Thirteen stars and date.

Reverse: An eagle with expanded wings pointing downwards, bearing upon its breast, the U. S. Shield, an olive branch and three arrows in its talons; above, in the field, a scroll inscribed “E PLURIBUS UNUM;” beneath 50 C. “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.”

1808 to 1835 inclusive, same as No. 2 of 1807.

1836. No. 1. Same as No. 2 of 1807.

No. 2. Obverse: Same.

Reverse: An eagle with expanded wings pointing downwards, the U. S. shield upon its breast, an olive branch and three arrows in its talons, “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,” reeded edge.

1837. Same as No. 2 of 1836.

1838. Obverse: Same as No. 2 of 1836.

Reverse: Same; “HALF DOL.” for “50 C.”

1839. No. 1. Same as 1838.

No. 2. Same type as dollar of 1840.

1840 to 1852 inclusive, same.

1853. Obverse: Same with an arrow head on each side of the date.

Reverse: Same, with a halo of rays around the edge.

1854. Same, without the rays.

1855. Same.

1856 to 1865 inclusive, same, without the arrow heads.

1866 to 1872 inclusive, same, with scroll above the eagle inscribed “IN GOD WE TRUST.” (Some have been occasionally met with, which have been issued by the San Francisco Mint, without this legend in 1866.)

1873. No. 1. Same.

No. 2. Same, with arrow heads on each side of the date.

1874. Same.

1875. Same, without the arrow heads.

Quarter Dollar.

Authorized to be coined, Act of April 2, 1792. Weight, 104 grains; fineness, 892.4. Weight changed, Act of January 18, 1837, to 103½ grains. Fineness changed, Act of January 18, 1837, to 900. Weight changed, Act of February 21, 1853, to 96 grains. Weight changed, Act of February 12, 1873, to 6¼ grammes, or 96.45 grains.

1796. Same type as No. 2 dollar of 1795, with reeded edge; size, 18; fifteen stars.

1797 to 1803. None issued.

1804 to 1807, inclusive. Same type as No. 3 dollar of 1798, beneath, “25c.”

1808 to 1814, inclusive. None issued.

1815. Same type as No. 2 half dollar of 1807.

1816 and 1817. None issued.

1818 to 1825, inclusive. Same type as No. 2 half dollar of 1807, size 17.

1826. None issued.

1827 and 1828. Same type as No. 2 half dollar of 1807.

1829 and 1830. None issued.

1831 to 1837, inclusive. Same type as half dollar of 1807, with the diameter reduced from size 17 to size 15, and a corresponding increase in thickness and decrease of the size of devices, and the omission of the scroll, inscribed “E PLURIBUS UNUM.”

1838. No. 1. Same as 1837. No. 2. Same type as the dollar of 1840, with “QUAR. DOL.” for “ONE DOLL.”

1839 to 1852, inclusive. Same as No. 2 of 1838.

1853. No. 1. Same. No. 2. Same, with arrow heads on each side of date, and a halo of rays around the edge.

1854 and 1855. Same, without the rays.

1856 to 1865. Same, without the arrow heads.

1866 to 1872, inclusive. Same, with the scroll above the eagle, inscribed “IN GOD WE TRUST.”

1873. No. 1. Same. No. 2. Same, with an arrow head on each side of the date.

1874. Same.

1875. Same, without the arrow head.

Twenty-Cent Piece.

Authorized to be coined, Act of March 3, 1875. Weight, 5 grammes, or 77.16 grains; fineness, 900. Coinage discontinued, Act of May 2, 1878.

1875 to 1878, inclusive. Obverse: Same type as the dollar of 1840.

Reverse: An eagle with displayed wings, three arrows, and an olive branch, two of the leaves of which nearest the stem, together with those drooping from the centre, overlap; the terminating leaves on the end of the branch, however, do not. On each side a star. Plain edge. “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.” “TWENTY CENTS.” Size, 14.

Dime.

Authorized to be coined, Act of April 2, 1792. Weight, 41.6 grains; fineness, 892.4. Weight changed, Act of January 18, 1837, to 41¼ grains. Fineness changed, Act of January 18, 1837, to 900. Weight changed, Act of February 21, 1853, to 38.4 grains. Weight changed, Act of February 12, 1873, to 2½ grammes, or 38.58 grains.

1796. Same type as the No. 2 dollar of 1795; size 13; fifteen stars.

1797. No. 1. Same, with sixteen stars on the obverse. No. 2. Same, with thirteen stars on the obverse.

1798. No. 1. Same type as No. 3 dollar of 1798, with sixteen stars. No. 2. With thirteen stars on the obverse.

1799. None issued.

1800 to 1805, inclusive. Same as No. 3 of 1798.

1806. None issued.

1807. Same as No. 2 of 1798.

1808. None issued.

1809. Same type as No. 2 half-dollar of 1807; size, 12.

1810. None issued.

1811. Same as 1809.

1812 to 1813, inclusive. None issued.

1814. Same as 1809.

1815 to 1819, inclusive. None issued.

1820 to 1825, inclusive. Same as 1809.

1826. None issued.

1827 to 1836, inclusive. Same as 1809.

1837. No. 1. Same as 1809. No. 2. Obverse: Liberty seated. No stars.

Reverse: “ONE DIME” within a wreath of laurel. “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.” Size, 11.

1838. No. 1. Same as No. 2 of 1837. No. 2. Same, with thirteen stars.

1839 to 1852, inclusive. Same as No. 2 of 1838.

1853. No. 1. Same. No. 2. Same, with an arrow head on each side of the date.

1854 and 1855. Same as No. 2 of 1853.

1856 to 1859, inclusive. Same, without arrow heads.

1860 to 1872, inclusive. Obverse: Same, with “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” instead of stars.

Reverse: “ONE DIME” within a wreath of corn, wheat, cotton, and tobacco.

1873. No. 1. Same. No. 2. Same, with an arrow head on each side of the date.

1874. Same as No. 2 of 1873.

1875. Same, without arrow heads.

Half Dime.

Authorized to be coined, Act of April 2, 1792. Weight, 20.8 grains; fineness, 892.4. Weight changed, Act of January 18, 1837, to 20⅝ grains. Fineness changed, Act of January 18, 1837, to 900. Weight changed, Act of February 21, 1853, to 19.2 grains. Coinage discontinued, Act of February 12, 1873.

1794 and 1795. Same type as the half dollar; size, 10.

1796. Same type as No. 2 dollar of 1795; fifteen stars.

1797. No. 1. Same, with fifteen stars. No. 2. Same, with sixteen stars. No. 3. Same, with thirteen stars.

1798 and 1799. None issued.

1800 to 1803, inclusive. Same type as No. 3 dollar of 1798.

1804. None issued.

1805. Same as 1800.

1806 to 1828, inclusive. None issued.

1829 to 1873. See dime.

Three Cent Piece.

Authorized to be coined, Act of March 3, 1851. Weight, 12⅜ grains; fineness, 750. Weight changed, Act of March 3, 1853, to 11.52 grains. Fineness changed, Act of March 3, 1853, to 900. Coinage discontinued, Act of February 12, 1873.

1851 to 1853, inclusive. Obverse: A star bearing the United States shield. “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.”

Reverse: An ornamented “C,” within which is the denomination “III,” around the border, thirteen stars; size, 9.

1854 to 1858. Obverse: Same, with two lines around the star.

Reverse: An olive branch above the “III,” and three arrows below, all within the “C.”

1858 to 1873, inclusive. Same, with one line around the star.