The Washington cent of 1791 (so-called) was not a coin of the United States, but was struck at a private mint in Birmingham, England, (Boulton’s), partly, no doubt, to bespeak the “job,” and partly to please Americans generally.
It has been said that Washington objected to putting his head on the coins, and it may be true; but it was also objected that no man’s head should appear on the coin of a republic, which, whether good doctrine or not, is still the prevailing idea. The “cent of 1791” is of two types, one very rare and costly, with a small eagle. The other, with a large eagle, is more common, and perhaps sells for about five dollars at a public coin sale.
United States Coins.
The first copper coins made by the United States Mint were one cent and one-half cent issues, of which there were four designs: 1st, the “chain cent;” 2d, the “wreath cent;” 3d, the “flowing hair;” and 4th, the “liberty cap,” which was used for a number of years. The “chain” device was not acceptable to the sensitive American mind, and of consequence the accidental breaking of the die was not a subject of regret, but “quite the contrary.” The pattern sections of United States coins are very beautiful and varied, especially those in gold.
The Trade Dollar.
This coin bears on the obverse a female figure seated on bales of merchandise, holding in her left hand a scroll on which is the word “liberty.” At her back is a sheaf of wheat; this and the bales of goods indicate the commercial character of the coin. Her right hand, extended, offers the olive branch. On a scroll beneath the figure are the words “In God we trust,” and the date below, “1873.” The reverse has a circling inscription, “United States of America, Trade Dollar.” In the centre is an eagle, in his claws three arrows and a sprig of olive. On a label above are the words “E Pluribus Unum.” Below, “420 grains fine,” very beautiful in design.
History of the Trade Dollar.
The coinage of the Trade Dollar was authorized by act of February 12, 1873, and was not intended for circulation in the United States, but for export to China.
It was designed to compete with the Spanish and Mexican dollar. That empire, having no mint for the coinage of gold or silver, depended upon foreign coin for its domestic circulation, and until the institution of the Trade Dollar the principal shipments of coin to China were in the form of Mexican dollars.