The female figure represented on this coin stands behinds 13 columns with a fleur-de-lis, a traditional French symbol, in each corner. Liberty's staff traditionally includes a cap on top of her staff. If it is intended to represent Britannia, she would be holding a trident. The figure holds an olive branch in her right hand and a staff in her left.
The reverse of the coin features an allegorical female figure who perhaps represents Liberty but is similar to Britannia.Some were struck after 1815 and circulated in the United States well into the mid-1800s. The coins were generally struck later than the dates shown on the coins.Historians believe these coins, circulated during the period of the Confederation in Georgia and Virginia, were intended to display patriotism and signify the new states' unity.The laurel-wreathed George was in the style of King George III's Irish halfpenny image. Some sources indicate that the head of the coin was intended to be either King George III or General George Washington. They were designed to commemorate the end of the American Revolution. coins are of British origin, most likely from Birmingham, England. Sol Taylor of Sherman Oaks is president of the Society of Lincoln Cent Collectors and author of The Standard Guide to the Lincoln Cent. In an address to Congress in November 1792, George Washington not only mentioned that the process of issuing national coinage had begun, but mentioned specifically the "half disme" coming into general commerce.Įarlier-dated coinage such as Fugio cents were minted (in New Haven and elsewhere), but collectors agree that the 1792 issues mentioned here are the first national mintage coins.ĭr.
That amount of silver alone could account for almost 2,000 coins. However, due to their rarity and popularity, auction prices could well exceed these values.Īn interesting side story to the half disme is the fact that some of silver bullion believed to be about $100 in 1792 dollars was donated by the George Washington family to the Treasury, either in the form of silverware or foreign silver coinage. Of those known to collectors, most have been circulated over the years (as five cents), until the mid-1800s.Ī well-used specimen today would bring about $7,500 and a Very Fine coin would bring about $30,000. As a souvenir of the new nation, several were put into long-term care for future generations. Of the coinage issued in 1792, only the half disme seemed to have made its way into general use. Before then, the denominations were "5c" and "10c." The spelling "disme" was changed to "dime" in 1793 since the French term "disme" was pronounced "deem" and often pronounced "dime." The word "dime" first appeared on our coins of 1837 (on the half-dime and dime). One specimen in white metal is known.Ī silver disme was struck and three pieces are known. The large cent designed by Robert Birch (very similar to the design eventually adopted for the issues to follow) includes a total of 11 pieces of three different varieties. Only 13 are known, along with eight with no silver plug.
This half-cent-sized copper coin had a silver plug in the center. In the same year, a few other coins were struck, but in such small numbers that for most, only very few are known today. Considering that many were well circulated, it is generally felt by most collectors that the 1792 half disme was our first national coinage. and Colonial Coins," he reports some 200 to 250 specimens known (as of 1980). In Walter Breen's "Complete Encyclopedia of U.S. Some 250 specimens are known to exist today, and one can estimate that a few thousand were minted. The first coin issued under the act apparently was the 1792 half disme. And due to a lack of coinage metal (bullion), the total production for 1792 was literally a handful of coins many of which were presentation pieces, gifts, or specimens for reference purposes. Since the new Philadelphia Mint was not fully operational in terms of equipment and personnel, the proposed coinage for 1792 was extremely limited. He Mint Act of 1792 provided for coinage of our first United States coinage.
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