The production of foreign coins by United States Mints began in 1833 with the striking of a Liberia One Cent piece. The coin (some call a token) was struck under an agreement with the American Colonization Society which was founded in 1817 for the exclusive purpose of relocating freeborn blacks and those emancipated slaves (resulting from the Civil War) who wanted to return to Africa. The 1833 Liberia One Cent coins were struck before Congress authorized the US Mint to produce coins for foreign countries. It is believed the Liberian One Cent pieces were produced and struck by the Mint's Medal Manufacturing Department, thus the tokens reference. Here's a photo courtesy of Early Copper (early-copper.com): 1833 Liberia One Cent: http://www.early-copper.com/coinpics/acstoken.jpg Official minting of Foreign coinage commenced right after Congress passed the Act of January 29, 1874 which reads: "Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That it shall be lawful for coinage to be executed at the mints of the United States, for any foreign countries applying for the same, according to the legally prescribed standards and devices of such country, under such regulations as the Secretary of the Treasury may prescribe; and the charge for the same shall be equal to the expense thereof. including labor, materials and use of machinery, to be fixed ny the Director of the Mint with the approval of the Secretary of the Treasury: Provided That the manufacture of such coin shall not interfere with the required coinage of the United States." So one may deduce that, actually, the first foreign coins struck by the US Mint at Philadelphia was the Venezuelan Copper-Nickel-Zinc 1 and 2 1/2 Centavo issues of 1875-1876 dated 1876 and 1877. Photos courtesy of Numismatic Catalog of Venezuela (scroll down to photos): 1877 1 Centavo: http://www.numismatica-venezuela.info/en/coins/mv1cv.htm 1876 2 1/2 Centavos: http://www.numismatica-venezuela.info/en/coins/mv2.5cv.htm Since Congress's Act of January 29, 1874, not only were Venezuelan 1 and 2 1/2 Centavos coins struck in 1876, but, from that time until 1984 1127 official issues were produced for 43 countries in Gold, Silver (several alloys), Copper-Nickel, Brass, Bronze, German Silver, Zinc, Steel, (including Stainless), Nickel and Aluminum at 6 US Mints, including Philadelphia, Denver, San Francisco, New Orleans, West Point and Manila. Not only were coins struck for other countries, but, in so doing, some United States Mint records for coin production were set including the following: 1. The smallest coin ever minted in the US (Panama 1904 2 1/2 Centesimos Pill - 10mm dia.) Photo courtesy of worldcoingallery.com: Panama 1904 2/1/2 Centesimos: http://worldcoingallery.com/countri...ntesimos (1904) Panama Pill&query=Panama pill 2. A hexagonal Belgian Congo 1943 25 Francs. Note: no photo found. Photo is of a Hexagonal 2 Francs which bears the same design and shape of the US produced 25 Francs coin: Belgian Congo 1943 2 Francs: http://worldcoingallery.com/countri...m25 2 Francs (1943)&query=Belgian Congo km 25 3. Only "crimped edge" coin was a Ethiopian 1944 25 Centimes worldcoingallery.com photo: Ethiopia 1944 35 Centimes: http://worldcoingallery.com/countri...pia km36 25 Cents (1944)&query=Ethiopia km 36 4. Largest coin minted by a US Mint was a Liberian 1973 5 Dollars (42.5mm) worldcoingallery.com photo: Liberia 1978 5 Dollars (photo is of a 1978 5 Dollars bearing same design and shape as the 1973): http://worldcoingallery.com/countri...m29 5 Dollars (1973-1978)&query=Liberia km 29 And now we come to another US Mint first: The first US Mint struck coin with a centered hole is the 1918 (arabic date 3461) 1 Satang for Siam (present day Thailand) Photo courtesy of Dan's Coin Collecting Information Center Mirror: Siam 1918 1 Satang: http://128.192.145.172/unknown/unk177.jpg Thought you might be interested... Clinker
Interesting post, and a pretty wide range of coins - thanks, Clinker! As for the Belgian Congo coin, I don't think there is a 25 francs piece. The 2 francs coin, however, was indeed minted in Philadelphia. Note the mistake in the Dutch inscription by the way: Should say "Belgisch" but accidentally says "Belgish". The Liberian coin is big and impressive indeed. Also, contrary to many other pieces "from" that country, this one actually has a Liberia-related theme ... Christian
Thanks for another informative one, Clinker. Yours are always a joy to read. Of particular interest is noting that Manila is considered to be the sixth US mint. Would like to know more about that interesting situation.
Love that trivia! It illuminates history, shining lights into the dusty corners. Thanks for the work you did! And now... A correction... It is not an arabic date, but the Buddhist Era. If you search for "Buddhist Calendar" you will find a plethora of resources, not the least of which is the old reliable Wikipedia: The Buddhist Era year for 1918 AD is 2461, not 3461. ... but other than that... You know, stuff like this keeps us all fresh.
OK, V-Man, thanks for the link. It's a great historical article that explains the the existence of the little known US Manila mint. Good on you!!!
Thanks to all of you who read this article, but a special THANKS to all of you who commented and shared information... Clinker
There are at least two books, one of them, printed by the US Government. Domestic and Foreign Coins Manufactured by Mints of the United States 1793-1970, Department of the Treasury, Bureau of the Mint, Mary Brooks, Director of the Mint, US Government Printing Office, 1972. Foreign Coins Struck at the United States Mints by Charles G. Altz and K. H. Barton, Whitman Publishing Company, Racine, Wisconsin, 1964, 1965.
Side note: Usually I do not pay much attention to the "Similar Threads" lists at the bottom. But in this case it provides some good links to earlier posts that also deal with non-US coins minted in the US ... Christian
To swish513: A personal T H A N K Y O U for reading and tendering your first comment on one of my trivia posts. Clinker
The coin that started this thread is my all time favorite. This post is the reason I joined this group. I was wondering if anyone had anything to add to the assertion that these were made at the Pilly mint. Although I am convinced that these are a US mint product and came thro' the medals dept. (Franklin Institute and the Pennsylvania Colonization Society) many believe the stuff that has been published; claiming a connection to the John Gibbs/Belleville mint of HTT's fame. Theories abound to be sure. Can anyone help me with additional information?
