When looking at coin catalogs, have you given any thought to the "grains" description of each listing? For instance, when the USA Half Cent was authorized on April 2, 1792 its weight was set at 132 "grains". Before the coin was minted the Coinage Act of January 14, 1793 lowered the weight to 104 "grains." The coin remained at this weight until January 26,1796 after the Coinage Act of March 3, 1795 set the weight at 84 grains. Weight of the USA Large Cent was set at exactly twice that of the Half Cent, thus the original Large Cent was to be 264 grains, but was lowered to 208 "grains" on January 14, 1793, then further reduced to 168 "grains" in 1876. A new-sized USA One Cent coin (Flying Eagle) composed of copper-nickle (88% copper, 12% nickle) and only 19mm in diameter was authorized by the Coinage Act of February 21, 1857. The weight of the new small Cent was set at 72 "grains." Patterns were struck in 1856. Circulation Flting Eagle Cents were minted in 1957 and 1958. What is this weight, "grains?" Grain was a universal trade/swap medium throughout the world long before coin developement began. Being subject to insect infestation, mold, mildew and being hard to transport, coinage, as an exchange medium, was readily accepted in lieu of "grain." However, most countries' (photo examples to come later) early coins bore grain (barley, buckwheat, millet, oats, rice, rye or wheat in single heads, beards, stalks or stacks of sheaves.. Groats (Ancient European - Grote) are the hulled grains or first cereals of the world often served as a hot pudding (porridge). Definitions are: From Answewrs.com: pl.n. (used with a sing. or pl. verb) Hulled, usually crushed grain, especially oats. [Middle English grotes, from Old English grotan.] From English Dictionary: noun groat (Dutch "groot" OE grote) (usually in pl. groats) hulled grain From Merriam-Webster: Main entry 'groat' Pronunciation /grot/ Function: noun Etymology: Middle English grotes, plural, from Old English grotean, plural of grot; akin to Old English greot grit Date: 12th Century 1. usually plural but singular in construction : hulled grain broken into fragments larger than grits 2 : a grain (as of oats) exclusive of the hull Here's a photo of a serving of Kasha (buckwheat "groats") courtesy of Wikimedia Commons: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Kasza_gryczana.jpg This Groat example may surprise you. Photo courtesy of Wikimedia: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cream_of_Wheat.jpg These photos may suprise you too. Photos courtesy of Wikimedia: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Granola03242006.JPG http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Granolabar.jpg http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:PuffedRice.jpg http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:WheatBran.jpg Enough about cereals (Groats) Here's an example of coins bearing grain(s) on them: Here's 100 photos of various ancient coins bearing grain(s) on them. Photos courtesy of coinarchives.com (look at as many as your hungry tummy desires): http://www.coinarchives.com/a/results.php?search=Grain&s=0&results=100 In 1272 King Edward I of England wanted to issue a coin that would circulate throughout the Kingdom as a coin of such a value that the rich would spend them, but the middleclass and poor could save them. He named that coin Groat and, with the advice of his advisers, court, seers and clergy set the coin's value at Four Pennies (4 Pence). King Edward's groat weighed 89 "grains" and contained 6.2 grams of sterling silver. Here's a photo of a King Edward I Groat courtesy of Wikipedia. The coin did what it was expected to do and right up to 1971 (year of decimalization) Englanders referred to Four Pence coins as Groats, even those in Maundy sets. Since the coin was so popular and gave some stature to the commoners of England, Scotland and Ireland started issuing their own Groats. Scotish groats were not issued until the reign of David II (1367). Scot's groats were originally, also, worth fourpence. Here's a photo courtesy of Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:David_II_of_Scotland_groat_1367_612676.jpg Ireland issued its first Groats in 1425 and stopped issuing them during the reign of Elizabeth I of England except for two emergency issues. Here's a photo of an Irish Groat issued in the reign of King Henry III courtesy of Wikimedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Henry_8_Irish_groat_1541_756365.jpg That's the "grist" of this subject. Did you enjoy this post? Clinker
The coin-groats are not related to the grain. "Groat" is a corruption of gros, grosso, and groschen, all meaning "fat." Groats were fat silver coins. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Groat_(coin) Another avenue you may want to look into is the use of grain on ancient coins, particularly Roman ones depicting Annona, the goddess of grain distribution. (I wrote this one up...) http://www.cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=146281
Hi Ardatirion: Thanks for the sharing the photo...and...yes there are myriads of ancient coins featuring grain on them (as do our USA Lincoln Cents from 1909 through 1959). Some of the USA pattern coins featured grain on them from the years of the Seated Liberty coins... Clinker
Interesting. I wonder if that carries over in the measurements for other things in grains, such as gun powder in bullets. Guy~
Very interesting. So a fat coin intended to replace the movement of grain and therefore widely acceptable in commerce. On top of all that it's a beautiful series of coins. Thanks for the interesting writeup Clinker. I always enjoy reading your Trivia posts.
Hi coleguy: I imagine (not 100 per cent sure) that since grain was the first measurement for any other item or product not all the products relinguished "grains" in favor of grams, ounces, etc. Clinker
