Like probably many of us, I was always under the impression that the silver used to make the 1792 Half Dismes was personally donated by George Washington. A year or two ago, one of the members here (I don't remember who) said this was just a myth and they were actually made for Thomas Jefferson. Today I decided to look into this and found an excellent article that others might enjoy. https://blog.money.org/coin-collecting/history-of-the-1792-disme
Thanks for the link. Hilarious reading about Don Taxay's research in 1966. He's a bigger enigma today than those Half Dismes will ever be. I distinctly recall reading about these before where Jefferson referred to Washington as GW in his memorandum book and that Washington delivered the Half Dismes to Jefferson.
Well that's cool. I had always heard it was Jefferson's dining silverware. I always liked that story. I could see Mrs. Jefferson go into her kitchen and find the silverware gone and hollering back through the house... THOMAS!! Where is my silverware???? Not like anything like that has ever happened n my house.....
A book published about a decade ago, 1792: Birth of a Nation's Coinage, cleared this issue up. Jefferson had 75 Spanish Milled dollars converted into 1,500 half dismes. The evidence was in his personal log book. Jefferson got the first pieces into circulation when he traveled to Montecello from Philadelphia in July 1792. I bought this one many years ago. Yes, it was probably handled by Thomas Jefferson!
Excellent book, and absolutely well worth a read. I love that - in order to promote the new mint's coinage - he spent these at inns and restaurants and tips to porters on his travel. Such a better story than Washington's silver.
I bought it from JJ Teaparty when the company was in Boston. It’s not as rare as you might think. There are a little over 300 survivors. More than a few have been holed. Many others have problems. Straight graded examples are worth the big bucks. It’s more common than a Chain Ameri. cent, but easier to get. Some still don’t think that the 1792 half disme is the first U.S. coin, but it is. It was the first coin made under the standards the Coinage Act of 1792.
What about counterfeits? Are there some out there that are deceiving? Always wanted to find me a chunky Chain American cent while metal detecting. Saw one found on video.
I have not heard of any counterfeits, but the Chinese will make anything. So, don’t rest easy. They could be out there.
Ah, yes, of course. This $100k coin is much easier to get than that other $100k coin. haha, I'm teasing, of course. Your '92 half disme is one of my favorite coins you share - gorgeous, high grade, problem free. It is stunning. Do you happen to have a Chain Ameri? I don't recall you showing one before, but I might have missed it.
I saw a 1792 half disme in person at the 2025 FUN show, and mentioned that old legend about George and Martha's silverware in my show report, but someone in my thread very quickly and bluntly set me straight about that being a myth, and linked to that same article that's in the OP.
I have tried to get a Chain AMERI. several times, but have failed. I passed on one that had good color and surfaces, but a very weak date. It was graded Fine-15 with a $30k+ price tag. It had sold for $25k the last time it sold at auction. I bid way over the catalog, higher than previous auction results and higher than the auction house estimate for a high grade one, but finished third. I’ve made offers in the Heritage “make an offer to the owner” program and been turned down. Now there are asking prices of over $50k for “details” coins. it’s not met to be. I bought a couple of other coins instead.
I saw one at the summer FUN show in 2011. It was straight graded, VF30 if I remember correctly. The dealer let me view on-hand for a while and mentioned he would let me have it for $50K. It seemed like moon money to me, so thanks, but no thanks. I've never been to another Summer FUN show since - Florida is WAY too hot in the summer.....
I read the Jefferson contribution story quite a few years ago. I just seem to remember it being in a Coin World issue. My brain is probably as faulty as the George and Martha silverware version. James
“Interestingly, the individuals on the receiving end of this first transaction using federal money were almost certainly African Americans—freed blacks, or slaves living temporarily in Pennsylvania.” This sentence stands out to me every time I read the article. The real story is so much more interesting than the Martha’s silverware bunk.
