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.
