first coin minted in us?

is this what I think it is?? http://www.foxnews.com/science/2017/08/01/did-alexander-hamilton-hold-this-coin.html

 

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What do you think it is?

 

Well first things first, Welcome to CT. I think it could be the first coin ever minted

 

Read an interesting article recently about Thomas Jefferson taking what coinage he had to be melted and they were the first to come from Philadelphia. He walked it to the new Mint building himself as he only lived a few blocks away.

 

Interesting story!

Chris

 

Pretty interesting. I remember seeing the 1794 dollar at a show about 10 years ago. Love that old, original stuff.

Now I need to give each of my coin a story, and I'll be rich!

 

Interesting, but factually inaccurate.

Under the Articles of Confederation, the power to coin money was reserved to the States.

This coin is a pattern, and not a coin.

The first coin struck by the US Mint is a 1792 Half Disme that was owned by the Rittenhouse family until it sold at the World's Fair of Money Rarities Night Auction by Stacks-Bowers auctions in 2012.

I've actually held the coin in my hand.

 

If I'm not mistaken those half disme's were spent by Jefferson shortly after they were made from his original melted coins on a trip to Monticello where he used them at various inns and other stops to show them to the public to gauge their acceptance or lack of.

 

Why would Jefferson spend the Half Dismes? Washington was president at the time they were minted. How would he get the coins?

 

Spanish Reale Coins???

 

I'd need to re-read the article Mike. Whatever coins Jefferson received after they were made were spent by him. I'm probably wrong about which ones they were.

 

It was in Coin World, July 2017 issue. Jefferson walked his personal $75.00 of silver to the Mint office and his silver was made into the first 1,500 half dismes. His trek, which took him across four states and 250 miles saw the first six coins spent at an inn as a tip to the servants. It was the first commercial transaction conducted in money authorized by the U.S. Constitution. July 13th, 1792 was the day these were made.

 

I learned something new. Thanks, Tommy!

 

I do not have a link to the article I mentioned above but it was very well written and quite long and detailed, much of it from the journals and diaries of Jefferson. If you all have a chance to get a copy, please do read it. I learned a lot more than I ever knew before about these first coins. Jefferson fought tooth and nails to get away from the British and Spanish coins and Britain fought back against this ferociously.

 

It's not what you think it is. It's what the article says some guy thinks it is.

 

Just because its a pattern does not mean its not a coin. I know the man who owned this and got this all figured out, also the one who photographed it. But Im confused because what about the 1776 Continental Currency.

 

Shouldn't you be holding it between your thumb and first finger?


"This coin is a pattern, and not a coin."
This is the most nonsensical statement I've seen for years! You cannot say "this coin is not a coin". Perhaps you can say "this round coin-shaped junk of metal is not a coin". Anyway, if patterns are not coins why are they listed in standard references.

 

While I agree that my choice of words could have been more clear, the meaning was not as clouded as you suggest.

The Nova Constellatios are patterns, not coins. They were not minted for commerce, nor were they coin of the realm. The 1792 Half Dismes were minted under constitutional authority and were the first US coins minted to be used as money.

No, I didn't need to hold the coin by the edges as it was in a PCGS slab and therefore was laying flat in the palm of my hand.

Is that clearer Oddjob?

 

Just because they were not officially issued for circulation, they still are coins. Patterns, specimens, and proofs are all coins, but arent issued for circulation.

 

Not to argue but specimens and proofs are different types of strikes and have nothing to do with whether or not an issue is considered a coin.

You are entitled to be wrong about patterns if you insist. Medals are not coins, either, but they are sometimes referred to by that name. Patterns are more similar to medals than they are coins with the exception of the fact that they have a stated denomination.