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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;900fine, post: 421151, member: 6036&quot;]As always ! Thanks, Clinker !</p><p><br /></p><p>Does it depend on perspective, or definition of terms ?</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><b>First, we have to define &quot;coin&quot;. </b>To me, a coin must must include all of the following characteristics : metallic, flat, any shape, stamped on at least one side, intended for use as a medium of financial exchange (as opposed to a medal), and officially sanctioned by a government.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>This excludes wampum. We would have to investigate and determine if any other Native American technology produced anything fitting the definition of &quot;coin&quot;. If they did, then the date and nature of the first &quot;coin&quot; is probably lost in antiquity. Personally, this is the stickiest issue. It&#039;s possible something Native American (pre-Norse) could be considered &quot;coin&quot;.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The word <b>&quot;in&quot;</b> implies <b>&quot;came to be on these shores by any means&quot;,</b> including <b>carried here</b> by anyone (imperial Europeans or anyone else), <b>minted here</b> by anyone, or planted here by the same aliens who abducted Elvis. <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie2" alt=";)" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" /></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><b>Certainly we must agree on a definition of the term &quot;Americas&quot;</b>. Other than the obvious two continents, we would have determine which islands (Atlantic AND Pacific) constitute &quot;Americas&quot;. For instance - Hawaii. There were people there before Columbus. Did they have coins ?</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The term &quot;Western Hemisphere&quot; is not adequate, as it includes real estate not part of the Americas.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>If we use those definitions, Clinker&#039;s research indicates the first KNOWN coin IN the Americas was the Norse &quot;Maine Penny&quot;. Who knows what else will turn up ?</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The first coin MADE in the Americas was in Mexico City.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Anyone is free to disagree on definitions, and is likely to come up with different honorees for &quot;first&quot;.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Thanks again, Clinker ! Good stuff as always.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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