Coins

Coins as a currency have been used since 269 BCE. It was used in the Roman Empire as pay for soldiers who were serving is Egypt. On the coin it had the images of Cleopatra on one side and Marc Antony on the reverse. Lydians were the first Western world to make coins. Counrties were soon minting their own series of coins with specific values. Metal was used because it was easy to work with and recyclable.


 * United States Coin Timeline**
 * 1535** - Spaniards establish mint in Mexico City
 * 1616** - Hogge Money provided for Bermuda from England
 * 1652** - John Hull - silver pieces - NE
 * 1653 -1660** - Willow Tree
 * 1660 - 1667** - Oak Tree
 * 1658,1659** - Lord Baltimore - colony of Maryland - from England
 * 1664-1666** - London Elephant tokens (used by merchants)
 * 1664 - 1710** - New York token
 * 1667 -1682** - Pine Tree
 * 1682** - Mark Newby - half pence and farthings - New Jersey
 * 1688** - James II Plantation Token
 * 1694** - Carolina Elephant Token from England; New England Elephant token
 * 1714** - Gloucester token (brass)
 * 1720** - John Laws -
 * 1721-1722, 1767** - France sends copper and bronze money for the Colonies Francoise
 * 1722, 1724** - Hibernia - unpopular in Ireland, sent to colonies
 * 1722, 1724** - William Wood - Rosa Americana series sent from England
 * 1732 - 1772** - Spanish milled dollar (eight reales; pillar dollar; piece of eight)
 * 1737** - John Higley or Granby coppers
 * 1773** - Virginia Halfpenny - copper
 * 1760** - Hibernia Voce Populi
 * 1766** - Pitt tokens
 * 1774** - Virginia Halfpenny - silver (shilling)
 * 1776** - New Hampshire copper cents
 * 1776** - Pine Tree Copper - Massachusetts
 * 1776** - Indian Copper - Massachusetts
 * 1776** - Half penny - Massachusetts
 * 1776** - Continental Dollar struck in Philadelphia - silver, brass, pewter
 * 1778 - 1779** - Rhode island Ship Medal
 * 1783** - Nova Constellatio Coppers - Birmingham
 * 1783** - Nova Constellatio Silver
 * 1783** - Annapolis Maryland - silver - J. Chalmers
 * 1785** - Vermont copper cents
 * 1785** - Immune Columbia pieces - copper,silver
 * 1785, 1786** - Connecticut copper cents - mint established near New Haven
 * 1785** - Confederatio Coppers
 * 1786** - New Jersey copper cents
 * 1787** - New York
 * 1787, 1788** - Connecticut copper cents - crudely struck on imperfect planchets
 * 1787 - 1789** - Massachusetts - copper and half cents
 * April 2, 1792** - President Washington signed a law to establish a United States mint, which went into effect at once.
 * Sept. 1, 1792** - first six pounds of copper were bought for coinage.
 * Sept. 21,1792** - three coinage presses arrived from Europe and early
 * Oct., 1792** - first half dimes and a few copper cents patterns were struck by the new United States mint.
 * 1793** - regular issue of large copper cents begins
 * 1793** - flowing hair, wreath
 * 1793 - 1796** - liberty cap
 * 1794** - first dollar, half dollar and half dime were struck
 * 1795** - first gold $10 eagle and $5 half eagle, were struck
 * 1796** - first quarter and dime
 * 1796 - 1807** - draped bust, flowing hair
 * 1808 - 1814** - Classic Head large cent
 * 1815** - no cents were coined
 * 1816 - 1857** - Coronet large cent
 * 1849** - first $20 double eagle
 * 1856 - 1858** - Flying Eagle cent
 * 1859 - 1909** - Indian Head cent
 * 1873** - first trade dollar.
 * 1834** - Gold coins issued by private parties

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