COIN TRIVIA
DID YOU KNOW????
Remember, when you purchase a coin, you also receive a piece of history, and given as a gift, it is always worth something.
- That the 1900 Lafayette commemorative silver dollar was the first U.S. coin to bear the portrait of an American, and the first to bear the portrait of a President of the United States. Washington and Lafayette both appeared on the coin.
- That mint marks first appeared on U.S. coins in 1838 with the opening of branch mints at New Orleans (O), Dahlonega, GA (D), and Charlotte (C).
- That the building housing the first United States Mint was built on Seventh Street in Philadelphia. The cornerstone was laid on July 31, 1792. The power for the mint was provided by two oxen, and it was guarded by a dog called Nero. The United States has continuously operated a mint in Philadelphia since that time.
- That the smallest monetary unit ever issued in the U.S. was the half cent. It was minted from 1793 through 1857.
- That the design for the Jefferson Nickel came from an open competition outside the mint for a $1000 prize. Felix Schlag was the winning designer. His initials "FS" were added below the bust in 1966.
- That the two-cent piece of 1864 was the first U.S. coin to have IN GOD WE TRUST appear as a motto on the coin.
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